Any problems with links please contact Webmaster via Contact us page
Click on the Weather Channel link above for Weather in Tenerife. It can give current weather and a 10 day forecast..
Information Update.
The pool had been repainted and is now up and running.
The hot tub has been giving problems even with the new filters. It is well used but is also being abused. Jets have been blocked up and the cover over the control pannel had also been ripped off. This has meant it has been out of use for up to a week at a time and incurs the resort in expense to repair it. There is some evidence this was done mainly by children using the hot tub unattended.
Parents should be warned not to let their children use it unattended. The temperature is 36 degrees for efficient operation and the jets can be very fierce although some have been made inoperable. It is dangerous for young children and a law has been passed by the Tenerife Council that no person under 16 can use hot tubs without a parent present. The club agrees with and enforces this ruling.
BALCONIES
There is an ongoing programme to replace damaged Balcony tiles. The tiles have been purchased and are stored around the resort so they don't find other homes. This is a bit unsightly but we got them at a good price and they will be used within the next year we hope. Drainage is being improved and with this the balcony gardens will be filled in and this should solve the problem of water seepage into the units below. At the same time bars are bing provided across the old garden areas for safety. It will be 2 years before this can be completed due to high occupancy being experienced by the resort in most of the reception level units, studios and duplexes. On the subject of high occupancy we ask people to be a bit flexible. Some of the work has to be done while the unit is occupied. Usually this will take only a couple of hours and can be done while the occupants are at the pool or beach without problem. Some owners have however objected to this saying it should be done on change-over day or in the maintenance week and have refused access. This has caused troubles with the work schedule making the improvements take longer. In most cases it can be done at the same time as the cleaners are in the unit but owners have refused to allow it.
TV RECEPTION
OK So you are on holiday and who wants to watch TV anyway there are the bars to visit. This may hold true in the summer months but in the winter it is a bit different. there are also families with young children who they want to keep out of the midday sun and a TV would be useful.
Basically we have CNN in English and 4 Foreign language channels for free. The Spanish channel does show cartoons at times which seem to satisfy most young ones. Without vast expense this is all we can expect I am afraid. With our new equipment it is at least a good picture
Sky TV needs a 2 metre Dish for reception and would cost in excess of 50,000Euros to install into all units. It would also incur a 15Euro subscription fee per unit per week. In our small resort such an outlay can not be justified. Some of the retransmission systems have questions about their legality and have varying reception difficulties.
There is a version of the UK 'Freeview' digital terrestrial system coming on line in the island. It is mainly in the North of the island at present and has some favourable reports with the possibility of Sky or BBC channels by the time it is widespread in the South of the island. We would need new TV's in order to get it but it looks like it could be done for about 3,500euros at current prices which we could probably afford, just.
WATCH THIS SPACE !!!!!!
BATHROOMS
A valid complaint over the last few years has been the state of the baths in some units. Now it may well be that most of the original chips to the baths were caused by occupants dropping items such as shampoo bottles into the bath but the resulting damage needs urgent attention.
The cost of replacing the bathrooms can not be accomplished with the current poor finances of the club. The decision has been taken to install showers in place of the baths and it is being done as an apartment becomes free. This year however everyone seems to want to use their weeks or there are RCI exchange guests in the apartments. This has meant the update has gone rather slower than anticipated. We are actively seeking a solution and will upgrade as soon as possible. Even if this means relocating an owner for a few days in a different unit. Which could be a studio or two even if owners agree.
USE OF RESORT FACILITIES BY NON RESIDENTS.
This is a constant problem at all times of the year as there is limited space for sun beds round the pool.
No one who is not a resident in one of the 20 units at the resort is allowed to use the pool, pool shower or hot tub. Friends visiting a resident for the day can use the pool and hot tub providing the resident has informed the receptionist that their friends will be coming for the day.
This concession has been misused in the past by renters. They rent a studio for two but their 8 or 10 friends get a cheap apartment and come each day to our pool and camp on the sun beds. The same thing has also been done by RCI exchange guests where they have a studio through RCI but have friends staying in cheap accommodation nearby who come each day. Reception is aware of this now and if the concession is misused the renter or RCI guests will be asked to stop at once or leave the resort.
