No compensation for Turkey holiday mix-up couple

WISH you were here at the Bitezhan Beach Hotel in Turkey? Allen and Christine Lewins were there – but never got the chance to stay.

The couple had booked and paid for their holiday with website mediatravel.co.uk

But when they arrived at the hotel – at 4am – there was no record of their booking.

They had to stay in the reception area until senior staff arrived at midday.

And then they were shipped off to another hotel at the edge of the resort.

Whose fault was it? Not Allen and Christine’s.

I wanted to hear what mediatravel.co.uk had to say but, first, Allen told me how the holiday turned into a nightmare when no one from the company was able to help when the couple turned up.

He said: “I used the numbers in the terms and conditions, only to find recorded messages.

“I had to ring my daughter in the UK asking her to contact someone from the travel company.

“While all this was going on I was refused use of the hotel telephone, and refused a temporary room for the night, so we spent the whole time sitting in the hotel reception.”

Allen finally spoke to someone from mediatravel on his mobile.

He says the company admitted over the phone they had received an email from the hotel saying they could not take the booking.

The company, however, said they did not know this at the time of departure.

The couple were eventually sent to another hotel but claim the facilities were not as good and it was on the outskirts of the resort.

He said: “It was located on the very outskirts of Gumbet, next to a sewerage plant, it had no private beach, no mini-market, no entertainment at any time of the day or night.”

Allen, of Blyth, Northumberland, complained to his rep and completed a customer feedback form.

I thought I would copy what the highly-educated rep had to say: “Mr Lewins was booked to stay at the Bitez but woz not accepted and woz moved to Club Flora.”

Woz? Nice to see such an understanding of spelling and concern to do things right.

It woz time to find out what mediatravel haz to say.

They said they woz – sorry, last time I’ll do that – unaware of the booking mix-up before departure.

Spokesman Nav Rig told me: “I can confirm the clients were located in alternative accommodation of the same standard and within the same resort with the same room type and board basis.”

Mediatravel said there would be no compensation and hoped the experience would not put Allen off travelling with them again.

Shall I tell them, Allen, or shall you?

via No compensation for Turkey holiday mix-up couple – Sunday Sun.