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Hi John
Good question.
First of all, it does look as if all parts of Spain will be reopening in July. Whether there are the flights to get there is a separate issue.
The reason AVC are being vague is that there is a negotiation going on at present between Anfi management and your elected representatives covering this point. I cannot say more, but your situation is taken into account in these talks. We are pressing for points and weeks validity to be extended into 2021.
Roger
This is a difficult question to answer. According to the Spanish government, tourism can re-start in July. BUT this is subject to there being no rise in Covid-19 infections. It may also be restricted to countries with low infection rates. At present that would exclude the UK. Or it might mean British people having to quarantine on arrival in the Canary Islands and on return to the UK. Anfi’s concern is that they do not want to take back furloughed staff if guests either cannot come, or do not want to.
That is one option. There may be other initiatives coming from Anfi once we can agree the budgets needed.
Just to let you know, there are negotiations between the members’ representatives and Anfi regarding the position of weeks we have not been able to use. While I am not allowed to give any details, we are hopeful of agreeing a plan by the end of May.
Meanwhile, it does look as if the Canary Islands will be open again by the end of June or some time in July. The Spanish government has recognised that the islands have a much lower transmission rate of Covid19 than the mainland. Initially a 14 quarantine period will apply to travellers, but there is a plan to ease that to travellers who are Spanish Residents, then from Schengen area countries and finally to the rest of the world (which includes the UK).
Roger
Any decision to buy weeks has to be your own. If the price is right and the new weeks are good for you and your family, then go ahead. If they were bought as speculation or an investment, then do not proceed.
Maybe I am being a little naive, but I still think Anfi is a great resort and is better than so many hotels I have been to. Therefore I cannot see it declining into disuse. We just need to get past these court cases and travel restrictions. I hope we will be back there in the autumn.
Roger
There has been a new announcement today from the Spanish Government:
“The Spanish Government has set a date for throwing open its borders to UK tourists – with no quarantine period.
At present anyone arriving in Spain faces a 14-day quarantine, making holidays virtually impossible.
And restrictions remain in place for those in the country.
But the Government today said it aims to reopen borders to visitors around the end of June as its coronavirus lockdown fully unwinds.
Madrid last week imposed a two-week quarantine on all overseas travellers and effectively keeping borders closed, saying that was needed to avoid importing a second wave of the COVID-19 disease.
But the move was meant to be temporary and Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos said it would be phased out in parallel with travel being allowed within Spain, whose regions are easing restrictions in different phases.
“As soon as we Spaniards can travel to other provinces, foreigners will be able to come to Spain,” he told TVE broadcaster.
“From late June, we’ll start the tourism activity, I hope,” he said.
This is, of course, still subject to the death and infection rates remaining low. You will see reports about Gran Canaria Airport opening earlier than the end of June, but this is only for Spanish residents and some EU countries. The quarantine remains in place for all of these arrivals, even though the airport is open.
Source: Apple News
Hi Angus
Thank you for that information.
Have you actually received your award yet? If not, how long has it been since the judgement – I have no idea how long these cases are taking.
I am not sure there are ‘thousands’ of cases against Anfi. Much of CLA’s case load is now against other resorts. The figures from the main law firms suggest around 750 cases.
You are absolutely correct, the sales practices were indefensible. However, that does not detract from the fact that the resort is lovely. As to survival, I think it is important to understand that Anfi is divided into several operating companies. My reading of the court cases is that Anfi Sales SA is the legal entity being sued. Therefore that could cease trading without the actual operations arm of Anfi being affected. It is certainly not the money of members like myself that is being used to prop up Anfi Sales, and I would vigorously oppose any attempt to do so. My personal view is that we would all be better off without the sales operation, and I think that is well known.
Best wishes
Roger
Hi Paul
Sorry for any misunderstanding. To clarify: I was supposed to be at Anfi from 27 April-1 June. I was notified by email that the Spanish State of Emergency meant my weeks were cancelled because they were regarded a block rather than cancelling one week at a time.
