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Holiday room mess up!

236 replies

MummyChocolateMonster · 10/07/2025 17:20

On holiday in Greece with DH and our teens DD18 and DS17. When we booked we specifically searched for a place with 2 separate bedrooms. We found a self catering hotel apartment - 2 bedrooms (1 x twin, 1 x double) with a separate living room/kitchenette.
On arrival we were told we’d been “upgraded” only to be dropped at the room and find it’s 1 bedroom with 2 single sofa beds in the living room/kitchenette.
We went back to reception to be told the new room is superior and newer. We specifically wanted 2 bedrooms with the separate living room/kitchenette so we asked to have what we booked. Apparently there is not one available.
It seems they overbook the 2 bedrooms then try to “upgrade” you to a 1 bedroom with put you ups.
The head receptionist isn’t here until 9pm but we’ve been told there’s not a 2 bedroom to move us to. It’s a small hotel.
We booked with a reputable well known tour operator. They’re investigating but have also been told by hotel no one available to speak until 9pm.
I don’t want to overreact but we have no separate living areas. The teens and their luggage are in the living room. DD has ADHD and doesn’t sleep great so we won’t be able to get a cup of tea/breakfast etc until they’re awake each day.
I don’t even know what option we have but to put up with it! Had a horrible few months and I know there’s worse things and that this is minor for 14 days.
Realistically what can the tour operator do when in reality we have enough beds to sleep on and the hotel is saying they don’t have a spare 2 bedroom for us? I just feel what we have is not what we paid for. I’m not after money.
I think I just needed to vent a bit. I’m probably tired, up since 2.30am. I’m irritated too that they tried to tell us it was an upgrade!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
AlphaApple · 11/07/2025 12:21

Well done OP!

Some posters just like to argue the toss.

themostspecialelfintheworkshop · 11/07/2025 12:24

Sgreenpy · 11/07/2025 11:50

You don't go on holiday to share a room with a child (teen) rather than your partner. I'd be furious too and demanding two one bedroomed apartments.
Good luck OP

Most teens I know would absolutely NOT be ok with sharing with a parent. By this time they often want their own space.

I don't understand why so many hotels feel free to assume that everyone on the booking is completely happy to share a bed? Obviously this isn't true, or there wouldn't be a need for two single bed rooms or apartments with separate bedrooms - everyone could just sleep in one big pile in the living room all the time. Which no-one does for obvious reasons.

Ultimately in the UK at least you're supposed under consumer law to get what you paid for as described. If you don't, they've broken the law.

Mynewnameis · 11/07/2025 12:34

Well done op. I would be very annoyed by this. Im very selective about beds and rooms. Usually book villa as a result

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

surreygirl1987 · 11/07/2025 12:35

MummyChocolateMonster · 10/07/2025 21:28

Update!
Head Receptionist came on duty so at just after 9pm we went and found her. She was super-arsey. She’d heard from TUI, and the staff member we spoke to earlier.
She was loud and irritable and she said she was really confused as she didn’t know it was criminal to offer an upgrade. She then told me it made no sense that I was upset. She was explaining the cost is the same and the upgraded room is often used for families.
She was confrontational. Not a word of apology. We stood our ground and said we want what we booked and if we’d wanted the superior 1 bedroom we’d have booked that. She was quite evasive and said to come back later and she’d have a look and see when she could move us.
I’ve never met an unpleasant Greek person on my holidays until today! She wasn’t pleasant and had a hard stare but I just glared back.
I wasn’t hopeful but when we returned at 11pm she very simply and pleasantly said it was all sorted for tomorrow and to come to reception after breakfast and we’d be moved. Maybe tomorrow we’ll find ourselves in the boiler room!
Thanks everyone, not the peaceful holiday start we hoped for. I’ll update when we move but as long as it’s 2 bedrooms, that’s what we booked!

