Gatwick Airport
I was looking for a JY rep, and if it had not been for the luggage labels the young man with the tiny Travelsphere ID card round his neck would not have found me. He was well away from the check in kiosks where all the other reps were to be found.
Catania Airport
I think our TM, Roberto, was the easiest TM I have ever found at an airport. Organised us very well as to where he wanted us to wait. So, when we were all present we went to the coach.
Nino our driver was excellent. Didn’t speak much English but was always cheerful, smiling, helpful, and very, very safe.
Hotel Olimpo
Considering we were booked into this hotel at the last minute everything went well. The hot food at the buffet dinner was never very hot, so we had to have luke warm, or a cold meal from the other selections. But there was a good selection of fresh fruit, and mouth watering desserts.
The excursions were full on, a couple of days there were 8.00 a.m. starts, returning a little before 6.00 pm. There was very little time for window shopping, or for stopping to take photographs. If you stopped you lost the group.
Fiesta Athenee Hotel.
We were tagged on arrival with a brightly coloured plastic “bracelet” to show which class of guest you were. We were the lowest. So, want Wi-Fi €4/hr or €10/day. Want to use the safe, hand over another €4/day. Want a towel for the beach, that’s another €2.50 to have it washed. Don’t drink the water from the tap – buy ours at €2.80 from the mini-bar – except it was empty. I am sure they forgot to charge us for using the fridge.
Also on arrival we were given a map showing the layout of the site which had instructions on the back. We have this, that and the other. Don’t do this, or that, or anything else that you may enjoy which will be inconvenient for us. The hotel was very busy and the staff were overworked. They were always rushing round looking harassed.
Buffet meals were in the basement restaurant. I never could work out the logic of why things were placed where they were.
There wasn't anywhere in the shower for gel, or shampoo other than the floor. No drawers at the table or in the wardrobe, and I didn't have a chair in my room.
The racket that passed for music was usually outside. One night it rained, the equipment was brought inside and placed at the end of the corridor leading to our rooms. When I complained it had kept me awake I was told it was my fault I could not get to sleep because I did not ring reception and ask for it to be turned down.
For an area teeming with fresh fruit it was hard to find. Oranges were cut into portions, and even the bananas were cut in half.
So, having said that, the evening meals in the beach restaurant were based on a menu, with table service, with cheerful smiling helpful staff, and better food than in the main restaurant. No wonder it was always fully booked. The lunch time snacks at the beach bar were good, and very reasonably priced.
The hotel was very clean. I think if we had accidentally dropped anything we would have been told to pick it up.
It must be emphasised that this is my personal opinion. I hated the place, but others liked it. Perhaps as I have got older I have become less tolerant and raised my standards.
Gosh, all this sounds like a right old moan. But it was a good holiday, and if it had not been for the Athenee would have been very good.
Sylvia