Was 50 metres from the apartment 50 metres too far?

[misty]

But you haven't fully read the website. BTW that's how this whole debacle started.

A LISTENING service is advertised. Not watching & listening. (Sorry for the caps, none of the addtl features work when I post)
Do the resort staff just throw the kids in a room with DVD's, bean bags & close the door?
BTW the ski holidays do state "night crèche".

[pegasus]

(snip) ... Do the resort staff just throw the kids in a room with DVD's, bean bags & close the door? ...(snip)

If you fully read the brochure Misty you will discover that the children are continuously  supervised and to a very high standard.

[pegasus]

Had the missing child's parents actually ever been to any MW resort before?

[misty]

If you fully read the brochure Misty you will discover that the children are continuously  supervised and to a very high standard.

Every brochure for every nursery will tell you that. My daughter has worked in several nurseries & Early Years settings so I would beg to differ, given her experiences.
It's also worth looking at the variable qualification levels when applying to become a MW nanny.

[pegasus]

A LISTENING service is advertised. Not watching & listening. ...(snip)

Dear Resort. I wish to complain about your false advertising. Your brochure says a free glass of wine with every meal. I was horrified when in addition to the glass of wine you also gave me a free dessert, a coffee, an after-dinner liquour, a selection of newspapers, and a bunch of flowers. You have deliberately provided a service far better than what I assumed when I couldn't be arsed to read your brochure properly. I therefore demand a discount, and while your at it I'll have an extra 10% off as well.

[misty]

Dear Resort. I wish to complain about your false advertising. Your brochure says a free glass of wine with every meal. I was horrified when in addition to the glass of wine you also gave me a free dessert, a coffee, an after-dinner liquour, a selection of newspapers, and a bunch of flowers. You have deliberately provided a service far better than what I assumed when I couldn't be arsed to read your brochure properly. I therefore demand a discount, and while your at it I'll have an extra 10% off as well.

What do you understand from the description "a Listening Service"?
Did the travel agent or online brochure explain it properly for you or did you have to read a section called "Evening Activities" to find out about "Evening Inactivity"?
Does it tell you that you have to transport your child from your holiday residence to a room full of potentially noisy toddlers watching Frozen?
Does it tell you someone will be watching them as your child plays/sleeps?
Does it tell you that really you're going to be forced to pay top whack for a babysitter to ensure your child can be properly settled for the night?

[pegasus]

Again. I suggest read the whole brochure Misty, if you had you would have noticed there are two separate areas, one for the kids who are awake and watching a movie etc, the other for those who are sleepy/asleep, and all excellently supervised (from a distance considerably closer than 90 metres).

[Brietta]

Again. I suggest read the whole brochure Misty, if you had you would have noticed there are two separate areas, one for the kids who are awake and watching a movie etc, the other for those who are sleepy/asleep, and all excellently supervised (from a distance considerably closer than 90 metres).

I have posted this before from a parent who has actually used the listening service ... and I must say given the wealth of literature on the internet advertising holidays ... not just with Mark Warner ... with a listening service, I am finding this whole discussion bizarre in the extreme.
Is there a parallel universe out there and a parallel internet??


Mumsnet Talk

Ems, we went to Paleros last year, and had such a great time that we're going again next year. The child-care was great, our 3yo went sailing, ice cream trips, swimming in a really neat childs pool - all with the Mini Club that he was in. Meals for kids were really great, they serve tea at around 5pm, with lots of kids favorites to eat.

                                          Then the baby listening started at 8pm.

The staff walk around the rooms every 15 mins and listen at the door, if your child is making a noise they stay at the door and radio through to the control Nanny - who sends someone to find you. We were called twice, and both times they had obviously heard him as soon as he woke up, as by the time we got to him he hadn't really noticed that we weren't in the room.

How old are your kids? I think that if they are over 3, and used to being left that they would really enjoy it. We really liked the adults food too, plenty of choice, drinkable wine, good company. (If you are used to eating in very posh restaurants, then maybe you wouldn't like the food, but.....). It was the first holiday since I've had my son that I actually felt relaxed at the end of it. They also had a 24 hour kitchen that was stocked with Mothercare sterilisers, milk, kettle and bottled water. All the cots and cot linen were Mothercare, all the toys were 'known' brands and looked very clean and looked after. If you have any specific questions - post again. p.s. my friend went at the end of the season and said that all the staff were a bit 'jaded', we went at the end of June and they were super keen, and very attentive.
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_advice_tips/198-anyone-been-to-mark-warner-in-lemnos

[misty]

Again. I suggest read the whole brochure Misty, if you had you would have noticed there are two separate areas, one for the kids who are awake and watching a movie etc, the other for those who are sleepy/asleep, and all excellently supervised (from a distance considerably closer than 90 metres).

So why advertise a listening service when it is clearly a night crèche? It's misleading. If I want my child to sleep in its own bed behind a locked door whilst I dine out, why should I have to pay extra for a sitter because the small print is at odds with the large print in the advertised feature? My travel agent didn't tell me when I booked & it's too late or too expensive to change the holiday.

[misty]

I have posted this before from a parent who has actually used the listening service ... and I must say given the wealth of literature on the internet advertising holidays ... not just with Mark Warner ... with a listening service, I am finding this whole discussion bizarre in the extreme.
Is there a parallel universe out there and a parallel internet??


Mumsnet Talk

Ems, we went to Paleros last year, and had such a great time that we're going again next year. The child-care was great, our 3yo went sailing, ice cream trips, swimming in a really neat childs pool - all with the Mini Club that he was in. Meals for kids were really great, they serve tea at around 5pm, with lots of kids favorites to eat.

