Holiday Compensation

SeeEmilyPlay

I've spent the last 2 days pretty much continually on the phone trying to resolve the matter, so it's hard to know where to start. Without going into too much detail this is the scenario:

Holiday booked June 2012. With 5 days before departure I receive an email to say my accommodation is not available. The accommodation was very exclusive and I've been offered a minute amount of compensation by way of an apology on the condition we accept "bog standard" accommodation.

Information I have learned would suggest the accommodation was never booked until the last few days.

I am inclined to travel without accepting the compensation but wish to inform the travel provider the matter is not closed.

If I accept the amount offered now, do I lose the right to claim further compensation?

Thanks

Caz3121

Have you looked to see if they have any other accommodation of similar standard to what you booked and ask then for that?

SeeEmilyPlay

Yes I have. There is simply nothing available "like for like".

Incapuppy

SeeEmilyPlay wrote: »

I am inclined to travel without accepting the compensation but wish to inform the travel provider the matter is not closed.

If I accept the amount offered now, do I lose the right to claim further compensation?

At a guess, yes. It would appear that you are not that bothered.

Alan_Bowen

I suggest you accept it 'under protest and without prejudice to any further claim arising following the holiday' Have you bought a package holiday or flights and accommodation? If it is the latter, there have been a number of complaints that hotels are less keen to deal with bed banks, who sell on to travel agents, because they haven't been paid for earlier bookings in the season.

While you are there, if you can, check with the hotel and see if there ever was a booking through whichever company is supposed to be providing the holiday, it may be that the hotel has overbooked, next week is the last of the boom weeks from travel before the schools return, you could also ask the UK company for proof of the original booking if the accommodation you get is not what you expected.

Make sure you complain 'on the spot' whilst you are on holiday if the accommodation is not satisfactory, don't leave it until you come home because they will argue it was satisfactory, if you don't complain to the Rep, if you are on a package, or to the local agency if you are not.

SeeEmilyPlay

I apologise if I give the impression that I'm not bothered. The amount of stress that both my wife and I have been subjected to in sorting this out over the last 2 days has been ridiculous. So much so that my wife has been in tears. We're very much bothered about this but in view of the fact that there is simply nothing comparable out there which is available for next Tuesday then we're running out of options.

The suggestion of speaking to the hotel is something which we will most definitely do, along with asking the travel agent in question for details of the booking.

I've kept scrupulous notes of all conversations with the travel agent and will be requesting full telephone transcripts.

jhe

is it a package holiday?
have you tried asking the hotel you originaly wanted directly if there are any rooms available.
.

Incapuppy

SeeEmilyPlay wrote: »

I apologise if I give the impression that I'm not bothered. The amount of stress that both my wife and I have been subjected to in sorting this out over the last 2 days has been ridiculous. So much so that my wife has been in tears. .

Sorry, I did not mean that at all, I should have chosen my words more carefully!

What I meant to say was that if you do take the holiday it would appear to the holiday company that you weren't that bothered (IMHO)

I take a great deal of time and care researching and selecting accomodation so I think I would feel exactly the same as your wife does

Incapuppy

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

I suggest you accept it 'under protest and without prejudice to any further claim arising following the holiday'

It sounds like a good plan but ISTR reading on this very forum fairly recently that 'without prejudice' letters can often not be worth the paper they are written on.

I would head over to the Holiday Truths forums pretty sharpish as I understand there is a legal expert who may be able to advise; PM MSE user Luci (I think) if you can't find it.

vegasvisitor

I can't help but wonder where you were going and what was special about it - and I bet there would be some people on here who are experts at searching for holidays and might be able to suss out options for you.

SeeEmilyPlay

Thanks everyone for your answers.

If I contact the travel agent to request details about my booking which was sent to the hotel, under what legislation (ie: Data Protection Act) to I request production of this information please?