We have just returned from our third successive year in PDC at La Penita. Aside from a little stubborn cloud and rain we had a fab 11 days. We found the resort prices for food and drink even more reasonable than 2010 and 2009 and the quality of meals was consistently good. Aside from the roads being dug up around the casino and La Penita all was great.
We made it from runway to room in 31mins (correct, I timed it!), La Penita was fabulous as ever (apart from the 6am sunbed scuffle, quite ridiculous and a new one on us). We had superb brekkies in the Mucky Duck and the American Indian Cafe (5e for 2 full English inc. juice and latte), fab dinners in Terraza Playa, Cafe Del Carmen and Pinnochio and a few too many cocktails at the Golden Corner. Another great point to note was the complete lack of touts! It was amazing not to be hassled on the strip, am not sure if it was 11 days good luck or they have been told to lay off? I really did not want to come home.

And now for the rub...Sat pm we set ourselves up for a night out and braved Ruta 66 and the Centro Atlantico. We had a good night until I was mugged walking back to La Penita with the other half. The assailant failed to get my bag but when the protective boyf challenged the oik he was attacked and my bag was lost and so were my room keys, camera and cash. Booo! We weren't far from La Penita where the night guard was a star and let us into our room with spare keys, called the police and had our room locks changed. The Guardia Civil were great - they arrived at 2.30am and from our description knew the culprit and left us to look for him. 3.30am he was arrested in possession of my camera but sadly no sign of my money or belongings. The fool had deleted all of my pics from my hols and from home and taken pics of HIMSELF and HIS MATES!! Idiot. Caught red handed and then some.
Long story short we spent 5am-10am in the police station making statements, 11am -3pm at the courthouse in Arrecife where a trial was heard with us giving evidence and seeing said little b***** sent to gaol. The police, the judge and translators were all brilliant with us - I had my camera returned there and then and we were told the 21 yr old local was a known criminal who had only been out of gaol for 4 weeks for burgling apartments and they had him re-sentenced within 14 hrs of the crime being committed.
Not a great way to spent 14 hrs of your holiday but at least we saw justice being done and it really did put our system to shame.
I am gutted I lost my money, gutted we had to pay taxi fares to court and back and gutted I lost my beloved 'holiday' clutch bag but more gutted I missed a full day in the sun! The swine. It has not put us off returning again as soon as funds permit.

I am so sorry that happened to you, but glad that you managed to see justice done, and that it didn't ruin the rest of you holiday. I don't know if you lost anything of sentimental value, other than the photos, but perhaps you could claim on your holiday insurance for the financial loss - you have plenty of evidence!

Ah thanks Walker but the excess renders it pointless. Paul was offered the ability to claim for his injuries too but we both declined the offer in court. My camera was the most valuable thing and I got it back so was happy to leave the ordeal there.

Nics

my cleaner found a bag near to my bar on Saturday morning (24/09) and took it to the police station in PDC it had keys in but not sure what else as she never said. Could this have been yours I wonder.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

Thanks Overhere but it would've had to have been Sunday am as this happened about 1.30am on Sunday 25/09. I'd have lived it to have been mine!

Oops Bloomin' iphone predictive...I meant loved.

nics1979.
re your lost pics . There is am outside chance that you may be able to recover the deleted pics from the memory card ,if they havent been over written.
It may be worthwhile looking into some recovery software ,google may be a help.

Good luck
Unclebuck
edited to add
Found it! I used this once before and it worked http://www.piriform.com/recuva

Thanks for that Uncle Buck, I used the free download and it couldn't find anything. Worth a go though! Good job I have plenty pics form my previous visits to look at instead

Oh well worth a try, on the otherhand Maybe a return vist to refresh your memory . I know I would .

Unclebuck