A DEVIZES couple say their wedding was nearly wrecked when their dream honeymoon turned into a nightmare.
Emma Kerr, 32, and Simon Emmott, 30, from Rider Close, Devizes, were looking forward to jetting off to the Maldives after their wedding at Beechfield House, Melksham, this Saturday, December 29.
But they learned that the Herathera Island Resort in the Indian Ocean paradise, due to open at the beginning of November, was still going to be a building site.
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They booked the two-week all-inclusive break, costing £3,668, in July. The number of facilities available at the resort particularly appealed to them, including as it did a spa and water sports.
But, as the time got closer, they learned that the spa is not operational, wind surfing is no longer available and the glorious azure lakes on the island are a dirty brown in colour and being infilled.
The jetty is being dredged, some beaches are not functional because they need cleaning, the a la carte restaurant will not be open, and building work is still going on.
Yet Miss Kerr was told that normal terms and conditions apply.
First Choice, the travel agents the couple were going through, said they could switch the couple to nearby Meeru Island. The only snag was they would need to pay an extra £2,000.
Miss Kerr told the Gazette: "We are both so upset about the whole thing. Organising a wedding is stressful enough without all this.
"First Choice has known about this for weeks but have done nothing about it. It is not right they can get away with doing this kind of thing."
On Christmas Eve, the couple learned that First Choice was prepared to give them a full refund but that still left them with nowhere to go on their honeymoon.
Miss Kerr said: "Fortunately, I managed to fix something up over the Internet. We will be leaving on December 30 for Cuba. It's not the Maldives but it is something.
"I cannot believe a reputable company like First Choice could do this to people. There must be others in the same situation as ourselves.
"The resort was supposed to be finished at the end of October and the grand opening at the beginning of November. First Choice must have known the situation, but they did nothing."
An email the couple received from First Choice, before they decided to cancel, said: "I do seriously apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.
"First Choice was expecting the Herathera to have opened on time and it is unfortunately out of our hands that this resort was not completed in time."
Miss Kerr and Mr Emmott have now reported the matter to Wiltshire Trading Standards.
Posted by: Citizen, Chippenham on 12:11am Fri 28 Dec 07
Whilst this story is sad. It begs the question, if this was to be your dream holiday, after the best day of your life. Then why book something that has no customer feedback. (Surely the only way to judge the location, either good or bad?
Why book it if it was only (supposed) to be opening two months before your Honeymoon? Surely a potential for error?
Also as the tour operator were prepared to give them a full refund after they were made aware of the locations non readiness then what else could they do, as a responsible tour operator?
First Choice are a tour operator and are not really responsible for builders, beach landscapers etc in another country.
Whilst this story is sad. It begs the question, if this was to be your dream holiday, after the best day of your life. Then why book something that has no customer feedback. (Surely the only way to judge the location, either good or bad?
Why book it if it was only (supposed) to be opening two months before your Honeymoon? Surely a potential for error?
Also as the tour operator were prepared to give them a full refund after they were made aware of the locations non readiness then what else could they do, as a responsible tour operator?
First Choice are a tour operator and are not really responsible for builders, beach landscapers etc in another country.
Posted by: donteventhinkit, Corsham on 5:08am Fri 28 Dec 07
Question - did you get married? YES!! right so stop bloody complaining a wedding is a big deal but if you love each other it shouldnt matter if your wed in your decorating clothes in the middle of a cow field with a honeymoon in ye nans spare room. How much of this flash holiday was setting the standerd for ye mates weddings or out doing your mates and now not happy with a full refund you try and drag a company through the mud so you can get 2 seconds of local pointless fame ...errr mam im in the paper!!!! Get a life
Question - did you get married? YES!! right so stop bloody complaining a wedding is a big deal but if you love each other it shouldnt matter if your wed in your decorating clothes in the middle of a cow field with a honeymoon in ye nans spare room. How much of this flash holiday was setting the standerd for ye mates weddings or out doing your mates and now not happy with a full refund you try and drag a company through the mud so you can get 2 seconds of local pointless fame ...errr mam im in the paper!!!! Get a life
Our heartfelt sympathies to you after congratulating and wishing you evey success for your marriage. Actually, due to the Tsunami the economy of Maldives suffered much, however added to that the ongoing slaughter of public funds by those in power and their cronies for the past 30 years have shattered the economy from beyond redemption in the close future, heavy borrowings from donaters have led to a current estimate of over US$2000/- debt per head on a population of abt 300,000. For the sake of the impoverished Maldivians, we request you to make the trip later as the Herethere Resort could not be finished on time as scheduled. Why should the poor suffer more due to what those in power are doing? The said resort is now open. We welcome you the Maldives.
