TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Residence Les Deux Ailes

Have a studio booked in Orient Village for our Thanksgiving Vacation through VRBO, the owner has just messaged me asking if we will check out 3 days early as she has some other clients who want to book and they "don't want to change their habits", she has offered us a 1 bed apartment in Residence Les Deux Ailes, if we will move out early. I know nothing about this place and can't find much online, all I can see is that, location wise, it looks to be part of, or near, the old Mt Vernon hotel. Has anyone every either heard of Residence Les Deux Ailes, or stayed there that can give me some information please.

I can't answer your question, but really? You have a confirmed reservation and at this late date your host is asking you to move out early to accommodate another guest? Is she offering you any compensation for your inconvenience?

I know I'm pissed, this is the 2nd time we've stayed there as well, she hasn't offered anything at the moment, apart from this apartment in Residence Les Deux Ailes, not only do we have a confirmed reservation, it is also paid in full!! Was just trying to find out about this new place before I make a decision

I agree with Georgia. No way would I change a paid confirmation at this late time no matter how nice this other place is.

Yeah, I think I'd say hell no, but in a very nice way, lol. Let the other guest stay at Residence Les Deux Ailes until you check out of the place you've already paid for. No way on earth I'd move. Not that you asked for my opinion....

I'm with Georgia, I think I'd just tell the person hell no. If it's a unit at Mt Vernon, the individual unit may be nice, but the complex is still somewhat in disarray and no WAY I would move from the Village to there. And if the other place is available for Thanksgiving, less than a month out?? That tells you something, huh?? I think that somehow the owner must have gotten her reservations screwed up, and she has two people confirmed for the same time frame. But I would just hold fast and tell her no.

I would suggest you contact VBRO and explain the situation. Ask what THEY can do for you. You may not get satisfaction through the owner at this point.
VBRO charged you a service fee so they should earn their money.
You may get lucky and they (VBRO) will put you in a nicer place, of course, for the same amount of money as your studio.
There are still a number of places available on VBRO in the village for Thanksgiving week.
Good luck.

Good advice, SeaStar!

To the original poster, please do post how this comes out.

Wow....I'm with all of the other ladies! You are being MUCH nicer than I would be by even QUESTIONING that this can/should happen. I would not even consider moving or leaving early.

But if SeaStar's idea works out, that could be a positive upgrade.

OK so here's how it ended up.

We didn't like the look of the Apartment she wanted us to move to so were either going to stay for the full time booked and paid for or find somewhere else ourselves. We do have friends on the island so to save any aggravation with the owner we have agreed we will move out early and go stay with friends for 4 nights, she has refunded the cost of four nights but we were not able to get her to compensate in any way.

Probably not the way most people would have handled it, but we're on vacation and are all for an easy life if possible. This was the 2nd place we had booked for this vacation, the studio we originally booked cancelled on us when we were on Island in July as the owner had sold the property. Maybe somebody is trying to tell us something.

This would have been the 2nd time we had stayed in this actual studio and were really happy with it and the location, but after being treated like this it will be the last, have not made a complaint with VRBO yet, but will do after we leave and the Security Deposit has been returned, the review we post for this visit will not be as stellar as the last one and will warn people of the type of treatment they may be subjected to.

Thanks for all your responses

Simon

OK, it's your vacation, I wouldn't have done what you did, but I really hope you enjoy your stay, after all this drama. And definitely make sure you BLAST the owners of the condo on social media for scr*wing you over..

Not cool at all. I hope you review or provide a link here so we can know who this was.

Definitely contact VRBO and have this accommodation eliminated from their site. I am actually amazed that you would decide to move out as requested. I probably would have had all my money refunded and found another place to enjoy my vacation. I can't believe what some owners do to their clients!

No business ethics. Burn them bad as they deserve it.

That was definitely #1 on the list, but no places we liked were available, will wait until we return and then contact VRBO.

Simon,

I hear what you’re saying and I probably would have taken the same pathway to resolution as you chose. One thing if you’re at home and have time to make alternative plans but if I read correctly, once there - who needs added grief as your vacation take-away?! But I would definitely have some very major words for the rental company once home and away from the line of fire.

Good luck and much enjoyment for the balance of your trip.

Thanks Pat, we are still at home, we booked this studio when we were on island in July as our original choice cancelled due to the property being sold, I will have some major words one the trip is completed

Don't expect to get much in the way of satisfaction from Airbnb. The specifics of the scam in this Vice story don't apply here, but Airbnb's response, and the Airbnb rating system, perhaps do.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/43k7z3/nationwide-fake-host-scam-on-airbnb

Mind blown.