First Choice Travel & Cruise, Inc.

Review: We selected a vacation plan to Curacao on the recommendation of this travel agency and were not provided with the quality of lodging that was stated in the booklet. It was listed as a 5 apple that was upgraded from a 4 a few months before. The representative at the hotel stated that it was barely a 3 Apple hotel. The quality of the room was poor-our room spewed out water onto our clothing and bedding, the doors didn't lock and many other issues. We complained to the representative for Apple and to the hotel and nothing was done to remediate the situation. This company did little to try to help us. Apple offered us a couple of vouchers for further travel. We were unable and had no desire to use the $400. vouchers in the future from a company that treats its customers in such a manner. We were told by our charge card company to get a written letter from the hotel months after the incident-which was impossible, so they refused to help. We have used this agency for over 20 years and are insulted and hurt by this treatment. We spent over $7,128.00 for the highest quality accommodations a received mediocre lodging and treatment.Desired Settlement: At the minimum, we should be reimbursed for the difference between a 3 Apple resort and a 5 Apple. Our vacation was ruined by this company and we left with a sinus infection and allergies due to the conditions as well as a bad experience about Apple and First Choice Travel. Ideally, First Choice should in good faith reimburse us for more to maintain us as continued long-term customers.

Business

Response:

Hello we are very aware of this situation. We have worked very closely with the client and Apple Vacations to resolve the situation with numerous phone calls, emails back and forth from March till October From the very beginning [redacted] contacted the client to see how her vacation was. If we didn't ask her about it, we would not have known she was unsatisfied. We are sorry that her experience in Curacao was not up to her expectations.

I was very disappointed in the way our reservations were handled. Legally they had the fine print covered, but the way that they communicated made it very confusing & they led us to believe that cancel fees would be almost half what they actually were. It was very "bait & switch" to get us to commit. I would definitely NOT do business with them again or recommend them to anyone that I know. They mostly do weddings so really do not care if they don't get repeat business. Everyone that attends the wedding HAS to go through them & they are misleading in their communication.