Fodor's - Bring Back Dr. Abate!
 

Don't get me wrong -- I love Fodor's, including the free-for-alls that occasionally erupt. The thread on Terrible Apartment Service was an outstanding example of this. Just when it was getting really interesting, with Neal Sanders play-by-play and color commentary, the thread magically diminishes from 60 replies, to 47, to 40, and 39 the last time I checked. The original complaint is gone, along with some of the early responses. The ones that remain lack context. I would be interested in hearing why Fodor's chose to do an edit job, rather thna simply removing the whole thread, and what led to their intervention. Anybody?

I guess, Helen, that a poster has the right to cancel his posts (say, after some reflection ...). IMO, besides some none very friendly remarks from side to side (and outsiders), the only statement in the thread that could possibly leed to a law suit was the hotel in Rome disclosing unauthorized data of a client ... if it informs what a client has paid, it may inform whatever ... If you can afford it, would you deal with that hotel? <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR> <BR>

I just did a search here for "abate" and IT'S GONE! Geeez.. those were some of my best posts :) Actually I apologize for fanning the flames. <BR>

Helen, Paulo and Sally, I suspect what you saw was the editors at Fodors exercising their right to delete what was, in effect, advertising. Helen, I'm glad you saw my "play by play" (I posted it about 5:15 p.m., the thread started to be deleted shortly thereafter) and if anyone else wants a copy, I'll gladly email it to them. <BR> <BR>In hindsight, the Abate episode was a chilling experience. I have praised hotels, restaurants, and services; I have also knocked them when I felt they deserved to be knocked. Some time ago, a poster gave a poor review to a hotel in London. The hotel owner wrote to defend her establishment and I and several other readers who had stayed there chimed in with our recollections. The process took two weeks to unfold. <BR> <BR>This was an entirely different matter: an exercise in "crisis management" orchestrated by a PR firm that, in the end, was indistinguishable from advertising. The chilling part was the tactics employed. What if you had a bad experience with an establishment, said so in this forum and, as a result, found youself with your travel records laid bare for all to inspect? <BR> <BR>Fodors exercised good judgement in pulling the thread when it became apparent that the site was being used to advance a commercial purpose. My great hope is that the email addresses of those involved have been noted so that the next time this happens, it will be nipped in the bud. <BR>

Our experience renting an apartment thru Dr. Abate--Roman Homes--cld not have been better. My family and I found the apartment precisely as promised. Furthermore, Dr. Abate went out of his way to be helpful. Every aspect of our business relationship was appropriate and cordial. We recommend his service.

AHHHHHHHHHHH! It's back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ever notice how they all sound the same? Do you think an evil machine has actually taken over Dr Abates mind? <BR>

All these testimonials make me want NOT!!!!!!!!!! to book a place through Roman Homes. ENOUGH!

Well, I live in LA and am thinking of a screenplay for this Abate story. Any ideas? Honestly, it's like a soap. There's even more of it over at Frommer's. ( the sequel??)

Did you know that if you 'play' Abate backwards, it says, "Etaba, etaba, etaba!" VERY SPOOKY! <BR> <BR>PEACE (AND TRAVEL), MAN...

My first experience with Dr Abate at romanhomes.com began innocuously enough with an inquiry into availability of apartments. I mentioned that his web site was a little difficult to understand and this guy came unleashed. My first reply was to inform him that I had no intention of using his service as his unprofessional manner far exceeded the failings of the website and kindly requested that he not email me any further. He persisted in replying on multiple occasions suggesting that he would commit all his resources to making it impossible for me to stay in Rome. He even went so far as to suggest that I might be safer staying at home since he knew a great many people in Rome. I have posted the same story at frommers and requested if anyone knew an agency in Italy that he can be reported to. I am actually quite terrified of traveling there as a result of this man. Is this the way people in Rome are?

I wish I'd been here earlier. Looks like I missed a good deal of discussion about the good Dr. Abate. My brother and I rented the large roman home a couple of blocks from the colosseum in November 1998. The villa itself was fantastic -- great location and very nice amenities in the apartment itself. But the heat DID NOT WORK. It was usually in the 50's in the daytime, but got much cooler at night.WE were NEVER warm. We would naturally have called Dr. Abate -- but since he showed up EVERY day, unannounced ( and usually when he thought we weren't there), we were able to convey the problem to him directly. Every day he was in the villa - usually with a workman -- they were never able to track down the problem with the lack of heat. However, upon our departure, he tried to charge us an extra (bear with me here, but I believe the amount was $200 )This was because of ALL THE EXTRA HEAT we had used!!!!!!!There was no arguing with the man - although, I do remember handing him less than that amount and walking out. He also assured us that we were the ONLY residents this had ever happened to. He was a creepy man - we set traps everyday to see if he'd been in the apartment - and he always had been there by the time we arrived in the evening. None of our personal items were ever moved, however.The villa was perfect(except for the lack of heat) -- and so was the trip.Just something you don't often come upon in the states.

Oh-oh, Helen, you might just get your wish! <BR>

Yeah, be careful what you wish for! I had no idea this thread had come back from the crypt in recent weeks, but the recent report of Abate sightings reminded me of this one. I decided to send it back up to provide a context (a mere shadow of the fun we had with the original thread that Fodor's deleted) for the current Abate brouhaha. Without a bit of background the Salon-inspired thread reads like it's directed to an "exclusive clique" (remember them?) of familiar Fodorites -- not the intention of the poster, I'm sure. <BR>PS I just want to say that as a travel writer/humorist, Michael Lewis could take a lesson from many of the posters on this Forum. Not to mention as a travel planner!

So am I supposed to gather that this Dr. Abate is a real person? Or is he the embodiment of all of your travel-realted fears and neuroses? Or is he the ghost of travel past? I'm a little confused at this point...

The short answer to your question is "all of the above." <BR> <BR>While the original, demented thread is no longer available, I think a search of this board will give enough references to "Roman Homes" and "Abate" for you to decide for yourself whether he's man or myth. There was also a travel diary article in Salon.com back in February, as you may have gathered in reading this thread. <BR> <BR>Speaking of the new format, - What? we weren't speaking of it? Well we are now - I kind of like the fact that Fodor's e-mailed me to tell me there had been a response to my message (weirdly, it said I'd received my "first" response - better late than never?) I've been frequenting the U.S. board mostly, I would not have known this was back on top otherwise.

Is Dr. Abate even in business any longer?

Just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with this nutcase lately....

I don't know, I just rented from him. He has got some very nice looking properties if you ask me. The website is a little much but.... I will give you an update next year.

We shall see!

Caio

Sounds like somebody who creeps into the apartment in the middle of the night to suck the soul out of your body.

And of course, as a youth he was styled &quot;Master.&quot;

The reason I asked is because I found his website - it has some great looking apartments. Then I researched to find more info on romanhomes and found this very interesting thread on slowtalk - which is why I referred to him as a nutcase:
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...8155#153108155

Things have a tendency to get out of hand. Just as the OP said...People love a good dog pile. And your right, he does have some great looking places.

Yes and if you ever inquire, however tentatively, about availability, you may find that you have an irrevocable commitment to take that lovely apartment on that date:

Last year, we asked whether apartment X was available from (say) 5-12 March.

Just inquired if it was free, that is all.

Then we wrote back to say our dates had changed and what about availability 12-19 March.

Got a &quot;flame&quot; email back about how he had already told the owner to book 5-12 March, she had turned down other offers, how could he explain this outrage to her, etc, etc.

We are EXTREMELY scrupulous about such negotiations. I realized this guy is just a NUTCASE!