Does this belong here? I am not sure but I put it here.
I've taken the liberty of quoting "Bodders" from another thread. We met this week and spent the afternoon together. He & his wife told me some things and I encouraged him to report it in the Holiday Village thread. But I think it deserves its own thread! Here is what he said:
"First Choice are being VERY heavy handed & ruthless on the subject of excursions here. They have stopped ALL other excurion companies from collecting clients from the reception area. One has to walk out past perimeter security now to meet these tours. In their list of trips First Choice state the following too: 'we cannot accept any responsibility for illness, injury or death caused as a result of participating in a PIRATE excursion'. This comes after a long passage of text designed to scare you off all other tours & there is even the hint that your holiday insurance will be void if you don't use their tours. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS & BACK IN THE UK THEY COULD BE SUED FOR THIS APPROACH!
We booked tours through Martin Espinal. Isaira Tours - Dominican Republic & got Martin to send his list of tours, prices, etc before we left the UK. He is a very helpful & honest man who appears to have a very good reputation here for carrying out good works for needy causes. His tours are insured & I would recommend anyone to use him & boycott First Choice so far as tours are concerned"
He gave me more details when we were out but this is more then enough to get some discussion going.
I personally am appalled by this behaviour. I understand the need to make money and earn your commissions but I strongly object to the way it is done. I visited many times as a tourist and heard different versions of this from tour reps from a variety of companies. Let's not just pick on First Choice and Signature - the others do it too.
What do others think? To our recent visitors - what were you told in your briefings?
I've taken the liberty of quoting "Bodders" from another thread. We met this week and spent the afternoon together. He & his wife told me some things and I encouraged him to report it in the Holiday Village thread. But I think it deserves its own thread! Here is what he said:
"First Choice are being VERY heavy handed & ruthless on the subject of excursions here. They have stopped ALL other excurion companies from collecting clients from the reception area. One has to walk out past perimeter security now to meet these tours. In their list of trips First Choice state the following too: 'we cannot accept any responsibility for illness, injury or death caused as a result of participating in a PIRATE excursion'. This comes after a long passage of text designed to scare you off all other tours & there is even the hint that your holiday insurance will be void if you don't use their tours. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS & BACK IN THE UK THEY COULD BE SUED FOR THIS APPROACH!
We booked tours through Martin Espinal. Isaira Tours - Dominican Republic & got Martin to send his list of tours, prices, etc before we left the UK. He is a very helpful & honest man who appears to have a very good reputation here for carrying out good works for needy causes. His tours are insured & I would recommend anyone to use him & boycott First Choice so far as tours are concerned"
He gave me more details when we were out but this is more then enough to get some discussion going.
I personally am appalled by this behaviour. I understand the need to make money and earn your commissions but I strongly object to the way it is done. I visited many times as a tourist and heard different versions of this from tour reps from a variety of companies. Let's not just pick on First Choice and Signature - the others do it too.
What do others think? To our recent visitors - what were you told in your briefings?