Should I contact the hotel company?

lb364

Hi all,

So I've just returned from holiday in a bit of a state

I visited two hotels owned by the same company in the Maldives and was having a great time until I went to go on a boat trip in the second one and hurt my ankle.

In the first (more expensive) hotel, the boats (I got on three, for avoidance of any doubt as to my boat boarding skills!) were stable, you went down steps to be level with the boat and had 3-4 staff members helping people on and off both on the steps and on the boat. In comparison, at the second hotel the boat I had the accident on was swaying and bumping into the jetty, was really low down (no steps to it) and had one member of staff standing on the boat trying to help people on. I went to get on and the boat moved, there was a crack in my ankle as I got jolted and the next thing I nearly passed out and had to be taken to hospital.

After lots of hopping about as everything was a bit basic, injections and x rays, the hospital said it was a torn ligament or tendon and I was sent on my way with a load of medication and my x rays on a CD! I also had to pay a whole $50 for medical costs!

For the rest of the holiday I was in a lot of pain, I couldn't eat much as the medication caused nausea and other unpleasant side effects, obviously couldn't drink (we paid for AI), couldn't do any activities, couldn't sleep and was basically just very miserable. The journey back was awful and I'm now laid up at home unable to go in to work as I can just about get around but can't do stairs or anything yet.

I know people go through much worse things on holiday but it wasn't a great end to a very expensive holiday that we saved hard for and I just feel like the company should take responsibility.

So really I'm just looking for some advice, should I contact the hotel company and ask for some sort of refund? The members of staff at the hotel apologised several times so I think they knew it was negligence that caused the accident but I dont see how I can prove what happened? They also make you sign a waiver on arrival so I guess they can get out of taking resposibility that way? Or should I claim on my travel insurance or just leave it and accept these things happen?

TIA.

DoaM

Who did you book the holiday with/through? (i.e. who was your contract with?)
Did you report the issue to that company at the time?
What did they say?

lb364

I booked the hotel through Agoda and the flights separately, I know that isn't good!
I haven't reported it to anyone, only the hotel know...

DoaM

Never heard of Agoda ... are they simply a booking agent and your contract is direct with the hotel?

lb364

They're just a hotel booking company, how do you know who your contract is with?

DoaM

It'll be on the paperwork you received (which may be emails or attachments to emails). Check Agoda's T&Cs.

JReacher1

What would you claim on your travel insurance? Financially it seems like you are only $50 out and I would expect your excess is more than that.

I would contact the hotel and ask for a refund of the AI element of your break, plus the $50's X ray.

lb364

DoaM wrote: »

It'll be on the paperwork you received (which may be emails or attachments to emails). Check Agoda's T&Cs.

All I can find is: 'Booked and payable by: Agoda company pte Ltd'?

lb364

JReacher1 wrote: »

What would you claim on your travel insurance? Financially it seems like you are only $50 out and I would expect your excess is more than that.

I would contact the hotel and ask for a refund of the AI element of your break, plus the $50's X ray.

It's a tricky one, I couldn't use the AI part of the package but what about not being able to use the hotel's facilities - going snorkelling/swimming, not being able to sleep due to the pain, hadly even leaving the room as it was a long way to get anywhere etc? Tbh I didnt realise how boring it is there once you can't do anything!

Aylesbury_Duck

lb364 wrote: »

It's a tricky one, I couldn't use the AI part of the package but what about not being able to use the hotel's facilities - going snorkelling/swimming, not being able to sleep due to the pain, hadly even leaving the room as it was a long way to get anywhere etc? Tbh I didnt realise how boring it is there once you can't do anything!

[STRIKE]What outcome do you want?[/STRIKE]

Actually, I'll re-phrase that: How much do you want?

lb364

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

[STRIKE]What outcome do you want?[/STRIKE]

Actually, I'll re-phrase that: How much do you want?

Ha ha, a few million?

No, I hate making a fuss which is why I'm posting on here! Ideally I'd like them to refund the cost of the hotel for the nights after it happened but I don't know if it's unfair to expect that...