I’ve been scolded for giving my play-by-play for changing my AA award ticket on the way back from Tahiti. I have to tread lightly so as to not sound like I am complaining once again. This time I’m really not. This time I’m taking in the latest development in stride.
I received an email from the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa that stated the following:
Dear Mr. Bachuwa,
We would like to thank you for choosing the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa for your stay in French Polynesia, and look forward to welcoming you to Bora Bora.
We are reaching out to you today so as to inform you that the resort is currently experiencing an air conditioning issue. We expect this problem to prevail for a couple of weeks.
Please be assured that we are putting our best efforts in ensuring that you enjoy a beautiful stay in Bora Bora nonetheless. Besides this air conditioning issue, we guarantee that the resort is fully operational, and that all overwater villas are well-ventilated.
Considering this unexpected situation we would therefore like you to consider some alternate options:
1- Should you wish to confirm your stay at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa, we would be happy to credit back your IHG points.
2- Should you wish to cancel your stay, we guarantee that no cancelation fees will apply.
We hope that the above proposals meet your expectations, and would be grateful if you could get back to us with your preferred option in order to modify your reservation.
Again, we apologize sincerely and remain convinced that your stay with us will be memorable.
A million things come to mind:
- How bad could it be with no AC when you’re in a bungalow?
- Must be bad if they are willing to credit all the points back.
- How crazy is it that they would refund all the points even if I went?
- Obviously, I’m not going to let an issue like AC mess up my plans.
- With the short notice, who has the luxury of saying, ‘Yup, I’ll just cancel,’?
- Do I do them like Oliver and ask for more?
- Damn right, I do.
- That resulted in nothing but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
- Damn right, I do.
- Why does the AC never work where I go!
Anyone have anything to say? Otherwise, I’ll sleep with the fishes.
On the surface it seems like a great deal that they would refund all points and basically give you a free stay. but Its gonna get HOT! I recommend rescheduling if possible and ask for additional points as compensation for moving your reservation. Otherwise Good luck without AC.
I don’t do well in the heat! It’s like ‘gun to head’ do you want to cancel or have nowhere to stay after planning this forever. I asked for transport from airport and champagne and food and drink credit. They said no.
Luckily it’s only 2 nights there and the rest in the Hilton Moorea.
Like I said though, it must be so bad if they offered a refund that quickly. That leads me to believe that this may very well be an awful experience.
hmmm, no ac. would they consider moving you to le moana sister property? i can tell you from experience it gets mighty hot on a sunny day. what’s the weather forecast for your stay? if cloudy, it may be bearable with windows open to ventilate.
I’m staying in le moana for the first night….I agree, this could get tricky. Do I want sun and misery or clouds and a pointless vacation?
Having stayed at the Hilton Bora Bora in May 2013, I will provide you with this perspective: When we had arrived, the first thing I did was put on the AC. Normally I do this anyway, but being in a tropical location with abundant sunshine, and a bit more humidity than I am accustomed to [and this coming from someone that lives in a coastal city on the East Coast], I was so glad to turn on the AC.
Despite Bora Bora being almost heaven on earth– and would return in a heartbeat– if I was told in advance that my hotel in Bora Bora had its AC not functioning, I would stay elsewhere, or cancel the trip if it was too late to stay anywhere else.
Without AC in Bora Bora, you will be *incredibly* miserable, despite the jaw-dropping beauty of the area.
im with you on that. im glad it’s just two nights of ‘suffering’. i hate no AC it’s demoralizing. it’s like getting into a shower and trying to trick yourself that the water will be hot. when i lived in mongolia, that was a daily occurrence.
it’s when we suffer that we learn the most about ourselves.
but you won’t ~really~ suffer.
i’m fairly certain that people lived many a year without AC all over the planet.
sweat out the toxins, turbo the fan, and grab the points.
i’d like to frame this comment and put it in the TPOL hall of fame.
contact my agent, acquire the rights, and you can do just that. or. you can bypass my agent and just give me the points you grab as a symbolic genuflection to me.
you, my friend, are a poet. please comment more often
“I have to tread likely…”(sic). Tread lightly maybe?
lol
no pho in bora bora.. ill pass
perhaps tpol’s last trip to these nonsense paradise places. i prefer the grimy pho filled cities