This is awful!! Glad it's sorted now. When you leave, please leave a scathing review about the mess up and above all about her terrible attitude! Have a wonderful holiday 😊

Viviennemary · 11/07/2025 12:38

This is infuriating. You booked two bedrooms and that is what you should get. End of. They will need to find you appropriate accommodation somewhere else. How do they get away with this.

MyMilchick · 11/07/2025 12:49

Glad you got it sorted OP, that would have annoyed me as well. Going from a 2 bed that specifically booked to a 1 bed is no upgrade, I don't care if it's a newer room!

MyMilchick · 11/07/2025 12:50

Viviennemary · 11/07/2025 12:38

This is infuriating. You booked two bedrooms and that is what you should get. End of. They will need to find you appropriate accommodation somewhere else. How do they get away with this.

She did get it sorted, you can read her updates in the thread

DayInTime · 11/07/2025 13:02

Part of the frustration generally about the hotel making a change, even under the guise of an ‘upgrade’, is that I have usually spent hours and hours researching my choices so that the holiday works for us. Like the OP often discounting the ‘upgrade’ for something I have chosen.

Complete waste of time.

Happened to us with a hotel in Portugal, read and read, found what I wanted, including a bath with sea views, discounted so many other hotels, only to arrive and be told that not all rooms have a bath with sea views and our room with a more usual set up was in the same category of booking.
Full hotel, only option for a move was a suite with an added bill of £5,000!

If I'd known the set up of the room we were given, there were hundreds of other hotels we could have chosen. Saved all that time making a choice!

MummyChocolateMonster · 11/07/2025 13:03

Thank you again everyone.
To explain, I spent ages researching to find what we wanted so that the teens had a space and so did we. I looked at Tui’s website and the hotel’s own one, read about a zillion reviews, and I was satisfied that 2 bedrooms meant 2 bedrooms plus a living room/kitchenette. Appreciate some hotels have odd configurations but I knew this one had what we wanted. I chose not to book the superior one bedroom even though it could accommodate all 4 of us because we didn’t want the DC in the kitchen.
Nonetheless after the “upgrade” we got a one bedroom with the teens sleeping in the living room/kitchen! This morning I was awake before everyone but ended up stuck in my bedroom rather than heading to kitchen for a cup of tea and sit on the balcony, because waking teens early is never a good start to the day!
The hotel receptionist made strong attempts at persuading us we were lucky to have the upgrade to one bedroom less and behaved like I was unreasonable. This thread really helped me know 100% she was trying it on. You start to doubt yourself sometimes.
I’m concerned at how many people have had similar including the PP on this post who had it last night too! I’ll be wary in future.
I’m not sure if I fixed this or TUI did but I think the pressure from both is what got this sorted.
Honestly the last thing I want to do at the start of a 2 week holiday is to enter into
a dispute with the hotel. It was definitely the right thing to do though - love the 2 bedroom apartment (it’s older but we knew that) we now have and actually really like the hotel and location.
Properly chilling out now SmileWineSmileWine

OP posts:
Figgygal · 11/07/2025 13:05

Well done for standing firm op
We also opt for 2 bed apartments when we go abroad I don't want to be falling over sofabeds, putting them up and down constantly, living on top of each other and no matter how a 1 bed may be I'd not want it either.

anythingbutlillies · 11/07/2025 13:13

Great update!
Enjoy your holiday 😊

justtootiredtoday · 11/07/2025 13:21

murasaki · 10/07/2025 17:31

Temporarily coupd you and her take the living room and your DH amd son take the bedroom? And try to sort it out on the meantime with the tour operator even if it means you move hotel.

Why do people keep suggesting this? It doesn’t solve any of the issues?

OP, I’d be really angry too. Perhaps the tour operator will be able to move you to another hotel. But I’d be wanting financial recompense as well to book another holiday since this one has started so badly.

HardworkSendHelp · 11/07/2025 13:22

Kids similar age and I would be raging. Work all year save for a holiday, pick what you want and then you get that! Not on OP. Fight your corner.

