BEWARE OF MELIA MAYAN/CORP

[NDL_Diver]

Dave, Aldora Villa has ALWAYS been the BEST! Tina and I stayed at you Villa in Baracuda for many years. We got iced out on a return fligjt to Houstonto turn and you put us up for two days free lodging (we paid for diving). Your Texas hospitality is an example for all. That is why Tina and I have been loyal customers for over 15 years and close to 200 dives.

Al

 

[Maverick17]

I've had very good experiences with Melia in my work travels to South America. Although not many data points, they are a typical large hotel chain from Spain I believe. It's unfortunate this happened to them. Was this a prepaid rate, or did they just get too busy with Harvey and not cancel in time? I would just continue to hang-up call-again, especially after Irma is over, and I would think things might improve after it all settles down. Maybe at the least they can get the credit extended to next summer and make a trip if they want to at that point so as not to waste it. Or take it in November and sell it on Roomer or something. Also try both local hotel manager and corporate, via email or calls or even social media, as many different people might be able to help. Keep trying.

 

[DandyDon]

Sorry, you take trip insurance or take your chances. Many here don't support the idea of buying trip insurance, and yes overall it's cheaper to self insure - but I never leave the US without it, primarily for the medical coverage but do appreciate other benefits. They really should have covered their trip with good trip insurance. We've known that this is hurricane season for the Caribbean since the 1500s.

Dan Insurance is not better in the face of hurricanes.
Dan Travel Insurance failed us again are there any better alternatives

Well, that sucks. I'm not going thru that lengthy thread as I have no interest in DAN's various insurance products other than dive insurance, and my preferred trip insurance provider does cover cancellations for hurricanes very well - but I am not going to try to sell for them here. There are many things that DAN does well, some others that DAN does poorly, and I do wonder who is making the profits off them using their name to promote other insurance products - but ultimately it is a membership driven company. If enough members ask for trip insurance, they will find and provide it - even if it sucks.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Dear Dandy Don,

Trip insurance be damned, one needs to work with properties with decent policies.

Dave

 

[DandyDon]

Dear Dandy Don,

Trip insurance be damned, one needs to work with properties with decent policies.

Dave

Yeah, yeah - sounds good but doesn't work. I check the net for "Melia complaints,"tripadvisor Melia complaints," and "tripadvisor Melia Punta Cana complaints," but found very few - mostly positive reviews, and Tripadvisor would love to quote rates booked thru them! It's just too difficult to find policies on a property and too risky to believe answers if you ask about things like hurricane cancellations. Yes, I agree the company is being a jerk, but that won't protect a trip.

• The location has been known to be a high risk for hurricanes this time of year for over 500 years.
• Trip insurance is cheap enough with all of the competition, especially if they are younger - and a good policy covers many risks, including hurricanes, but others included are important too.

To me, the most important reasons for trip insurance are (a) your medical insurance may not cover you outside of the US, (b) emergency evacuation to the US, and (c) repatriation of remains - but there are other important benefits, like this case, or like my granddaughter dropping her passport in a Chinese train station last year. That was a headache, but the insurance greatly helped.

Self insuring is cheaper, but you accept the risk. Many hit by Harvey didn't carry federal subsidized flood insurance, and that's sad - but their savings on premiums, their loss on property. The Houston area has been known to be a swamp since discovered, made worse by all of the paving. Insure or lose whining privileges.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Yeah, yeah - sounds good but doesn't work. I check the net for "Melia complaints,"tripadvisor Melia complaints," and "tripadvisor Melia Punta Cana complaints," but found very few - mostly positive reviews, and Tripadvisor would love to quote rates booked thru them! It's just too difficult to find policies on a property and too risky to believe answers if you ask about things like hurricane cancellations. Yes, I agree the company is being a jerk, but that won't protect a trip.

• The location has been known to be a high risk for hurricanes this time of year for over 500 years.
• Trip insurance is cheap enough with all of the competition, especially if they are younger - and a good policy covers many risks, including hurricanes, but others included are important too.

Self insuring is cheaper, but you accept the risk. Many hit by Harvey didn't carry federal subsidized flood insurance, and that's sad - but their savings on premiums, their loss on property. The Houston area has been known to be a swamp since discovered, made worse by all of the paving. Insure of lose whining privileges.

Dear Dandy Don

i was just warning of one chain to avoid because of crappy policies. I happen to think that most insurance is as bad deal, as in a casino. The house is betting that nothing is going to happen to you, and you are betting it is. They are smarter than us…unless you are extremely risky, or cannot endure the consequences, I don't insure much. My waterfront Villa Aldora has never been insured, other than buying hurricane shutters. worst problem was Wilma in 2005. Cost me all of $35,000 including I installed new Salt Water pool which had been prohibited-- but no one was watching during the massive recovery. Insurance quotes had been above $50,000 per year. Those hotels that did had insurance had to wait a year t get settlements and could not open for multiple years. My Villa was ready to go in two weeks…with full power on. Didn't have to wait on insurance.

