Re: Playa Costa Verde Closed for Renovations?

[flopnfly]

I read on another board that the Playa Costa Verde has been closed for renovations.  Everybody is being bumped to the Playa Pesquero.
 
 Has anybody heard anything about this?  I'm not sure how accurate it is.

[huskypup]

Over here they are still offereing lots of holidays for Playa Pesquero - which seems to me that they aren't that busy - look at the price that Bellagio has paid for a week earlier than us, nearly £300 cheaper per person -  don't think they would be offereing that sort of deal - if they were busy.

[Gambitt]

Huskypup,
 
 I appologise for disagreeing, but if you check the new prices, as Bellagio and I were tonight, the PP has just skyrocketed in price.  The deal that he got, is no longer available
 
 We came to the conclusion, that this is why the prices at PP have gone up L300 since he booked!

[huskypup]

Just tried to look at PCV for late minute bookings can't get any, though did find a great deal for Iberostar Daquari, in the Cayos' leaving on the 28th Sep for £694.

[mojitomiss_cuba]

I've naturally been watching the PCV for the entire month of october and the better half of November, so I've got to be the sell off expert on this one  ;)
 
 The PCV was online Monday when I was at work. Signature was offering it for 637+. Got home Monday night, Signature was gone but sunquest and conquest were still there. Conquest was totally gone the next day and today the only tour operator still offering PCV in October is varaplaya (a french organization I think) so looks like the PCV is closed for renos

[bellagio]

Just received an email from someone in Ontario that had viewed my pics of the PP on photobucket:
 
 'We are going to Playa Pesquero near the end of Oct. and we\'re wondering if you have any advice you would share with us.  We were supposed to be going to Playa Costa Verde, but we have been moved to Playa Pesquero.'
 
 Looks like it could be closing for renovations by the sound of that email.

[mojitomiss_cuba]

B, my understanding is that they are closed for the month of October and reopening Nov. 1
 
 Most people that were booked there, seemed to have been bumped to the PP. Not too shabby of a deal eh?

[flopnfly]

that's what I heard as well.  I can't believe that people are actually complaining about being moved to the Playa Pesquero.
 
 I can understand that they have probably had their hearts set on PCV, but the PP is certainly a great upgrade.  It'll be interesting to read the reviews when they all get back.
 
 Closing the PCV for renovations was a smart move.  Nobody wants construction going on while they're trying to relax on their vacation.  Close it down, revamp it and then open the doors.

[gromstrela999]

I wass at the Playa Costa Verde in July for two weeks. At that time the resort was half full with sevral buildings closed. We walked around at night, i counted 7 buidlings that were shut down.
 
 The bellman who i know very well from previous visits, told me that booking were way down in comparison to previous seasons.  I asked, how were the booking going into the fall, he said they were down also.
 
 Our maid who spoke really good English, told me that after the date of our departure, she was laid off unitl December.
 
 Renovations, I doubt it, they are closing down, due to a lack of bookings, Playa Costa Verde and Playa Pesequero are both run by Gaviota.  It does not make any sense for them to run two hotels at less that half capcity.
 
 Hotels in Varadero, Havana are also being closed down.  Several days ago they announced a closure of several hotels in old Havana until late fall, renovations again is the reason.  
 
 The tourist trade is getting wise to the bullshit of the currency ripoff, the 10 percent surcharge to exchange your money. 10 per cent surcharge on credit card billings.  Prices have gone up for all services.  The DR, Costa Rica, Panama now are becoming more affordable.

[flopnfly]

Excellent points!!
 
 I agree that tourists are getting wise to the price gouging.  I noticed on our last trip to Cuba that it was becoming really expensive to do or buy anything compared to the first time we went.  Even getting a cheap last minute deal, the vacation ends up costing more than it used to.  
 
 We are looking at alternative islands, Panama being one of them.  We've been looking at Panama, San Andres and Roatan.