Brian Taylor
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If you haven’t paid your 2019 maintenance fees yet, today (this evening!) is last day to be included in the prize draw Anfi has publicised.
The due date for fees is 31st January as per invoices. You can pay online at anfi.com in members area, or also on the new-ish Anfi App which I haven’t tried for payment yet – do let us know if anyone has used the app to pay!
Probably more pertinent to £ cost is the timing of what you think the exchange rate will be over coming weeks, and before/after the Brexit deal vote in parliament mid-January. There are some links above this post to items members have suggested in previous years as best value cards for paying fees.I found a MasterCard website that gives you the current day rate for currency bought on MasterCard – you just need to choose Euro to £ (Great British Pound) – currently showing 1 EUR = 0.906051 GBP which is 1.1037 Euros to the £. This rate is what Post Office card uses for non-sterling currency payments and I believe other branded Mastercards too.
https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/convert-currency.htmlIf same as last year Anfi will give you choice to pay in £ or Euros.
And off topic but on moneysavingexpert, they show you places where you can buy Euros or other currency, based on your location. Didn’t vary too much for me, so am picking up Euros at Heathrow when I travel next week.
https://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/holiday-money/Regards, Brian
Please see latest info on the 2019 AGM, which will be held on 9th March, on this link – we will publish and email full details early January.
Isn’t one of the problems that the replacement fund has not really kept up with expected outgoings and whilst unfortunate that the last few years had not contributed enough into replacement, an increase over next few years is needed to address this and balance out the money needed to replace and renew the items in apartments.
Be interested to know how much of the overall cost increase is in the replacement fund. Ideally the increase would be broken down into each main area of cost so we can see why the figure is 3.4%
Brian
Hi Chris
Thanks for your feedback. My own view on adding children is that if your children want to take on Anfi long term & if you are getting on in years, then adding them now is a good idea, as if the owner dies then transfer is a bit of a hassle if the child is not on ownership certificate. But, I believe you are right that people listed are jointly (and severally) liable for fees – not really a problem with Anfi currently as they take weeks back, but if that “policy” changed then that could be problem. Less so if the children want to keep weeks at Anfi.
Currently if you added children and didn’t pay then the children would be jointly liable – at least that’s my view. I’ve asked my colleagues on committee for comments.If children not interested long term I wouldn’t add them.
But you ought to consider adding spouse if not currently on certificate. Pam and I have weeks where I’m the owner on some and Pam is on others, so joint ownership listing is better for us. Anfi’s offer is really good for this situation & saves on fees for adding owner.Regarding the letter about law firms I had the same letter when out in October. CLA are one to be cautious about. We have over a 100 members claiming via JLCA with an arrangement the Club agreed with JLCA for fees etc. But as with any deal look carefully at fees.
What I’ve not seen is anyone who has contacted Customer Services and had any good outcome, though perhaps that might be something different now.If you wanted to resell you can do so, children added are part of the contract, though you’d sell and that would be end of obligation. Selling fixed weeks is pretty easy. Floating are worth very little due to Anfi’s changes in booking availability, though Anfi ought to offer underlying week after recent court cases. Points would revert to underlying week, we believe!
Hope that helps
Brian
I should have posted a link to the published 2017 accounts before now – please see the accounts and treasurer report on this link
Brian
Hi Bob
It may vary between airports and season – we flew out in October with Easyjet from Gatwick and left just before 3p.m., arriving before 7.30p.m. and into Anfi before 9.
Easyjet in some months/days do an early flight from Gatwick leaving about 7a.m., early start but you do get into Anfi for early afternoon so gain an half day & eveningWe came back with Thomas Cook on a Monday flight leaving mid afternoon, cost a bit more but a good to get back early evening.
In January we are flying with BA from Heathrow, and the flight times are early afternoon out and back. Cost looked good at first but when I added it all up it does cost a fair bit more than Easyjet.
We’ve also used Norwegian quite a few times, though last time I looked was quite late into Gran Canaria. I really like Norwegian though they have been very late in last year or so publishing some flight schedules.
What times are you seeing with Easyjet?
