What would you do?
 

I've got a question for everyone out there. My fiance and I are about to get married in three weeks. We've had the honeymoon planned and booked for 11 months. It was supposed to be our dream vacation. I'm not going to say where we are going but I will say that the one word you can use to describe it is, "Perfect" (untill today). We received a phone call from our travel agent and she basically said that the resort has been bought out and that we would have to leave the resort a day early. They have, however, offered to put us up in another resort for that last full day. My initial reaction was, "No Way!" Then I went to, "Why not, if they're paying for it." Then to "I can't believe this is happening." Our honeymoon was supposed to be the best part of our wedding. We've put so much effort into deciding here we wanted to go. Not to mention the amount of money we've put together to pay for this. I mean you only get married once (at least you hope to) and you want your honeymoon to be "Perfect," so why should we allow them kick us out of our room a day earlier. We've had this planned for eleven months and we don't hear about this until three weeks before. It's just not right. I'm at aloss for words right now because I really can't believe this is happening. Would anyone like to share any similar experiences or even give some advice on what we could do? Do we just make the best of it and do nothing? Do we cancel our reservation? Or do we make a big stink about it and make them pay for something more than just that one night. Remember that this is our honeymoon, you can only do this once and I always thought that the last day of your honeymoon is supposed to be extra special because it's your last day before you come back to reality. Thanks to all in advance.

Dear Lou,<BR>Yikes, that stinks. I don't understand why you would have to move to a different hotel on the last day? Even if they were bought out, you would think your entire reservation would be guaranteed as planned.<BR>I would definitely try and use leverage for some comps and upgrades on this matter. Maybe your travel agent can act on your behalf and get some airline upgrades and hotel upgrades? <BR>Use this to your advantage if possible and good luck.

1) It's too late to try to replan the 'perfect' honeymoon without driving yourself to distraction (with all the other things you'll be busy taking care of).<BR>2) If you'll be getting 86% of your honeymoon as planned, I wouldn't write off the entire plan.<BR>3) As noted above, I would make SURE that you get some type of significant compensation for your trouble...in addition to that which was offered. Your last day will be a waste since you'll spend so much time packing/moving/unpacking/reacclimating.<BR>4) The "perfect" resort wouldn't be in the midst of an unpublicized sale.<BR>5) Be aware that you may encounter lots of spotty problems with service and many quality issues if the place is actually closing down or bringing in new staff.<BR>6) While you'd like your honeymoon to be perfect to the last degree, remember that some things are beyond your control, and if close to 90% comes off as anticipated, you will have done very well. You'll hopefully have lots more nice vacations together in the coming years.<BR>Best wishes.

Thanks so much for the advice Chris and Grace. I just want to clear something up. When I said "bought out" I didn't mean that the resort was sold, what I meant was that some company has rented the entire resort for five days and it turns out that their first day starts on our last full day. It also turns out that there are only two other couples or families that are being affected by this. Sorry I wasn't clearer about this in my message. <BR><BR>Anyway, that's another thing that bothers me about this. We had this room reserved for 11 months and they wait until 3 weeks before we leave to tell us this. If a company wants to rent out a whole resort for it's employees or whoever, I think it would take them more than three weeks to get everything planned. We should have been told about this earlier. I don't want to say which resort this is right now until everything is finished but I will say that one of the major reasons why we picked this resort was because of it's supposed service and the amount of return business it gets.<BR><BR>Thanks again for the advice and well wishes. Anyone else have any advice or similar experiences? I'd really like to hear more. It's actually very encouraging.

I would DEFINITELY cancel and go to another place entirely. Otherwise your honeymoon will always be a tainted memory of being kicked out on your last day. But it may depend on how special this place REALLY is to you... I have to wonder if you're just perceiving it as "perfect" or have you actually been there before? There are a lot of supposedly great places that are lots of hype. The bottom line is that they've trashed you and there are a LOT of great places for a honeymoon and it looks like you still have time to make a fresh start.

You have your dreams and no one can ruin them (except for you and your intended)...be thankful you have any time for honeymooning --- some people never have that luxury of "time off"..hope for the best, expect the worst and you'll never be disappointed.

No sense living in denial about the fact that things can get ruined from time to time. Don't settle for a losing "expect the worst" attitude, demand the best and go for it! It's all about how you adapt to changing situations. Since you used a travel agent, they can get you another excellent arrangement without charge since this is not your fault.