Our heartfelt sympathies to you after congratulating and wishing you evey success for your marriage. Actually, due to the Tsunami the economy of Maldives suffered much, however added to that the ongoing slaughter of public funds by those in power and their cronies for the past 30 years have shattered the economy from beyond redemption in the close future, heavy borrowings from donaters have led to a current estimate of over US$2000/- debt per head on a population of abt 300,000. For the sake of the impoverished Maldivians, we request you to make the trip later as the Herethere Resort could not be finished on time as scheduled. Why should the poor suffer more due to what those in power are doing? The said resort is now open. We welcome you the Maldives.
First Choice, the travel agents the couple were going through, said they could switch the couple to nearby Meeru Island. The only snag was they would need to pay an extra £2,000.
Meeru staff are used on Herathera Island, Meeru has recently let visitors down by overbooking and downgrading.
Least you found out before and not as some folk have upon arriving at the airport.First choice have known about the problems as any visitor to the meeru.com website has. Hope the couple get compensation.
First Choice, the travel agents the couple were going through, said they could switch the couple to nearby Meeru Island. The only snag was they would need to pay an extra £2,000.
Meeru staff are used on Herathera Island, Meeru has recently let visitors down by overbooking and downgrading.
Least you found out before and not as some folk have upon arriving at the airport.First choice have known about the problems as any visitor to the meeru.com website has. Hope the couple get compensation.
Posted by: Chris Randall, Cayman Islands on 6:13pm Fri 28 Dec 07
Why the Maldives????
Instead, come to the Cayman Islands where we have all of the clean beaches and clear water you could want. Furthermore we are a Crown Colony with no risk of revolution tomorrow and no beggars on the streets.
Why the Maldives????
Instead, come to the Cayman Islands where we have all of the clean beaches and clear water you could want. Furthermore we are a Crown Colony with no risk of revolution tomorrow and no beggars on the streets.
This site explains more about Herathera and Meeru one of the owners of heratherais the owner of Meeru they overbook all year round many guests are upset over this. they know when they are full but to continue to overbook is a nasty thing to do it is the resort as well as the travel agents who do this. www.meerufenfushi.co
.uk take a look
This site explains more about Herathera and Meeru one of the owners of heratherais the owner of Meeru they overbook all year round many guests are upset over this. they know when they are full but to continue to overbook is a nasty thing to do it is the resort as well as the travel agents who do this. www.meerufenfushi.co
.uk take a look
Posted by: Richard Matthews, Norwich on 12:28pm Sun 30 Dec 07
Pah! We are the most fortunate country in the world. Located so far north, yet enjoying temperate climes because of the Atlantic Stream. A mix of volcanic and sedimentary land, scarred for ever by the Ice Age, leaving a geography that has inspired artists and poets for centuries.
Various races of peoples from these islands and the continent have left legacies that are the envy of the world. Stonehenge, York, the Norfolk Broads (man-made, folks), the Roman baths and spas.
And this is not good enough for you? You have to steal your ideas from the Americans? Want everything served up on a plate and not prepared to do eff all to entertain yourselves?
You get what you deserve in this life!
Pah! We are the most fortunate country in the world. Located so far north, yet enjoying temperate climes because of the Atlantic Stream. A mix of volcanic and sedimentary land, scarred for ever by the Ice Age, leaving a geography that has inspired artists and poets for centuries.
Various races of peoples from these islands and the continent have left legacies that are the envy of the world. Stonehenge, York, the Norfolk Broads (man-made, folks), the Roman baths and spas.
And this is not good enough for you? You have to steal your ideas from the Americans? Want everything served up on a plate and not prepared to do eff all to entertain yourselves?
You get what you deserve in this life!
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