Regards, Brian
Hi Peter
Anfi have an item on their website in the members area under News, though a few items down the list – it just says to call Customer Services & I’ve copied the news item below. They have the same item on the Anfi app. There do not appear to be any forms to fill in though perhaps they send them when you call them.
Be interested to know how you get on as Pam & I are intending to update our contracts into joint names.
Kind regards, Brian
NB For our members who prefer a different language version, Anfi have published the same item in several languages – all on the Anfi website and app.
————————————IMPORTANT INFORMATION
(EN) Dear Anfi Member,
In the Customer Services Department we are at present updating the database of Club members, and we are aware that over the years personal circumstances may change that affect the title holders of the certificates, and that members may wish to add or remove names, or require other revisions to the certificates.
The 31st January 2019 is the date we have set as our objective to update the title holders of the certificates in the database, and to help us to meet this deadline, changes will be completed at no cost whatsoever to you, our members.
Please call in to our Customer Services department, open from Monday to Friday 08.00 to 17.00 hours; or by calling us on: (34) 928 15 29 90 (press option 1), or by emailing us at: customerservice@anfi.es and inform us of the changes you wish to make.
All the Anfi clubs wish to thank you for your continued trust in us and we look forward to seeing you and your families for many holidays to come!
Kind regards,
María Hidalgo,
Manager Customer Services Department
—————————————————Anfi have just published a letter in the members area of anfi.com regarding the “rumours” about Anfi becoming a hotel or resort – the information below is in line with the information we have already posted above:-
—————————————————-
Anfi del Mar, 29th November 2018
Dear Members,
We are aware of some rumours circulating that state that Anfi will become a hotel or an all-inclusive resort. The General Management would like to reiterate that this is simply NOT true and that Anfi is, and will remain a timeshare resort. The legal structure of Anfi and its Clubs means that they are protected and cannot be converted to any other form of hotel accommodation.Some of our Members have contacted us enquiring about special offers regarding Anfi Sales unsold inventory. These specifically targeted campaigns have been common practice for many years, both in Anfi, and in the timeshare industry in general. The only objective is to use the non-booked weeks to attract new potential owners to our Anfi family through a lead generation programme to experience Anfi’s product with a view to their purchasing timeshare weeks.
We wish to highlight that none of your rights or services to which Anfi is committed to provide have been or will be restricted in the future. Anfi shall continue to offer the same top quality services that you have enjoyed to date, guaranteeing your stay each year and working hard to protect your interests. Your membership is highly valued and we will do our utmost to ensure that you and your family will continue to enjoy safe and unforgettable holidays in the coming years.
On a final note, we would like to thank you once again for your loyalty over the years, and remind you that we are here to help and to answer any questions you might have. Please contact the Customer Service department by telephone at (+34) 928 152 990 or by email at customerservice@anfi.es if you require any assistance at all.
Thank you.
Kind Regards,
Jose Luis Trujillo
General Manager
Anfi Group
—————————————————————————Hi David
The most popular months are Oct – Feb which are very popular with Scandinavians and some British and German owners. There are contracts that allow booking 18 months upfront hence the shortage of weeks.
It is very frustrating that Anfi can’t tell you what is available and you have to keep asking for a specific week. Or try emailing with a list of weeks!Pam & I have resale floating at Monte and find around May is an easier month to get. Or around the spring excluding school holidays. Though oddly when we called earlier this year we got a January week, so maybe worth calling and just keep asking for different weeks.
We also have points at Gran Anfi which are direct purchase from Anfi so we book via vacation club & this sometimes seems to get us time that isn’t available via our resale Monte week.
As you may well know, in your “home” resort you can book 12 months ahead, but in the other resorts you can access them 10 months ahead – at least as far as I know, but check with customer services. If you can do this you might get a week at Beach, Monte or Puerto.
Regards, Brian
Barbara
I’ve put a couple of links below that might be of use if you are considering the contract legal positionPro’s and Con’s of making a claim – as updated March 2018
text of email that Anfi sent out earlier this year warning of cold call “lawyers”
we published a guide for members back 2016 on options to dispose of a timeshare contract, should this be relevant – via this link
As David has explained in his follow on email, the weeks are held in trust. If you have points or floating weeks, then following the court cases Anfi have assigned underlying weeks against these types of ownership, though only provide this information on request as far as we know.
