TUI cancelled our hotel with 48 hours notice

eskbanker

It's all moot anyway if OP rejected the alternative hotel that TUI put forward, but the Package Travel Regulations consider one of the factors defining a significant change as "to alter significantly any of the main characteristics of the travel services [...including....] the location, main features and, where applicable, tourist category of the accommodation under the rules of the country of destination", so I'd have thought that there's a case that a 4* hotel without a pool is a significant change from a 4* one with a pool, in the context of a hot weather beachy resort....

NoodleDoodleMan

BambiJoJo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Apart from everything else, a 4 star hotel with no pool ?

Doesn't sound right - was it named ?

yes it was

Would you care to identify this hotel ?

NoodleDoodleMan

Another thread that is becoming inconclusive ?

Westin

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Another thread that is becoming inconclusive ?

Yep. Frustrating isn't it.
Half the detail. No responses to questions ask.
Really at times not sure why people post and ask for help in the first place.

BambiJoJo

NoodleDoodleMan said:

BambiJoJo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Apart from everything else, a 4 star hotel with no pool ?

Doesn't sound right - was it named ?

yes it was

Would you care to identify this hotel ?

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Apart from everything else, a 4 star hotel with no pool ?

Doesn't sound right - was it named ?

yes it was

original hotel Thalassi hotel right on the beach in Lassi , had a pool too, changed to, well guess what this hotel now not listed on TUI's website, it had spa in the name was a 10 minute drive from a beach and had no pool

BambiJoJo

Apologies for not replying quicker, I am not sat at a desk in front of my lap top all day, have work to do, i look when i get chance, your help is appreciated

TELLIT01

The lack of pool, combined with being 10 minutes drive from the beach, compared to the original beachfront with pool, would seem to be a fairly major change to me, but I'm not a legal expert.

As you have accepted a full refund, I'm not sure if you will be entitled to any further compensation.  From what I have read on various sites I think that is doubtful.

bagand96

From the TUI T&C's

Occasionally, we may have to make a major change to your holiday such as a change of destination, a change of accommodation to a lower category, a change in flight time by more than 12 hours or a change of UK departure airport. A change in flight time that we need to make within 24 hours before you are due to fly is not a major change unless the time changes by more than 24 hours.

If we tell you about a major change after you book your holiday, you can accept the new arrangements offered by us; or accept a replacement holiday from us of the same or similar standard and price at the date of the change (we’ll always refund the difference in price if the replacement holiday is a lower price at the date of the change), if we are able to offer you one; or cancel your holiday with us and receive a full refund.

If we make a major change, and you choose to cancel your holiday and receive a full refund, we’ll pay the compensation shown below, unless the change is because of an event beyond our control. Any compensation payable is based upon how many days before your holiday departure we tell you about a major change. We’ll pay 50% of the compensation for each person who paid a child price. No compensation will be paid for free child places.

How long before your holiday we tell you about a major change Compensation per person

84 days or more 0

83 - 29 days £25

28 - 15 days £35

14 - 8 days £50

7 - 0 days £100

Events Beyond Our Control

Examples of events beyond our control are: war, threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist activity or its consequences, industrial disputes, any failure to secure relevant flying rights, natural or nuclear disasters, fire, health risks, unavoidable and unforeseeable technical problems with transport, closed or congested airports or ports, actual or potential severe weather conditions, the imposition of sanctions or other Governmental action and any other similar events.

I would also say that the lack of pool and change of location would constitute a major change. However note the T&C's state "change of accommodation to a lower category" I would expect they would argue that lower category would be star rating and/or TUI rating.

There's also the events beyond their control get out. 

But you should certainly ask for your £100pp compensation and see what they say. 

NoodleDoodleMan

BambiJoJo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

BambiJoJo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Apart from everything else, a 4 star hotel with no pool ?

Doesn't sound right - was it named ?

yes it was

Would you care to identify this hotel ?

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Apart from everything else, a 4 star hotel with no pool ?

Doesn't sound right - was it named ?

yes it was

original hotel Thalassi hotel right on the beach in Lassi , had a pool too, changed to, well guess what this hotel now not listed on TUI's website, it had spa in the name was a 10 minute drive from a beach and had no pool

Apologies - I'm getting a bit confused now - what is the name of the alternative 4 star hotel that has no pool ?

I think we'd all like to avoid such accommodation if ever looking at this resort area.

Westin

BambiJoJo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

BambiJoJo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Apart from everything else, a 4 star hotel with no pool ?

Doesn't sound right - was it named ?

yes it was

Would you care to identify this hotel ?

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Apart from everything else, a 4 star hotel with no pool ?

Doesn't sound right - was it named ?

yes it was

original hotel Thalassi hotel right on the beach in Lassi , had a pool too, changed to, well guess what this hotel now not listed on TUI's website, it had spa in the name was a 10 minute drive from a beach and had no pool

Original Hotel: Thalassa Boutique Hotel Kefalonia ?

I can’t see an obvious alternative as described with ‘spa’ in the name. Can you confirm the hotel offered? 

Did TUI say that this overbooking and hotel change was for a few days, or for your entire holiday duration?  TUI are still featuring the original hotel so doubtful it is a contract issue. Sounds more like an oversell situation.

Was there any offer made to share a pool with another hotel?

Compensation would be inline with the TUI T&C’s which I think bagsnd96 has helpfully posted.  It won’t be the figures and amounts you might have seen mentioned in the press for flight delays and cancellations.