Sounds like the hotel is at fault here. If they make this sort of mistake, they may make more mistakes while you're there, which would be really annoying! So I would say: go to a different hotel, leave the flight as it is (probably too late to change that now anyway). Just my 2 cents...

I wish you would let us all know the name of this resort. We would like to make sure we don't make the same mistake. I think you should hold out for as much as you can get. You're right. They have known about this for quite a while and they just tell you 3 weeks before. <BR> No one wants to switch hotels on the last day of their vacation!

I say chill out. Yes, do ask for some kind of comp to make up for the inconvenience, but then, regardless if any comp is given or not, just roll with the punches. Presumably, the place they are moving you to for the last day is not far from the initial location. I fyou have to spend maybe an hour moving from one place to the next, its not really a bi deal, unless you make it so in your own mind. Look at the positive - you will have experienced two palces instead of one.

What can you do it could happen to anyone--enjoy the time you have and just go to the other resort for the night, unfortunately that's life. The problem is that everyone who gets married expects everything to be perfect and that's why it's such a headache. We weren't even able to go on a honeymoon so count your blessings in every other respect.

Not sure what I would do! But I would at least try another place! Its not high season, and you might get a better deal and great room at a hotel on the same island, near or on route. For example if it were Biras Creek, I would check with Little Dix Bay! Petit St. Vincent, a hotel in Barbados!<BR>Otherwise go enjoy, they should comp you lots! I would expect nothing more, and you might be surprised! At least give us the name of the island and we might be of assistance it recommending another place, no hassel. Let your agent do the work! Lots of places available in June-July!

Lou, please tell us the name of the resort...PLEASE!

Hey, Lou: This happened to us once, and the resort gave us a *free week* in addition to paying for us to move to another five-star hotel for the one night. That was a deal we could not pass up, and we had a free vacation a year later.<BR><BR>I cannot believe they did not offer you anything like that since it is your honeymoon. Get on the phone directly with the resort and start screaming. You will not get anything until you get on the phone with the general manager.

Where will they be sending you on your last night? Might be a great place. Will they pay for the transfer there as well? Personnally, if the second resort is just as wonderful or moreso, make the most out of this "perfect" place and use the opportunity to check out another resort. <BR><BR>But I agree with other posters, make sure to talk to the general manager and get an upgrade or something. Knowing they've inconvenienced you, they may intend to give you even better service. But that could go either way. It's a chance you'd be taking. Just some things to think about.

Now that changes EVERYTHING IMO, Lou.<BR>I interpreted your message to mean the resort had literally been bought out by another company.<BR>If you're telling us that the place is simply overbooked, and that you made reservations 11 months ago, you have tremendous leverage here.<BR>DO NOT back down on this.<BR>You are the one who has been wronged here and the resort has no excuse.<BR><BR>They have committed selling all rooms to a large party because they're getting compensated appropriately, and they don't mind sacrificing your business because you are only one couple. (This is not a justification, just an explanation).<BR>As such, they owe you dearly and they WILL compensate you appropriately if you play your cards right.<BR>As I said, DO NOT back down on this.<BR><BR>First off, get the name and phone number of the general manager of the resort and speak to this person.<BR>Emphasize that you 1) selected this resort from dozens of others and you perceive that it's a very high quality place, 2) that this is the most important vacation you'll ever plan and that you are not willing to have it compromised, 3) that you realize that your interests have been put behind those of a large group, 4) have an idea in mind of what type of compensation you think would be reasonable and satisfying.

I am guessing the resort is Malliohana since this same situation has happened to others at this property in the recent past. I would demand a suite at Cap Juluca for that last night OR for your entire honeymoon.

Relax. Take a deep breath. With your level of expectations, your honeymoon was never going to live up to the hype. Stick with the plan & enjoy yourselves. It's all about attitude. Only you can ruin your own honeymoon.

I would prob welcome a chance to stay at a different resort. Go, have fun, and enjoy a resort which you may not have otherwise experienced.

If it is Malli, you have lots of options! Stay at Malli for part of the time, the owner is very gracious and you will be treated very well. So, split your time, go over to CuisinArt or Cap Juluca. Hey we are all playing a guessing game. This might not be the case! Other hotels do this too! So my suggestion would be split the time no matter! Might be fun! If it is a first class place you will be fine! and you might want to check out a day or two earlier, and take advantage of another place! Why not give us the island!