As a member of the Gran Anfi committee I was due to be in Anfi later in June for one of our regular committee meetings. That has been cancelled as a precaution.
I don’t think Anfi are directly contacting members yet for weeks as far ahead as yours.
There will be more news in the next week or so as all the elected representatives of members are trying to negotiate a solution with Anfi management.
Roger Byatt
It does look as though there is a plan. Whether Anfi can re-open for the summer is still up for discussion.
Roger
I would send them an email:
Customer Services Department (General Enquiries)
Tel: (0034) 928 152 990
E-mail: customerservice@anfi.esI received one as well. It seemed they were a commission agent for Canarian Legal Alliance.
Has anyone been successful in claiming from their travel insurance?
Has anyone been rejected? On what grounds were you refused payment?
Please post your stories, with company names, here so we know what the current picture is.
Roger Byatt
I am with you. I have signed a new contract too.
Roger
Hi Moira
Anfi are saying that they will cancel contracts if you write to them. In the first instance I would email or call:
Customer Services Department (General Enquiries)
Tel: (0034) 928 152 990
E-mail: customerservice@anfi.esThey are working remotely.
If you need any help, please ask.
Roger
It is always hard to predict, and one of the biggest risks any government is going to take is the decision to reopen. I know many in the islands who are facing dire circumstances due to the lack of income, and we need to remember that Spain is not a very wealthy country, and they are hoping for tourists in the Summer.
The advice from RCI is that you contact them if they have not already contacted you. Here is the link:
I really like Khun, the new Asian fusion restaurant that operates in the evenings in Gran Anfi. I understand it is under the same management as Maroa.
Not impressed with the food at Chapter One, but it was a very quiet night when we went in December.
Roger
If you regularly need Euros then I have discovered a really good service that allows you to hold money in different currencies and transfer between your bank account and anyone else’s for very low fees, and you get the inter-bank rate not the tourist rate. I have used TransferWise for a couple of years when renting apartments and people want to pay in Euros. Now there is a Debit Card allowing easy cash withdrawal in any currency. The link is: https://transferwise.com/invite/u/rogerb467
If you use credit cards always pay in local currency. I have Nationwide Gold and Halifax Clarity, which also offer the inter-bank rate on overseas expenditure. Not good for cash though. You can see the latest best buys here: https://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/
They also have a great calculator for the best currency offers if you really need cash. Ordering in advance often gives you a better rate than ‘walk in business’.
Happy currency hunting!
Roger
Thank you to those of you who voted in the Gran Anfi election. The results were:
* Roger Byatt 256
* Mike Corrigan 279
Aase Simonsen 184
* Miguel Vivot Sorholt 193
Luc Versonnen 61Invalid papers: 177
Abstentions: 3,404The invalid papers are those not filled in properly or given to a proxy who was missing from the meeting. The abstentions are normally the votes held by Anfi Sales for unsold weeks.
* Elected to serve for 3 years.
Thank you, Robert.
Hi Derek
David Ledger and Richard Weston have more experience with points than me. As far as I am aware, a points contract can be handed back to Anfi for nil value or be forfeited if the fees are unpaid for two years (although this is riskier). My advice would be to enjoy all the 2020 points with a really good holiday then stop the contract.
Roger
They will not provide the kind of break down you are asking for Julie because they will not really discuss claims. But you could well be correct. It is just that the British level of debt is somewhat higher than other nations in percentage terms.
Even floating weeks do have a value. What I don’t like is Anfi getting tany weeks back ‘free’ that they then sell has high prices.
Roger
The system is supposed to be that if the week you are using is in the AVC system (and that can be a fixed week) then you should have an AVC card at check in. If the week you are using was bought resale or you have not joined AVC then you should have an unbranded card. It has been inconsistently applied, but I too have noticed it seems to be more ‘correct’ recently. It is part of trying to show there is value in paying the AVC supplement on our invoices.
Roger
It is to verify your identity for Money Laundering rules.
