Put to the test on a bait and switch luxurious vacation…

My last post was about those trying moments when all you can do is simply “weather the storm” and now my boyfriend and I find ourselves severely put to the test. We booked the Grand Fiesta Americana, an all-inclusive, luxurious Mexican vacation, returning an adult only facility with a 4.6/5 Trip Advisor rating for food, service, amenities and overall experience. We’ve been fantasizing, in anticipation, and revisiting our pictures from the very romantic vacation we enjoyed just before Covid hit; the calming and peaceful ambiance throughout the entire hotel, including the lobby, the VIP lounge with high end liquor and sushi bar, gorgeous infinity pools, stunning water view from every restaurant/bar/hotel room and outstanding service levels across the board. We land, we jump into the private car service we’ve pre-arranged, cerveza’s in hand, we’re chatting with our friendly driver… until he drops us off at the “Fiesta Americana”.  We explain, “No, wrong hotel, we’re staying at The Grand Fiesta Americana.” The driver says, “No, hotel was sold and it’s a Hilton now.” So we have no choice but to get out of the car and figure out what the hell happened. Indeed, on our trip agenda it says “Fiesta Americana” and not the “Grand Fiesta Americana” even though all email exchanges with the travel agent state the Grand hotel.We think our travel agent f—cked up. We tried to sort the whole thing out with the front desk, the concierge, WestJet Vacations, but no one seemed to care. We decide to take a look around, given our lack of success at resolving the issue and realize we’re standing in a 3/5 hotel at best and this will not do. But it’s also Saturday night and the odds of a resolution are slim to none until Monday when everyone gets back to the office. We send an email to our travel agent and hunker down. The food is 2.5/5 at best and the service is little better. The travel agent, bless his soul, saw our email Saturday night and got to work. He spent 3.5 hours on the WestJet customer service line on his Sunday/weekend. WestJet proceeds to send me an email listing the costs we would need to incur to move over to the hotel we booked in the first place. I’m waiting for my travel agent to call me as I sit writing this. Stay tuned. I’ll let you know what shakes out. Also, 411, double check any travel plans you make because the same hotel chain owned Grand Fiesta Americana and Fiesta Americana and they pulled a bait and switch. They informed no one about this huge change and sell off to Hilton, is also no longer adult only. Pretty big game change without letting WestJet Vacations, the travel agency or the travellers know. We were not given the option to cancel or make other plans. This hotel chain took our money and then scuttled us off to their crappy sister hotel down the road, with 3 restaurants/1 bar vs 8 restaurants/5 bars. Holy hell is all I can say. Can you say Better Business Bureau?! Just sayin’ ;) Hugs. XO

Blessings,

Chatgirl