Regards, Brian
Hi Barbara
I’ve copied your questions below and answered as best as I can. There are various posts on different threads/topics about the items you raised. Really useful questions from you for anyone just looking at this from scratch:-
What safeguards do we have, if any, when Lopesan have full control of Anfi?
– the overall ownership of Anfi will change but the company i.e. Anfi, still stays the same.Are our existing contracts legally binding on either side?
– the contracts are as they are now. Some of the court judgements mean that some contracts will need amendment.Is it true that Anfi /Lopesan want to replace existing contracts with ‘water tight” contracts.
– Anfi are replacing some contracts as a result of recent legal judgementsI have had a discussion (cold caller) with a legal company professing to be able to claim back all of my original investment plus maintenance costs over the years. Obviously at a cost, % not confirmed but looking around 25%, or more for a no-sale no fee.
– please very careful if you talk to cold callers. CLA appear to have have obtained phone numbers of various owners. Anfi UK have an arrangement with JLCA for legal claims. Please see the claims Forum section. Latest court decisions have not allowed claims for maintenance costs, this also means your claim for legal fees will not be successful as unless the claim is 100% successful the legal fees are not awarded under Spanish law.A letter placed inside the apartment suggested that even if legal action were to be successful, owners would have to pay Anfi for all the weeks they have occupied the unit.
– recent court decisions have said that awards are adjusted to reduce by the amount of time that owners have had at AnfiIf so, what about the holidays taken elsewhere paid for by the points system?
– not sure we’ve had cases to confirm this, but expect that the amount of any award will be reduced in same way as other weeks taken i.e. if you have had benefit from the weeks in each yearBrian
Pam & I didn’t have time to fit in Vivaldi’s on our last visit. By Pireta did you mean Cueva Pirata? – which we did visit and has a wood burning grill which you can see the chef cooking at from most tables – though it does close around May for family holidays, so may not fit with your weeks.
Which wood burning restaurant in Bahia Feliz did you use?
Brian
We went twice on our last visit to Anfi and were not disappointed. Really good service and great food. Lovely steaks and fish, nothing disappointed us.
Definitely up there with Palm Garden and Montsemar. On our second visit Pam & I had the steak for 2 that we’d seen others have on our first visit. Very good, photo below.
Do book ahead as all tables were reserved when we were there.
Brian
Pam & I went to Montsemar 3 times over the 3 weeks of our stay at Anfi. First time just the two of us, we shared the garlic prawn starter which was excellent. I had the fish of the day dish they do with 3 fishes, tuna and two white fish, the fish vary day to day, really good meal. Pam had steak which was very good.
Second time we went with our son, his wife and the two little girls – we went when they opened at 6 p.m. and the waiters were excellent with the 2 little girls. Like nearly all the restaurants we went to they serve the little ones same as adults, so dessert in a delicate glass bowl, however all went well.
Prawns for starters, fish and steaks on mains, all very good. Girls had pasta which they brought out early to keep the girls going.A week later we were back on our last night at Anfi with the 2 friends staying with us. Food again all very good, the fish of the day had changed with 3 white fish.
Overall very good though Palm Garden ahead slightly.
The area around Montsemar has improved a lot over last year – the nearby pool and sunbed area has been completely renovated and looks great. Photo below is looking down from road above. The pool and beds are part of a spa area.
Whilst you can walk from Anfi in 20 minutes, as just past Valentinos, you can also drive or get taxi, and go down the road just to left of roundabout at Patalavaca which loops under the coast road, then just a few minutes walk to Montsemar (or Valentinos, or Cabosuroeste). We walked twice but drove with the girls as on that evening the heavens opened and heavy rain for a short while, and too far for a 5 year old to walk back after meal.
Brian
Thanks Roger – I do pay for AVC via the Gran Anfi points we have. Pam & I had AVC for the Gran Anfi points as we can’t use them without AVC – we have resale fixed weeks in October, and May, and floating Monte resale week. We also pay another annual fee to be able to book the Monte floating week!!
Until now, over last 5 years or more, we have always had an AVC card for all of above, including May this year when in the resale fixed Beach Club week.