FourLove · 11/07/2025 13:25

Phew. Well done for holding out. You'll be much more comfortable with that shared space. Blooming hotel though - it's really insulting to call a smaller space an upgrade when there are 4 adults to fit in.

Pinty · 11/07/2025 13:28

That is definitely a downgrade. If they can't find another place for you (and the think the tour operator should try and find you a 2 bedroom place somewhere else) they need to give you a substantial discount because this isn't the holiday you booked and paid for.
If they refuse to do anything or refund you definitely complain to ABTA or whichever trade industry is relevant

justtootiredtoday · 11/07/2025 13:31

Just saw your update - so glad you got it sorted.

have a great holiday

Pinty · 11/07/2025 13:35

Pinty · 11/07/2025 13:28

That is definitely a downgrade. If they can't find another place for you (and the think the tour operator should try and find you a 2 bedroom place somewhere else) they need to give you a substantial discount because this isn't the holiday you booked and paid for.
If they refuse to do anything or refund you definitely complain to ABTA or whichever trade industry is relevant

Sorry I posted this before I saw you eventually got the two bedrooms that you booked
Strange that one mysteriously became available. But great news.
Enjoy your holiday!

Ellie56 · 11/07/2025 13:37

What a shambles. Glad you stood firm and didn't take any crap from that snotty receptionist.

So what's the betting that later today some other poor sods who also booked a two bed apartment will be "upgraded" to the one bedroom apartment as the hotel has now given their accommodation to you? Hmm

Pinty · 11/07/2025 13:42

Itsthe1st · 11/07/2025 08:01

Yes it is

4 single beds in total
which is precisely what the op has

It's not though. She booked two bedroom plus a separate kitchen/living room.
What they initially gave her for was one bedroom with two sofa beds in the living space/kitchen
That is not what she booked and presumably the tour operator and eventually the hotel agreed with her.

limescale · 11/07/2025 13:45

MummyChocolateMonster · 10/07/2025 17:34

Yes! But I don’t think it’s their fault - the booking confirmation says 2 bedrooms.

I also booked a 2 bed apartment for me and my teenage son with TUI.
I love him but do not want to share a room, much less a bed with him.
It had not been easy to find, and I was happy to have found it.
A few weeks later I got “upgraded” to a higher spec hotel but only one room.
Thankfully this was well before my holiday. Got my money back, booked with Jet2 and am currently having a lovely time.
It’s just not on to change spec and try and sell it to you as an upgrade.

Timemyluckchanged · 11/07/2025 13:53

Well done TUI on this one, unfortunately what the hotel does on your arrival is out of their control so I’m glad they’ve been able to help. Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

diddl · 11/07/2025 14:12

Glad it's sorted out OP.

Separate bedrooms plus communal space is hardly revolutionary is it?

MummyChocolateMonster · 11/07/2025 14:20

Ellie56 · 11/07/2025 13:37

What a shambles. Glad you stood firm and didn't take any crap from that snotty receptionist.

So what's the betting that later today some other poor sods who also booked a two bed apartment will be "upgraded" to the one bedroom apartment as the hotel has now given their accommodation to you? Hmm

Yes indeed. We were thinking that some other unfortunate family will get the “upgrade” instead. Feel bad but it’s for the hotel or TUI to fix I guess. Maybe they’ll be happy with the upgrade.
I suspect this isn’t uncommon as she acted so astonished that we weren’t falling over ourselves with gratitude as she insisted lots of families love it. It’s a more modern spec but we don’t care about that.
I will do a factual review after we’re back as it’s important people know they might get the upgrade.

OP posts:
LatteLady · 11/07/2025 14:23

Just wanted to say, how pleased I am that you got what you booked and am pleased that your rep has been so supportive. Happy Holidays!🧀🍸🍾🌅

MiseryIn · 11/07/2025 14:53

That actually looks perfect for what we need. Find it so hard to get a hotel with proper 2 bed apartments.
can I ask which hotel? (I’d be sure to specify that I DO NOT WANT AN UPGRADE lol).