Oli

This is getting completely out of control. Get a life and move on. Jana, I am wondering how YOU treated Amy Widdel. There are always 2 sides to a story and I must say, in many situations calm well-mannered behaviour gets you much further than aggressively shouting about, loosing your temper and complaining loudly. <BR><BR>

readitagain

Oops Oli---go back and read the post again...there is zero admission of ranting, raving, or a temper tantrum by the poster. Having worked in customer service many times, I'm sure you're coming from a defensive place...but THIS time---it's not really fair to bash someone for behavior we have no indication was manifested.<BR><BR>And if I were her--i wouldn't "get a life and move on"...I work very hard for the money to go on vacation (including dealing with people who DO display horrid behavior like what you detailed...and with no good reason or at most, with misplaced anger)<BR>and when someone is rude and makes my life inexcusably difficult with not even an apology...damn straight I'm going to get an apology somewhere!!

nancy

Good for you. The Westin should give<BR>you some compensation. You can tell<BR>you handled the situation better than<BR>most would have.<BR><BR>This is why we chose a villa on St. John. We looked at Caneel and it<BR>was gorgeous but we felt you get<BR>way more for your money and privacy<BR>galore with renting a villa. I don't<BR>think we would go to a resort again<BR>on an island. Renting a villa to us is the only way to gon on St. John. Absolutely a dream vacation.<BR><BR>Nancy

puzzled

like Charlie I have already posted to this and it has somehow disappeared into space. So I apologise if I end up with 2 replies.<BR>Jana<BR>I'm very puzzled. When the ferry didn't turn up you phoned the Westin receptionist who followed up on it and told you what to do also saying that you would be reimbursed. When you arrived at Westin Amy , according to you , again said you would be fully reimbursed.<BR>This has turned into a major song and dance and directors may soon be contacting you for movie rights! After being told that you would be fully reimbursed how exactly did you conduct yourself?<BR>I have to wonder what Amys version would be- you never know - you may sound like the client from hell by the time shes told the story!<BR>In Greece several years ago it took 4 attempts before we got our ferry, which involved a coach that never turned up one early morning and then, the following two mornings, our coach took us to the ferry stop at the other end of the island and arrived to find the ferry had been cancelled. Naturally we were not happy at the time but dealt with it at the resort and were even able to laugh about it(among ourselves)<BR>Why not concentrate on what you enjoyed about your holiday and put the rest down to experience. The credit card problem is easily dealt with( although extremely annoying for you). I suppose I am by nature not one who rants at people when things don't go right but I can get results just the same and keep my blood pressure down! Also I'm quite used to travelling and the problems it can bring in different countries which I'm aware isn't the case with others.

nancy

Good for you. The Westin should give<BR>you some compensation. You can tell<BR>you handled the situation better than<BR>most would have.<BR><BR>This is why we chose a villa on St. John. We looked at Caneel and it<BR>was gorgeous but we felt you get<BR>way more for your money and privacy<BR>galore with renting a villa. I don't<BR>think we would go to a resort again<BR>on an island. Renting a villa to us is the only way to go on St. John. Absolutely a dream vacation, absolutely<BR>a dream island.<BR><BR>Nancy

Lv2Trvl

Sometimes ferrys, planes and even cars have mechanical problems. Ferrys and planes have weather-related problems. Sometimes things just don't go smoothly. Doesn't make you feel better knowing that but stuff happens when you travel. We were stranded too by the ferry once but we just took the public one - sure we were inconvienced but over all I sure wouldn't let that spoil my trip. We've met jerks too at hotels who weren't the nicest but I do know that you do get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. <BR>As to the billing at the Westin, know and have seen many folks who've used Priceline and gotten in for as low as $75 a nite with no problem. Certainly this could have been resolved in a more civilized manner. Did the anger at all ready feeling like she was taken at Budget spill over to the Westin? Of course there are add-ons, $12 per diem at the Westin plus the service changes (if any) and the tax. Sounds like a even someone higher could have been called but sometimes you get what you pay for too. But she had the confirmation and the price so that should have sufficed (along with the receipt of the deposit which should always go with you no matter where you travel). Sure wish Jana had posted some of the good things of her trip and hopefully the problems will resolve. I wouldn't have chosen to make a public posting my first attempt at satisfaction but only after I had spoken with the appropriate people and officials to seek resolution.

SueAnn

Nancy and Jana: I'm reading your trip story with great interest, and looking for your advice. We live in flat land Kansas, are wanting to take our 2 boys (17 and 15) to the Caribbean for the first time; and after researching numerous options (I want peace and quiet, separate rooms - boys need activites and entertainment), St. Johns/St. Thomas seem to provide both. The 4 of us are in pretty good atletic shape, want to try snorkeling (remember, we're from KS), can waterski but parasailing sounds good, plus real relaxation for the adults is paramount. The Westin was a hotel I was considering, but a villa sounds better. We are BEGINNERS re: the Caribbean, and any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! sas

Martin

I have to wonder if I read the same report as others who have replied. I didn't get the sense that Jana was complaining about the ferry being late, but the way she was treated by Budget and the Westin manager. I think that, assuming her account is accurate, which we have no reason to believe otherwise, she showed tremendous restraint. Also, I thought that the whole purpose of this board was to provide information to other prospective travelers about our experiences. I certainly agree with the decision to contact Westin regarding the situation. I think Jana really let Budget off the hook. Jana should really contact Budget's customer service as well. Finally, I would also inform Priceline of the situation. Priceline needs to know if there are participating hotels, etc, that are not honoring prices.

