Brian Taylor
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Hi Peter
I think the benefit still exists though is buried within the Anfi information. The list of benefits refers to 10% off. The benefit list refers to pre-booking transfers via AVC, though the other part of the list reads as if this isn’t free. In fact if you log into the members area, and go to AVC, it gives a link with the costs with the booking form. https://anfi.com/en/anfi-vacation-club-avc/airport-transfer.htm
10€ for bus, 50€ for car.Though if you go to a different link https://members.anfi.com/avc/memberbenefits_points/?avc=memberbenefits it then states there is 1 free return, see text copied below, and Anfi refer to clicking a link though there is no link – so back to contacting AVC!!
“- 1 free return transfer between the airport and the Anfi Resort.
In order to take advantage of your free transfer to the airport every year you shall request it no later than 3 working days before your flight departure.You just have to click on the following link and include certain data regarding your booking and flight and we will proceed with your transfer to and from the airport so that you only need to worry about enjoying your holidays. We assure you that the transfers are always direct, with no stops between the airport and Anfi.”
Do let us know if you find out whether or not the benefit is still offered and how it is booked.
Regards, Brian
Anfi have published the information below and a map – Anfi recommend avoiding the Arguineguin junction from the GC-1 and use junction 62 for Puerto Rico / Tauro & then travel via the GC-500 to / from Anfi.
We should know in first week or so how much disruption there is on the road between Arguineguin and Anfi. When the previous works were carried out in 2017 the stretch of road closed was much longer, and involved considerable delay, though after 2 or 3 weeks the road was completely closed on safety grounds and a one way system set up into Arguineguin via the road above Patalavaca.Remember if you are going via junction 62 you have the new Spar supermarket in Puerto Rico and the existing Mercadona in El Motor Grande very near the motorway junction and just north of Puerto Rico. Both excellent supermarkets.
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Anfi information:-
Important Information⚠️‼️ If you are packing up 🛫 to travel to Anfi, and are planning to rent-a-car 🚙, or you are heading to the airport home from Anfi as of next Monday 20/01/2020, please be informed that there will be temporary ⛔️ restricted traffic between Anfi and Arguineguin due to 🚧🏗 building works being implemented by the local townhall. Please see below the alternative if you are driving from/to Las Palmas airport into Anfi del Mar resort.
Thanks Roger, I just ran the cash currency calculator which is very useful as a guide. On 300€ to collect in my area, it gives best rate as 1.157, whereas M&S come in at 1.151 (oddly M&S list stores within 5 miles of me except for the one very close) – though M&S for me saves travel and parking charges, for £1.35 extra on £ cost. Best choice will vary for people
Current rate on Revolut which changes in real time, is 1.1674 & will match the interbank rate when trading market is open. So I could buy on my card now, and draw up to about 230€ free from ATM in Gran Canaria – saving a few £
I’ll definitely look at your Travelwise tip.
Brian
I’d meant to mention with Enterprise that they, like Autoreisen and TopCar, did not take money until I picked up car at the office.
But if you are looking at Enterprise take care which site you book through – for Australia if I booked through the UK Enterprise site I would have paid up front – going via their Australia site I only paid at the office when picking up the car, and the base price was 25% less than booking though the UK site, and at that time they also had a further 10% off if you booked via the link on their Australia home page.The other point to be aware of with Enterprise, and only relevant if you are ordering a Sat Nav with car, so not so likely in Gran Canaria, they took my order but didn’t have one when I picked up car – said nothing in the Melbourne area they could provide. Didn’t matter as my phone and Google maps worked fine, but if you are relying on a SatNav device I’d suggest double checking with Enterprise. I’d have struggled with no SatNav trying to get out of Melbourne!
Just read a recent Which article about car hire and GoldCar feature badly as do EuropCar, part of same group, also came out badly for complaints about unfair charges.
Autoreisen continue to get a very good rating (and I’ve used TopCar since they split from Autoreisen and found them very good). We are using Autoreisen next month, so will have an update then.
I used EuropCar when in Madeira last year and though in end they were OK, the process for collection and pressure selling was not a great experience.
Also most importantly if you do not have the credit card you used to book with you, EuropCar effectively cancel the contract and try to book you on the walk in rate – in my case it would have turned 120€ into 450€ – you may not have your card if for example it was cancelled and replaced if you had a fraud attempt. My Post Office card had been replaced, but recalled eventually that I’d used a different card as paid in £.
