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PuertoPollensa.com discussion forums
Hotels, Villas & Apartments in Pollensa & Cala San Vicente Discuss hotels, aparthotels, private villas, apartments and any other type of accommodation in the Pollensa area including Cala San Vicente. Do add reviews and comments for specific hotels and apartments. Readers find these very useful.
However this forum is not a place for advertisements. Check out the 'Advertise' page on the main web site. |
34Likes
29-04-2014, 19:56
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 65
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Villaparade / Travelopo
This is an emerging situation that may well ruin the holiday villa plans for many Pollensa devotees (including ourselves) during 2014. It would appear that the company Travelopo has "taken over" the contracts of many (no specified figure) villas that were previously the letting responsibility of Villaparade, and have already been booked for 2014. Several stories are circulating as to what is behind this action, but the upshot is that Villaparade have issued a statement this evening that they are taking legal advice and seeking to resolve the issues. However there are already instances recorded where persons who have booked are seeking refunds because no suitable alternative arrangements can be offered by Villaparade. The story seems to have become public when Travelopo managed to obtain pre-booking client information for the villas affected and approached those clients outlining the circumstances behind the changes. Several people not surprisingly believed that they were the victims of a scam. At present there is a lot of uncertainty and people who have pre-booked are understandably anxious. It is not simply a case of responsibility being transferred to another company, there are issues of decent business practice, and it is not confirmed that Travelopo are even ABTA registered. I wonder if anyone "on the ground" in Pollensa can provide any relevant insight into developments
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29-04-2014, 20:21
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 860
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A quick search and my favourite villa on Villa parade is also now on Travelopo with bookings on both sites so there are going to be some disappointed people
The same photos and almost the same descriptions have been copied.
Best not post the links as not sure its allowed.
I almost made a booking last weekend so pleased that I waited as I now recognise many of the villas on both sites.
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29-04-2014, 21:04
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 79
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Our nephew has booked a villa with Villaparade for middle/late June and has already paid a hefty wedge of dosh. Travelopo have e-mailed him saying that they have the sole letting rights for lots of villas in the north. They say they'll get back to him in the near future but are currently dealing with the more urgent cases.
So yes, if anyone can shed light on this it would be extremely helpful.
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29-04-2014, 22:14
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ribble Valley
Posts: 896
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From Travelopo website, contact and support section, they say credit card transactions are administered via Global Administration of Pollensa.
Which reminds me that one of the Sunday travel supplements a few weeks ago was warning about car hire agents who appeared to be British based but who were taking transactions via Paris. This, if I recall correctly, meant that the contract was thus under French law and many safeguards we in Britain have come to expect did not apply. And importantly any contract disputes had to be sorted by the French courts.
Travelopo claims to be part of a group based in Frome Somerset, with card transactions via Pollensa. I can't see any abta or atol numbers.
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29-04-2014, 22:36
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kent
Posts: 969
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There is an issue with Villa Parade - am not sure exactly what it is, but I know there are problems with this company. Just wanted to give an early heads-up to anyone who might have a booking with them...
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29-04-2014, 23:04
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Port de Pollença
Posts: 20,298
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I have been trying today to help a forum member who is due out this weekend and has been told by Villa Parade that their booking has been cancelled because the owner of the villa has withdrawn from the contract that they had with them, i had assumed that this was just a one off with one owner but there really does now seem to be a problem .
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Living the dream in PP with my glass half full. .
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29-04-2014, 23:10
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*****
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 644
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Tripadvisor on the Majorca forum has a very, very busy thread on this problem...sounds awful and feel so sorry for anyone that is affected by it...hopefully the problem will be resolved soon. Unbelievable what has happened.
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Favie
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30-04-2014, 08:55
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Port de Pollença
Posts: 20,298
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Living the dream in PP with my glass half full. .
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30-04-2014, 09:21
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kent
Posts: 969
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Travelopo have had their membership of ABTA withdrawn as of 14th April - the ABTA advice is to contact ABTA direct if you receive an email from Travelopo regarding a previous booking with Villa Parade. At present my understanding is that Villa Parade should themselves be offering alternative accommodation, or a full refund, for villa bookings where contracts have been cancelled.
It's my understanding too that the Villa Parade office in Puerto Pollensa was closed - or at least, it was at the beginning of April. I'd advise anyone who has booked a villa via Villa Parade to contact ABTA, and to have no dealings with Travelopo.
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30-04-2014, 09:34
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 860
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30-04-2014, 09:37
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*****
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kent
Posts: 969
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I also know for a fact that a number of villa owners who previously worked with Villa Parade in the Pollensa area have indeed cancelled their contracts and moved to other rental companies (haven't heard of anyone who has gone to Travelopo though) - and I don't think their decision was because the other company was offering more money.
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30-04-2014, 09:37
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*****
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: on the coast in Essex
Posts: 1,739
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sparky
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So many question the safety of dealing with private owners directly and opt for dealing with a company. If you deal directly it is often cheaper and you are able to speak with the owner and build a relationship. I feel very sorry for people that have been affected by this situation. It puts a nasty start to a holiday. I go with Sparky and suggest looking at the availability of property advertised on this site. Most of the properties are known as are the people who own them as many are forum members. Do not be put off if there is no availability calender as sometimes for security reasons it is best to leave blank. Just contact the owner directly and have a chat.
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Eleanor
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30-04-2014, 09:46
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*****
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sparky
I have been trying today to help a forum member who is due out this weekend and has been told by Villa Parade that their booking has been cancelled because the owner of the villa has withdrawn from the contract that they had with them, i had assumed that this was just a one off with one owner but there really does now seem to be a problem .
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That's a nightmare at such short notice
Sealand villas that I first found from an advert on this site have plenty of availability and the prices include an Autos roig hire car which makes them very reasonable especially for last minute bargains and they are certainly a quality company with great customer service.
Villas in Majorca to Rent | Sealand Villas
Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca Majorca Holidays - Travel Companies
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30-04-2014, 09:54
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*****
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 546
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I cant help but think VP have been have not been entirely innocent. Last year they took over a villa I had booked with a different company, advertised it as unbooked for my weeks at an over inflated price. They ended up selling it at less than I had paid to the original company. VP have also had lots of new villas on their books this year, these villas also with other companies but under different names. Ie Finca Marina Valley is also with Best Villas Pollensa under the name of Villa Juana. Interesting that their original portfolio are now "fully booked" and the villas also with other agencies are still available!
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