Ronnie

You can only assume that her account is accurate, as it's her account. There are three sides to every story, the first persons, the second and the real! Not to get involved in the fray here but. I am sorry she was displeaed with what happened. I would think if it was so bad that she would have demanded to speak to the hotel manager at the time she was having her problems.<BR>I do find some loopholes in her diatribe. Firstly, there is no ferry that picks anyone up at the airport, there is no dock.Secondly, the area where the Westin ferry docks at Crown Bay is right by the Gourmet Gallery store and Tickles Restaurant, which is well lit and sheltered, thirdly, unfortunately here in the islands people like to be greeted with a salutation before a question, this is usually responded to right away. When you walk up to someone and start asking questions, especially in the middle of a convresation, you will be ignored, unfortunately I say, but this is how it is. Things would look a whole lot better for those who do that. Also, it's how you talk to people, here or anywhere as to how they will treat you in return. Just my observations.<BR>Again I say I am sorry that she had problems, but I know that the Westin usually goes out of the way to help those with problems!<BR>Can't say much for Budget though. Don't know what gives!<BR>Ronnie

Patty

I'm with you Martin. I find it amazing that whenever there's an uncomplimentary post on this board, some people feel the need to either attack the original poster's credibility, imply that they simply are not experienced travelers, or pick apart every little detail of their post.

experienced_traveler

With all the inaccurate bashing and reporting and nastiness one looks for loopholes in stories. Sorry if it's true but there are some things that do not fit. And when they do not fit, you must acquit.

msspell

Ronnie,<BR> There are no such words as secondly and thirdly. When proving a point, you say "second" and "third". You lose points for credibility when you use improper grammar.

Ronnie

So sorry that I used those words msspell, but my Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary has them both as permissible adverbs. And how can one's missuse of a word challenge their credibilty? Nitpicking and straying from the topic, aren't we? Now, I may have used the word 'firstly', that does not exist in my dictionary. We have learned something new today, or at least I have.<BR>Ronnie

Jana

To those who care,<BR>I have just reviewed my credit card statement and the amount on my final Westin statement was about $50.00 less than the amount Westin seems to have charged my credit card !!!!!

WildBill

Jana, maybe you should just let this go, you are kind of coming off as a crackpot. Why didn't you just take one of the Red Hook ferries immediately when you realized there was a screw up? Was it really worth sitting around arguing to save some portion of your $65/ticket?

bob

why would one rent a car on St. Thomas and then use the Westin Ferry to get to St. John? No $65 charge involved here.

Jana

For your information the Westin ferry was going to bring my rental car from St Thomas to St John. They do this for all their guests. Haven't you people heard of bringing cars on the ferry? Sheesh!!!!!!!!!!

sara

Jana, just to let you know, Amy from Westin posted a message and she said she was fired because of you. She also wrote that she's a receptionist and not the manager.

Oli

Here is the message that Amy Widdel posted recently which also gives us the "other" side of the story. What a stupid cow you are, Jana. It's people like you that give American travelers such a bad reputation worldwide.<BR><BR><BR>Author: amy ([email protected])<BR>Date: 05/15/2002, 02:49 pm<BR>Message: Being a receptionist is at the best of times difficult and poorly paid. However you have no idea of what we have to put up with. I've just been sacked because some "person" called Jana had a bad day and ranted and raved at me even when I had immediately dealt with her problem. She blew everything out of all proportion and was only happy if I lost my job.Well I have!You'll now be able to return to the hotel but don't be surprised if the new receptionist bursts into tears as soon as you speak to her- your reputation goes before you!<BR><BR>

anon

First of all, it really doesn't matter how Jana dealt with Amy. It's called CUSTOMER SERVICE and if they can't deal with it, they better suck it up and be as friendly as possible in any circustance. That's one reason businesses go out of business. The customer is always right in 99% of the cases. I'm really tired of hearing people defending rude and obnoxious workers and justify it because that person may have been rude to them. That's their job. Either do it or get a job elsewhere. I'm not talking about the snobs whose champage wasn't chilled to their liking. Most of these "rude" people are rude for a reason. They've been treated poorly for some reason or another. And yes, they do pay a lot of money to go to these places and they should receive the best customer service possible. <BR><BR>Also, what better place than this to post a complaint, whether or not she first attempted to contact Westin. I'm glad she did and this is the stuff that's important, this is what I want to hear before planning a trip somewhere.<BR><BR>Sara: where did Amy post that she had been fired? Would love to read it.<BR><BR>Also, notice how many negative posts have been posted against Jana since Westin staff replied? Wonder how many of them are from Westin staff, or maybe from Amy herself.