Upselling takes ages, they had big queue waiting but insisted in trying to upsell the model, insurance, accident cover etc etc – took nearly 30 minutes for me to get keys.Enterprise get a reasonable rating from Which and I used them on a recent trip to Australia with two separate bookings – one car was so-so and the booking admin from an off airport site was pretty poor, but no upsell and they were fine that I had my own damage insurance, their people are fine it just looks as if their systems are not as good. The other car was a “free” upgraded SUV and excellent, and pretty good service from the airport office – they had missed some damage but were quick to agree changes and update the form.
If you have Which membership you can read the full review on this link
I also used https://www.insurance4carhire.com/ which Steve recommended and getting the cover was very straightforward, though I’ve fortunately not had any claim yet, so can’t say how good they are on claims.
Brian
I collected my Euros yesterday and an easy pickup from my local M&S Customer Services counter – I had to have the id I used when ordering, and they have the currency in sealed packs in the till. When you order you specify the day you want to collect and then you have up to 7 days after that to collect before the order is cancelled.
M&S give a good range of notes as well – the 50€ pack has 2×5€, 2×10€ and 1×20€. The 200€ pack has 2×5€, 3×10€, 3×20€ and 2×50€.
Brian
A quicker update than I expected on the Revolut card – to apply I was referred to install the Revolut app, then once finished and verified the card can be added to my Google Pay – the physical card takes about 12 days to arrive, unless you pay for rapid delivery or sign up to the Premium service.
However I can see today’s rates from the app
Euro is 1.1678 which is pretty good. If you’re going further afield the US dollar is 1.299So I can buy Euros now at 1.1678 and draw up to £200 worth free, in a month, from ATM in Gran Canaria.
The card has a load of other features on budget and spend tracking. The Premium version at £8 per month doubles the ATM withdrawal rate and has features like worldwide insurance and the LoungeKey pass access for discounted access to airport lounges.
Brian
Hi Robert
I haven’t been since Pam & I were out on our last visit in Nov 2018 – as we rented out our weeks in 2019. The restaurant is family owned & run and has been consistently good over last 15 years or so.I’ve found reviews on Trip Advisor and it is rated 3 out of 26 restaurants in Patalavaca and has recent good reviews – link here
I don’t think you will be disappointed but be good to hear if you decide to go, what you think of it.
Pam & I are out again in a couple of weeks so may well be trying it ourselves, along with other favourites.
Regards, Brian
We discussed future meetings at our Committee meeting last Saturday, and intend to rearrange the March meeting in Scotland to 25th April, and we’ll be sending out a new email to check how this works for our members in Scotland.
The meeting after that will be 3rd October and will be in the Huddersfield / Leeds / Grantham area
Regards, Brian
If you’ve held off paying your 2020 maintenance fees you may be encouraged by the pickup in the £ which is just under €1.18 to the £ today, and had peaked at 1.20 overnight.
You can see the latest mastercard rate on the link https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/convert-currency.html – which covers all currencies.
This mornings BBC article gives more detail on the trend and the post election changes.
Remember too that with cards like Revolut you can lock in money when rates are good by buying Euros and use them later. (Of course you risk that if rates improve further then you’d be out of pocket)
Brian
message from David about the Cardiff meeting, which is on the News page as well:-
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Meetup – 4th Jan. 2020
Following the pattern of the last two committee meetings we are having a members’ Meetup session after the 4th of January 2020 meeting in Cardiff. It will start at 14:00 in a central Cardiff venue. Members who live within an estimated 90 minute journey will be receiving individual invitation emails, but not receiving one doesn’t exclude you. It will be open to all Club members.
If you would like to meet your committee and talk with some of those who meet with Anfi management, and also with other members like you then please come along.
We will be providing some light refreshments, and so need to know the number of attendees in advance. If you would like to attend we are asking that you email us at chair@anfiukmember.co.uk before 21st December, and we will send you the full details.
Advance notice –
The March committee meeting will be held in Scotland, and the July committee meeting is expected to be in the Harrogate or Darlington area. Both will be followed by members’ Meetups.David Ledger – chairman
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Hi Derek
I was “awake” quite early as was just back from Australia via Hong Kong, 22 hour day, and body clock about 8 hours out – getting better now!I did however look up the wrong apartment off my Anfi invoices – the €671.16 is a 2 bed one bath.
The nearest I have for 1 bed is a biennial week at €283.34 which is €566.68 over 2 years and aligns with your own figure.