                                          Then the baby listening started at 8pm.

The staff walk around the rooms every 15 mins and listen at the door, if your child is making a noise they stay at the door and radio through to the control Nanny - who sends someone to find you. We were called twice, and both times they had obviously heard him as soon as he woke up, as by the time we got to him he hadn't really noticed that we weren't in the room.

How old are your kids? I think that if they are over 3, and used to being left that they would really enjoy it. We really liked the adults food too, plenty of choice, drinkable wine, good company. (If you are used to eating in very posh restaurants, then maybe you wouldn't like the food, but.....). It was the first holiday since I've had my son that I actually felt relaxed at the end of it. They also had a 24 hour kitchen that was stocked with Mothercare sterilisers, milk, kettle and bottled water. All the cots and cot linen were Mothercare, all the toys were 'known' brands and looked very clean and looked after. If you have any specific questions - post again. p.s. my friend went at the end of the season and said that all the staff were a bit 'jaded', we went at the end of June and they were super keen, and very attentive.
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_advice_tips/198-anyone-been-to-mark-warner-in-lemnos

Brietta, those posts are dated 2001- 2. I'm amazed they're near the top of the google index.

[Brietta]

Brietta, those posts are dated 2001- 2. I'm amazed they're near the top of the google index.

Thanks Misty.  Right at the top.  I went with the following ... as you can see the dates here don't tally with the actual dates of the discussion ...


Anyone been to Mark Warner in Lemnos | Mumsnet Discussion

www.mumsnet.com › Topics › Travel advice
30 Mar 2009 - How sad that Ro seems to have a less than glowing report for Mark Warner Lemnos ... For tired parents with young children who need a holiday it's ideal, one can ..... Baby listening service worked well, they really do check your door every 15 ...
 
Anyone done a mark warner with kids?   14 Apr 2009

Baby listening   8 Nov 2008
Has anyone been to Mark Warner - Lakitira, Kos/Greece Resort ...17 Oct 2008
Anyone got any experience of SN children and Mark Warner ... 10 Oct 2008

More results from www.mumsnet.com

[misty]

Thanks Misty.  Right at the top.  I went with the following ... as you can see the dates here don't tally with the actual dates of the discussion ...


Anyone been to Mark Warner in Lemnos | Mumsnet Discussion

www.mumsnet.com › Topics › Travel advice
30 Mar 2009 - How sad that Ro seems to have a less than glowing report for Mark Warner Lemnos ... For tired parents with young children who need a holiday it's ideal, one can ..... Baby listening service worked well, they really do check your door every 15 ...
 
Anyone done a mark warner with kids?   14 Apr 2009

Baby listening   8 Nov 2008
Has anyone been to Mark Warner - Lakitira, Kos/Greece Resort ...17 Oct 2008
Anyone got any experience of SN children and Mark Warner ... 10 Oct 2008

More results from www.mumsnet.com

It is apparent that MW are no longer offering a Room-Listening Service but they are being very crafty with their advertising,
Here's something worth a read - and pretty much on a par with what still goes on today in the UK.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/03_march/05/whistleblower.shtml

[faithlilly]

I have posted this before from a parent who has actually used the listening service ... and I must say given the wealth of literature on the internet advertising holidays ... not just with Mark Warner ... with a listening service, I am finding this whole discussion bizarre in the extreme.
Is there a parallel universe out there and a parallel internet??


Mumsnet Talk

Ems, we went to Paleros last year, and had such a great time that we're going again next year. The child-care was great, our 3yo went sailing, ice cream trips, swimming in a really neat childs pool - all with the Mini Club that he was in. Meals for kids were really great, they serve tea at around 5pm, with lots of kids favorites to eat.

                                          Then the baby listening started at 8pm.

The staff walk around the rooms every 15 mins and listen at the door, if your child is making a noise they stay at the door and radio through to the control Nanny - who sends someone to find you. We were called twice, and both times they had obviously heard him as soon as he woke up, as by the time we got to him he hadn't really noticed that we weren't in the room.

How old are your kids? I think that if they are over 3, and used to being left that they would really enjoy it. We really liked the adults food too, plenty of choice, drinkable wine, good company. (If you are used to eating in very posh restaurants, then maybe you wouldn't like the food, but.....). It was the first holiday since I've had my son that I actually felt relaxed at the end of it. They also had a 24 hour kitchen that was stocked with Mothercare sterilisers, milk, kettle and bottled water. All the cots and cot linen were Mothercare, all the toys were 'known' brands and looked very clean and looked after. If you have any specific questions - post again. p.s. my friend went at the end of the season and said that all the staff were a bit 'jaded', we went at the end of June and they were super keen, and very attentive.
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_advice_tips/198-anyone-been-to-mark-warner-in-lemnos

I notice the link posted was to comments from 2001 so before Madeleine's disappeance.

[pegasus]

It is apparent that MW are no longer offering a Room-Listening Service but they are being very crafty with their advertising,
Here's something worth a read - and pretty much on a par with what still goes on today in the UK.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/03_march/05/whistleblower.shtml

But Misty the amateur creche you are supporting had a carer to child ratio of ... minus infinity

[pegasus]

A person who had actually used a MW room-listening service back then:
"the staff walk around the rooms every 15 mins"

Another person who had actually used a MW room-listening service back then:
"they really do check your door every 15 minutes"

One of the nine tourists who had never ever in their whole lives used a MW room-listening service:
"at the other resorts that we've been to I believe they do it every thirty minutes, as I say we actually haven't used that service when we've been but you know the friends who have they've, they've said it's around thirty minutes."