And in my 71 years I have had run ins with insurance companies and all I ave been involved with were poop heads, slow and unresponsive.

Given that I have had the Villa for 15 years I could have paid $300,000 to get $35,000 of repairs done. Hell, I don't even insure my house in Houston…it is poor judgement to play against the house odds. And no it did not flood. Cozumel experience has taught me to look for high ground which went into my Houston decision home --where the water only got to to the curb top and our slab is 8 feet above that.





Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[DandyDon]

i was just warning of one chain to avoid because of crappy policies.

That's good, but to make a real effect, I would try to file complaints with the BBB and Tripadvisor - except the honeymooners really need to file. You really cannot know what other chains will do until the need is realized tho. You just can't find that info in advance.

I happen to think that most insurance is as bad deal, as in a casino.

As high as the risk is for this time of the year in the Caribbean - I'd say that insuring a honeymoon against a hurricane is a good idea. A lot of insurance isn't worth it, but medical, homeowners, liability, and some others are usually.

I was once with a group who discussed trip insurance on another, small dive forum. We came to Cozumel in spite of cat-5 hurricane Dean forecast to hit there. I really wanted to come so rationalized that it would probably veer off (it did at the last minute, but I was already back home), while I should have just filed my claim and cancelled. The whole group came, then escaped. There was a lot of whining about how much others lost, plus what they paid to escape, and I reminded them how much joy they had not buying trip insurance. I got all of my lost money back within a month.

Hell, I don't even insure my house in Houston

Wow! I don't insure a farm house I own as it really wouldn't be a big loss, costs so much to insure 10 miles from a volunteer fire department and all, but I insure the one I live in. I hope you have other liability coverage at least.

 

[Scubagolf]

We (wife/permabuddy and I) get trip insurance for any trip over $5,000 for our combined air + resort/hotel. We have had two dive trips blown out midtrip due to injuries. One to Palau/Yap, the other to Turneffe Island. Our experience both times was very favorable, both financially and service wise with both DAN and the trip insurance carrier.

 

[jonhall]

They're worse. Much worse. Google Expedia horror stories, or Expedia rip-offs, or ........
Here's one from a small boutique hotel (former), owner in Playa.
Expedia: Bad for the Traveler, Bad for the Hotel

Have had 2 experiences with Hotels.com which, according to the article, is a part of Expedia. Cancellation policy is supposed to mirror that of the resort/hotel policy. Compass Point in Grand Cayman was full refund up to 14 days prior to stay (did this one hoping our timeshare would come through with an available week.) Club Quarters in Boston had full refund up to 24 hours of stay.

Two scenarios I looked at for Melia in Coz for a future date:

Expedia - whether you cancel before or after 3 days prior to stay you will have to pay a property fee of 1 nights stay plus taxes and fees. Could pay online or hold room with credit card and pay at hotel.
Hotels.com - show a special discounted rate and that there is no refund after booking stay. Only option was to pay online.

Can't see that I would ever stay anywhere with a cancellation policy like that whether it was hurricane season or any other time. A question I have is, with the Expedia example, if my CC were simply holding the room until I actually arrived to check in, couldn't I call my CC company and tell them not to allow the charge if a situation arose like for Dave's couple?

Couple of things come to mind regarding chains and penalizing one unit for the behavior of others in the chain. Like 7-11's charging $27+ for a case of water in the Tampa area as Irma moves into FL, these were franchises where the operator raised the prices on their own. 7-11 headquarters didn't condone that action. Should every 7-11 across the U.S. be penalized for bad decisions made by a handful of franchises.

Years ago we went to to a Holiday Inn in Cincinnati with another couple for a weekend. Paid for and made our way to the rooms. Our room had a broken bed and hair on the sheets. Unclean sheets in other couples room. Decided we wanted a refund but front desk was unwilling. Manager was not in for the weekend so couldn't get any satisfaction. Or could I? I asked the desk person for the manager's name so I could call the following Monday to voice my displeasure. Once he gave me the name, I looked him up in the phone book and called him at home. Had a refund within 5 minutes of that call. Sometimes you just have to talk to the right person in the business. Have stayed at Holiday Inns elsewhere that were fantastic.

 

[DandyDon]

Can't see that I would ever stay anywhere with a cancellation policy like that whether it was hurricane season or any other time.

It's just part of the game. Some hotels will give you a better price if you become a sale instead of a maybe.

if my CC were simply holding the room until I actually arrived to check in, couldn't I call my CC company and tell them not to allow the charge if a situation arose like for Dave's couple?

No, your CC will honor the terms of the booking.