As well as AVC fees, and though I don’t have floating at Beach, I do have a floating week at Monte and the floating week reservation fee is €117 which I try to cover if renting out.Our rental site is open to the public and in that sense “competes” with other rental sites, FaceBook pages etc and there is a range of prices on all the sites. Most of our rental adverts seem to rent out within 4 to 8 weeks and the adverts are very popular with members renting out, so in that sense the prices (mostly) seem to be in line with what the “market” is prepared to pay.
I’m not trying to justify any uplift, but non owners renting will only judge it on value for money for what is offered compared to their other options.Good luck with your search!!
Regards, Brian
The follow on meeting was held on 2nd November – the resolutions were passed. Thank you to everyone who had voted and to those who attended the meeting in September.
The minutes from the meeting are as follows and have also been posted in the News section:-
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Delayed Extraordinary General Meeting at the Royal Hotel Ross on Wye on
Saturday 2nd November 2019 at 15:00pmMINUTES
The initial EGM on 14th September did not take place as the assembly was not quorate. This is the delayed meeting where those present constitutes a quorum.
Present: Karen Taft and David Ledger
1. Apologies
A list of apologies for both the initial and delayed meetings is appended. There were no non-committee attendees.
2. Reports
No reports were presented
3. Resolutions
3.1 Questions on the Resolutions
There were no questions.
3.2 First Resolution
Change Constitution section 3 heading, replacing the word ‘Auditor ‘ with ‘Independent Reviewer’.
Insert a description of what is expected of an ‘Independent Reviewer’ between items 3.2.1 and 3.2.2, re-identifying the latter as 3.2.3.
In Constitution sub-section 3.2 heading, items 3.2.1 and 3.2.3, replacing the word ‘Auditor ‘ with ‘Independent Reviewer’.
The resolution was passed.
3.3 Second Resolution
In Constitution item 2.5.6 increase the quorum number to 12 and allow committee members to be included.
The resolution was passed.
3.4 Third Resolution
Change Constitution item 2.5.6 so that a non-quorate meeting may continue without taking votes, and that vote choices will be used at the replacement meeting.
The resolution was passed.
4. Close
Apologies received for both meetings (in no particular order):
Alex Calder, Beatrice Atieno, Bob Chadwick, Brian and Marilyn Wright, Carolyn Hawkins, Chris Hogan, Colin Pryke, Dave Dowlutta, Dave Morgan, David Anderson, David Blain, David Hemming, David Russell, David Gillian, Derek Davison, Derek Haswell, Dr John Porteous, Emrys Davies, Erlandsen Dag Finn, Jean Robinson, Garry Mitchell, Geoff Mathews, George Sutherland, Gwyn Baker, Hanne, Janice, Jeanette Williamson, Jim Cunningham, Jim MacGregor, Jim Read, John McGhee, John Pope, John Rattray, Julie Jordan, Keith Brown, Thomas Walters, Martin Almond, Martin Phillips, Michael Lister, Mike Corrigan, Moira Pinchin, Nick Robinson, Peter Lumsden, Peter Townsend, Peter Tyler, Philip Holland, Richard Fixter, Robert Jasper, Terry Longbottom, Terry Lowndes, David Lewis, William Cunningham, Caroline Corris, David Anderson, Jim Read, Catherine Patterson, John Watson, Gerry Edwards, Peter Jarvis, Margaret Guard, Charlie Engels, Lynne Mcmahon, Angus Seath, June Weatherill, Brendan O’Kane.
Postal and email votes received (not allowed to be counted under the then existing constitution, but shown here to indicate that the vote accorded with members’ wishes):
• Resolution 1: For 46 | Against 2 | Abstain 0
• Resolution 2: For 45 | Against 2 | Abstain 1
• Resolution 3: For 47 | Against 0 | Abstain 1
• David Ledger as proxy: 9
• Chairman as proxy: 1
Only seven members responded to the invitation to the initial EGM indicating that they would attend, so we were not expecting a quorum. The invitation to an informal get together with the committee after the EGM resulted in quite a number of attendees, but not sufficient to form a quorum.
Hi Derek
Just to add that as others have mentioned there are more permutations than just bedrooms – for example the 2 bed units normally have 1 bathroom though some have 2 bathrooms and maintenance cost is higher. 1 bed could be in studio or a separate one bed. The costs between the resorts vary as well.
And if people have points or floating weeks that have been converted to a week, there are reservations fees they would look to cover in rental cost for AVC or for floating week fee.The rental cost is really a question of negotiation, as people will renting will vary this depending on desirability of the week and how far ahead they are renting as they may reduce price after a while. Weeks between October and February are in demand and tend to fetch more, and the Xmas period even more as you mentioned. Also prices can be higher in the school holiday periods.