As far as I know I can’t pay for AVC in relation to the other weeks, unless paying a huge £ to convert them, about £8k per week from a conversation with rep about 2 years ago!!
I don’t follow the argument about value in paying AVC supplement as I already pay it! You only pay once each year for AVC not per week, don’t you?I do wonder if I had other direct fixed weeks whether these would be included with AVC card i.e. is this another attack on resale owners. Hard to prove unless we have other members who have mix of fixed direct sale weeks and direct floating/points with AVC.
Though perhaps a question to ask at next liaison meeting with Anfi?It is actually quite disgraceful behaviour from Anfi which I doubt they’d get away with in UK under consumer law, unfair contract terms etc.
Brian
I forgot to add that the whole interior has had a make over and it looks very good indeed. Was told it was done in June when Palm Garden closed for holidays.
There is wood cladding on some of the walls, new lighting, and full redecoration. And new flooring. I didn’t get a chance to do a photo.
Some photos of the food –
Steak:-
Pork wrapped in bacon:-
Chateaubriand:-
Raspberry dessert:-
Chocolate souffle:-
I haven’t eaten at Maravilla but we went past it twice on Saturday on the way up to Palm Garden, and on return. It was certainly busy at just before 7.30 with most tables taken.
The restaurant does look very smart.Brian
Went back on our recent Anfi stay and took 2 friends who were staying with us. The meal and service was good, and tables fully booked when we arrived at 7.30
My only disappointment was that my steak from the “specials” menu was not as tender as it could have been. The others had piglet or lamb shoulder and said very good.
For dessert the chocolate souffle was excellent, tiramisu was OK
Overall we feel Palm Garden has the edge and the steaks at Palm Garden were superb
Brian
Pam & I went near Poema del Mar though didn’t have time to go in. It is just after the Commercial centre that is opposite the Museo Elder, and Poema del Mar is built alongside one of the docks – huge building, see photo below. You could easily walk from the shopping centre to Poema del Mar in a few minutes, or it must have its own parking. It costs 25 euros per adult, so you need to allow time to get value for money.
On Poema del Mar website it shows some good pictures of interior and it appears to have walkway “tunnels” for children that run through some of the tanks.From the shopping centre we walked over past Museo Elder and over to Las Canteras beach in 10 minutes. Much easier than trying to get parked closer to the beach! And the pedestrian walkway from shopping area has been improved since our last visit. Parking at the shopping centre is free for first 3 hours.
I saw on map that there is another aquarium just a little north of the dock area.
The photo below is from the walkway that goes from the shopping centre over toward Museo Elder.
Brian
I drove along the road by the walkway a few times when at Anfi over last few weeks – the new walkway is in use and there are activity points along the route with various exercise equipment. Looks very good.
I was just out from 15th October to 5th November and hadn’t seen that, our apartment overlooks the beach and I paddled across a couple of mornings when going to Spar
Brian
Pam & I were out from 15th October to 5th November, the park is open though closed until late afternoon. They take off the covers before about 5 p.m., then close up mid to late evening.
Our granddaughters (2 and a half years and 5 years) were out for a week with us. Loved the FunPark. The trampolining is best though maybe for 4 or 5 years plus. Other rides are good too.
Suggest you look over the rides available before committing. Though definitely worth a visit. There is a long slide like the one that was near the plaza, very good.
My granddaughters were worn out after, so result!!
Brian
We went about 2 weeks ago. They still do the Sunday thing with a “live” jazz player and all went well for us.
Saw same jazz last Sunday as we walked past to go to Montsemar. And most tables taken.
Brian
We booked my son and his wife into Palm Garden 2 weeks ago and they loved it, excellent food and service. It was just before the rainy evening a week or so back but they had first course on terrace and then moved inside for for mains and dessert.
Last week Pam & I and 2 friends staying with us went there and was best meal of Pam & I’s 3 weeks, and of our friends week. I had the pork wrapped in bacon and really good meal, pork was really good. Pam had steak. Our friends had Chateaubriand – all really good.
I had, again, the raspberry dessert (called “Hot Love” and waiter said would work within 45 minutes!!) The other desserts were also great.Brian
