Val Thorens 14 - 21 Jan 2012

Don't mess with a man with a mop.
Mops and robbers

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/shopkeeper-fights-off-robber-with-a-mop.html

Re the cleaning row:

Strangely enough the opposite experience happened to me with Pierre et Vacances in Meribel over the New Year.

We had to be out of the self-catering apartment by 10 a.m. on Saturday and we wanted to ski that day, so at the beginning of the week I asked them if they'd clean it for me so that I wouldn't be too stressed and tired after cleaning to enjoy myself on the slopes. The standard cleaning charge was 35 euros and I reckoned it was well worth it when the three of us were paying about £25 an hour each for time on the snow, so that we could get out as soon as possible.

Anyway, I hoovered it the day before, and did a quick whip round clean in the kitchen etc. (but not my usual in depth clean) before we left. And then when we had it inspected they only charged me 25 euros and seemed very pleased. So I was happy to get an extra 10 euros to spend on hot chocolate etc.

I do think the tour agents and the apartment managers should improve the level of their communication - both with each other and with the holidaymakers. I rented the apartment through Igluski who got it from Ski Horizon who got it from Pierre et Vacances. All Igluski told me was the name of the apartment, the date, and the resort. And when I asked them for extra information the day before we left they said there wasn't any. But on the way out on the Eurostar I phoned them again and they said they'd sent me an e-mail - well it was a bit late then because I didn't have any access to my e-mails. And in fact I never did find out what it said because when I tried to read it in resort somehow it deleted itself.

But I'd stayed with P&V several times before so I knew the general rules re cleaning etc. You either pay extra for them to clean, do a really thorough job yourself (they expect you to wash windows and polish mirrors etc.) or pay a hefty fine as they inspect the apartment before you go.

I should think Odalys has the same rules and it was Ski Horizon that was at fault.

Edit
The man with the mop shouldn't have been so nasty and threatening, though, or pushed your dad. I would complain about that, if I was you, to Odalys.

Ally

AllyG wrote:Re the cleaning row:

Strangely enough the opposite experience happened to me with Pierre et Vacances in Meribel over the New Year.

We had to be out of the self-catering apartment by 10 a.m. on Saturday and we wanted to ski that day, so at the beginning of the week I asked them if they'd clean it for me so that I wouldn't be too stressed and tired after cleaning to enjoy myself on the slopes. The standard cleaning charge was 35 euros and I reckoned it was well worth it when the three of us were paying about £25 an hour each for time on the snow, so that we could get out as soon as possible.

Anyway, I hoovered it the day before, and did a quick whip round clean in the kitchen etc. (but not my usual in depth clean) before we left. And then when we had it inspected they only charged me 25 euros and seemed very pleased. So I was happy to get an extra 10 euros to spend on hot chocolate etc.

I do think the tour agents and the apartment managers should improve the level of their communication - both with each other and with the holidaymakers. I rented the apartment through Igluski who got it from Ski Horizon who got it from Pierre et Vacances. All Igluski told me was the name of the apartment, the date, and the resort. And when I asked them for extra information the day before we left they said there wasn't any. But on the way out on the Eurostar I phoned them again and they said they'd sent me an e-mail - well it was a bit late then because I didn't have any access to my e-mails. And in fact I never did find out what it said because when I tried to read it in resort somehow it deleted itself.

But I'd stayed with P&V several times before so I knew the general rules re cleaning etc. You either pay extra for them to clean, do a really thorough job yourself (they expect you to wash windows and polish mirrors etc.) or pay a hefty fine as they inspect the apartment before you go.

I should think Odalys has the same rules and it was Ski Horizon that was at fault.

Edit
The man with the mop shouldn't have been so nasty and threatening, though, or pushed your dad. I would complain about that, if I was you, to Odalys.

Ally

Ally I think I'd rather pay the 35 euro and let them clean the place. I don't pay out good money for a holiday to then have to spend half a day cleaning it at the end, to then only worry about if it's clean enough for them etc etc. you could spend a whole day cleaning an apartment properly and i can still bet they would charge you something?

I think they need to get real, these places are tidy when you get the keys but I'd never say there spotless. This to me is why they employ maids, now don't get me wrong, I don't expect anyone to have to clean up after me at all, it isn't their job. However if I leave the place clean and tidy as Ilike when I first got there I would expect them to just give it a quick Hoover ready for the next guests.....