My one bed fees for beach club are 671.16 euros (fixed weeks). Though if I booked in Beach Club using points I have an AVC fee of 219 euros as well as the cost of the points.
Regards, Brian
The results of the voting for the Anfi Beach Club on 17th October 2019 are as follows, the 3 successful candidates being elected for 3 years:-
Mr Richard Weston. 258 – Elected
Mrs Maudy Vaessen. 225 – Elected
Mr Dag Fin Erlandsen. 219 – Elected
Ms Joyce Beije. 197
Mr Geoff Mathews. 131
Mr Giancarlo Tommasi 67
Mr Marc de Bruyn. 51
Mr Dick Brenner. Withdrew
The above are the votes cast and the 3 candidates elected.
Hi Derek
Thank you for the information – when you see points back to 2009 is that via the anfi.com website or the Anfi app?
Regards, Brian
I agree Robert, and so sorry for anyone who has had future flights affected, or current holidays. I used Thomas Cook when Pam & I came back from Anfi last November & it was a good price and good service. So sad to see such a long standing company not make it through (though the Condor wing was bailed out by the German government & survives). Also the company went into liquidation not administration which implies the management saw no scope for selling parts of the business.
My niece was working for a Thomas Cook high street shop in Manchester and was fortunate to find another job very quickly. Many of her colleagues are still searching and no pay cheque, as I read the o/s payments are being treated like other creditors.
It must be a concern that, at least short term, prices will go up, and I’d read that on some routes prices in the next month or so had shot up. I’d guess the October half term not so far away will be a bad period too, as prices already high (Norwegian was £450 for one way flight on one of half term weekends). I’d already booked my flights to Anfi next February with EasyJet some while ago, lucky as I did look at Thomas Cook at the time.
The plus side could be more trade for EasyJet, Norwegian etc and help their businesses to survive and prosper.
Regards, Brian
revised my search and found a later update and Norwegian were successful in extending bond payment
good news!!
I found this article published on 5th September, which says Norwegian are asking for extension to bond payments – the meeting was last week, but I haven’t yet found anything about the outcome
The company’s bonds, which mature in December 2019 and August 2020, will be extended to November 2021 and February 2022 if bondholders accept the revised terms. A bondholders’ meeting will take place on Sept. 16.
Regards, Brian
Norwegian are currently showing direct flights to/from Gatwick/Las Palmas up to end of March – flying on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Currently a LowFare+ ticket which covers 1 hold bag and seat booking costs £63 each way on most dates from November onwards, other than school holidays. October are high and the October school holiday prices are extortionate, with 2nd November £450!!At our recent regional meeting in Cobham one of the members mentioned they had heard that Norwegian were in financial difficulty and might not make it to the end of this year
I’ve looked online and the latest info I found is in Wall Street Journal in August
https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-turbulence-ahead-for-norwegian-air-11566295779
there is a large $320 million bond payment due in December that appears one of key risksAn earlier article in the Independent in April summarised losses in the first part of this year
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/norwegian-airline-loss-boeing-737-max-crash-ethiopian-air-grounded-a8885306.htmlI do hope Norwegian Air make it through as are one of my favourite airlines, and very well rated in the Which surveys, and in numerous airline awards
If anyone has any more recent information, please share it here!
Regards, Brian
Easyjet have just released the summer 2020 schedules and I’ve opened a new topic to cover this on this link
and closed this 2018-19 topic
Hi Richard
I’ll ask Roger Byatt and Richard Weston for comment on your question, as I understood when they had the European group meeting in June that Anfi advised that they were allowing owners to take away contracts. Also that Anfi had removed the hotelling clause from the contract that gave high penalties if you cancelled the contract or had it rendered null and void.
Regards, Brian
The meeting south west of London is going ahead this Saturday, 14th September and the members meeting is at 2pm in Cobham – when there will be a very short EGM that all members have been emailed about, followed by the members meeting. We’ll provide some refreshments for those attending.
We have emailed members living in the south east about the meeting, but if you are interested and didn’t get the email please contact David Ledger – chair@anfiukmembers.co.uk and David will send you details
Regards, Brian
Hi Peter
I’ve just resent my email of the 3rd to you – it will be a few days before new online copy is finished off
Regards, Brian
Hi Peter
Did you receive the guidance document I sent you on 3rd September?
I replied to your email query of the 2nd September on the 3rd, and sent a copy of the guidance document.The document is has a few small updates so I’ll put back online once we finish that work
Regards, Brian
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