Signed up for a trip to Costa Rica, leaving January 30, 2007. Brochure stated 3 nights in Guanacaste at the Hotel Tamarindo Diria, on the beach, web site of hotel indicated a great hotel. Last minute change from GCT sending us to Hotel Tropicana across the street. Upon arrival, you could readily see that the Hotel Tropicana was not up to standards.
I asked how much would it cost to stay here at the Hotel Tropicana, 3 nights, in February for two, prices quoted by desk personnel was $75-85. I went across the street to the Hotel Tamarindo Diria and asked the same question, prices quoted by desk personnel $138-178.
The Hotel Tropicana room had a terrible oder, the fan did not work, there were ants, the shower had mildew and tiles were cracked. When we took a shower we also discovered the drain did not work properly and you stood in an inch of water. The room and the bathroom were very small, something you probably something you would expect for $75-85. There was no ice machine available, they had to put a stroform chest outside the desk area, with plastic bowls for us to get ice. The pool was badly in need of repair, and cleaning. There were no pool towels available.We were able to use the facilities at the Hotel Tamarindo Diria including breakfast.
But that in no way made up for the facilities at the Hotel Tropicana. We have traveled with GCT 9 times, this is the third time they have switched hotels on us. After indicating in the brochure for the Thailand trip we would be staying right outside the Night Market in Chiang Mei, we were moved to a hotel out on the highway, no where near the Night Market.
On a post trip to Sicily, again brochure stated we were staying in a hotel at the end of town, we were moved about 12 miles outside of town. This third time was really a disaster. This hotel is at best a 1 Star, GCT answer to the problem "we reserve to change hotels", being this is the 3rd time it is starting to seem like a "bait and switch" operation. GCT has offered my wife and I $400 towards our next trip, I told them to keep it.
Can they keep this up, offer one hotel, we pay for that hotel, and then change it and definitely all three time for us it has been a worst hotel than promised.
John
The Villages, Florida
U.S.A.