Apartments 301 and 302 at the boatyard side of the resort have nothing to do with Puerto Colon Club. As they are owned and rented out by the Water Sports company. Some time in the 1990's agreement was reached verbally that access could be via the lower path of the resort because of security problems if the Water Sports people left their gate unlocked for access to these two 1 bedroom apartments. The Water Sports company is adamant that the most they have in an apartment is a couple and two children. Up to 9 adults have been seen in the two apartments at times by owners.
Renters of these two apartments can of course use our bar and the red tables and chairs as any casual visitor. They do not however have the right to use our sun beds, pool, pool shower or hot tub under any circumstances whatsoever. No matter how adamant they are they have been given permission to. A UK travel firm does some of the renting of 301 and 302 and tell renters over the phone they can use the facilities of the club. As thy do not say this in writing, only verbally, there is nothing that can be done to stop them. Even though they use our updated web photo in their brochure and do not show the actual apartments they are renting. With a change of ownership of the water sports company we are arranging another meeting to try and solve this problem,
Casual visitors to the club bar can only use the red tables and chairs by the bar and the toilets at the rear of the bar and nothing else.
It may seem a bit Draconian to some not to let bar visitors have a quick dip in the pool or renters of apartments 301 and 302 having to drag their small children past our very inviting pool. There is however the insurance side of things to be considered. It also cost you about 80 euros of your maintenance fees per week to maintain the pool area and hot tub. Casual users and renters of 301 and 302 pay nothing so why should they be allowed to use it.
INSURANCE
On the subject of insurance. Have you read the small print on your holiday insurance and have you got your E111 substitute card for reciprocal medical treatment. As for the small print. There are a lot of things that are covered but equally there are a lot that are not. If you do not have your E111 card to show then insurers may not pay on items that would have been automatically covered if you had a card. You may also have noticed signs round the pool giving times for the pool opening and the hot tub amongst other things. If you have an accident on an inflatable object in the pool and you claim then your insurers now might well send a local agent to check pool signs, and if it said no inflatables they could refuse your claim for treatment or repatriation. The same goes for using the pool or hot tub outside advertised times. If you had an accident and if it was outside advertised times your claim could be rejected.
The insurance companies changed their rules in 2006 with some very dramatic changes they did not actually advertise. If you use the parachute ride from one of the local boats you may well be covered but you would not be on the Banana ride. Or the jet boat ride and definitely not if you were using the Iceberg inflatables moored in the bay.
Different companies have different rules. If for example you have asthma and use an inhaler at times. If you take a basic insurance and don't tell them and you trip or have a fall they can, and some will, refuse your claim because you did not declare an existing medical condition. Ironically had you have told them they would not have charged you more for your insurance and you would have been covered in most cases. We know of two examples where a claim was refused. In one the person had a minor operation for an ingrowing toe nail 3 years previous but did not declare it and the insurers refused to pay our. Another had a wart removed at their local health centre and did not incude it on the form and their claim was refused. If you have had something that seems just minor include it when you apply. Most of the companies will not increase the premiums if you do and you will be covered. Some companies include what they class as more hazardous things for an extra premium or on their Gold or Platinum policies as well as some illnesses, so it is best to check before you buy.
Don't be fooled into thinking you are covered by the free insurance you get with your bank account or credit card. At most it would cover the cost of your flights but not any taxes or surcharges which can make up a lot of the flight costs. In most cases it will no cover your holiday accomodation costs if it was cancelled. Even if you paid for your flights and accomodation with the card. Most do not cover accidents of any sort.
Very few Holiday insurances cover Spectacles, Binoculars, Video cameras, film or digital still cameras, iPod's, and most types of electrical equipment. It is expected you have worldwide cover on your home insurance policy to cover these things.
Next time you go on holiday. Even in the UK. Make sure you know exactly what your holiday insurance does or does not cover and make sure all group members have their E111 sustitute card. You can get forms from the Post office.
On the subject of pool and hot tub times. Outside the advertised times they do back washes and automatic dosing and these chemicals can be harmfull. If you see the pool man he normally wears gloves when handling the chemicals