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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be so upset about hot tub not working

130 replies

LookWhosInsideAgain · 31/05/2023 14:29

I booked, fairly last minute, away for half term with DC as we’ve all had a bit of a rough time lately. Staying in a lodge with a hot tub and it was £1,500 for Mon-Fri in a 2 bedroom lodge 😱. It’s really expensive but there’s loads of free, outside stuff to do around here and loads of cycling/ walking routes which dc actually love plus whenever we’re back at the lodge I knew they’d be in the hot tub as they have been when we’ve previously stayed at places with hot tubs. There were loads of AirBnBs around that were around £800-£1000 for a full week rather than Mon-fri but none had a hot tub so, after discussing with dc, we decided to stay at the hot tub lodge.

Arrive on Monday (having paid an extra £30 for hour earlier check in) to be told hot tub is cold at the moment but will be warming up throughout today so will be ready to use Tuesday morning. Really disappointed as so looking forward to getting in it but suck it up as everyone in the ale boat apparently. Stick my hand in it Tuesday morning and it’s tepid, clearly been warming up but not warm enough to sit on. DC too excited so get in it anyway and get out after 10 minutes shivering and needing hot showers. I ask at reception and they claim it takes until midday on Tuesday to reach full temperature but it will now take longer as we’ve taken the cover off. We go out for the day, back in the evening. Hot tub then feels fairly warm and we manage 15 minutes before shivering, dc2’s lips turned blue 🥶. Reception is closed by this point so I can’t do anything.

This morning I go up as soon as reception is open as tell them hot tub is still not hot. She says she’ll send someone round. We go out for the morning. Come back at lunchtime and it’s still not hot. Go to reception again. She says that someone has been round and confirmed that it’s been checked, there’s nothing wrong with it, that it’s at the maximum temperature of 38.9. I don’t know what hot tub temperatures normally are but it simply isn’t warm enough to sit in. Reception has just sent another person round who has looked at it and said that it’s set to 38.9, can’t do it any higher, it probably just feels cold because of the outside temperature (it’s overcast but not cold here today). No one has an external thermometer to check it’s the temperature that the hot tub claims it is. Last hot tub person put their hand in and said that it definitely wasn’t cold but it didn’t feel like it was as hot as it should be, probably because I kept lifting the lid to feel it and letting the heat out 🤔

There’s nothing they can do, as far as they are concerned the hot tub is working fine. I had envisioned evenings sitting reading in the tub once dc were in bed with a glass of wine and instead I’m having to sit in the tiny bath doing it, which would be more comfortable at home. I’m so upset that I’ve spent this money on this holiday and that I’m being told that there’s nothing wrong with it. I know the hot tub is only a small part of most people’s holidays but it’s the sole reason I spent this amount of money on a shorter holiday.

AIBU? Should I continue to complain or will I seem like I’m overreacting?

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/05/2023 14:31

Of course complain, it should be ready to use on arrival and if it's not then the price should reflect that.

neilyoungismyhero · 31/05/2023 14:34

Are there other lodges close by? My family are staying somewhere similar and although have private space there are other lodges nearby..I'd be inclined to ask other people what their tubs are like..it doesn't sound good enough to me. My family are having a great time in theirs so they tell me.

SeeingSpots · 31/05/2023 14:34

I would have gone and brought a bloody thermometer and proven to them it wasn't at the correct temperature. Absolutely go back again and complain.

Also if you've paid for a week with a hot tub it should be ready to use when you arrive. Only being able to use it from mid day on Tuesday is ridiculous.

FangsForTheMemory · 31/05/2023 14:36

For that price I’d expect a personal waiter with champagne and caviar too. Ask for some money back.

Grumpigal · 31/05/2023 14:38

I’d be going to the local supermarket or chemist and buying a thermometer myself to check it.

Id definitely be complaining further, firstly it should have been available to use from arrival not the next day and secondly it absolutely should be possible to sit in it even if it’s flipping snowing outside. Such is the whole point of a HOT tub.

They’re trying it on! YANBU to be pissed off, you booked specifically for an amenity that they’ve failed to provide

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 31/05/2023 14:41

As above. I'd be annoyed it wasn't ready on arrival if it needs heating up for a length of time first.

Buy a thermometer, check the temp yourself. The outside temp shouldn't matter, hot tubs are hot and function in the snow (unless they have cheap ones that aren't going to be much use in the cold, but its May, I wouldn't expect them not to work!)

Also ask for a discount as all the amenities aren't being provided.

And if they continue to be unhelpful... that's what online reviews are for.

tattychicken · 31/05/2023 14:42

Hot tubs are usually like a hot bath, eg you get into them gingerly and lower yourself in to the water as they are so hot. Get a thermometer and take photos.

shivawn · 31/05/2023 14:43

I agree it's not good enough, it should have been ready on your arrival. Places with a hot tub always charge a premium so I'd be expecting a partial refund.

Aria2015 · 31/05/2023 14:43

I've had got tubs and at 38 degrees it should feel warmer than a bath. Having the lid off for a bit will only minimally affect the temp and it should b constantly pumping heat to make up for any falls in temp. Sounds like it's def not working properly. I'd kick up a stink for that price!!

Baby1023 · 31/05/2023 14:46

Please push this! From experience - We had a similar issue in Lanzarote with a private Vila and ‘heated’ pool. They kept insisting it was the right temp and we were sure it wasn’t right, we had a one year old with us who hated it as it was bracing! We went in late Oct. The second to last day, we really pushed back and complained again - a new engineer came and confirmed it wasn’t working, it was lovely and warm for our last bloody day!
we got a few hundred euros back but our one year old missed out on the pool all week, we should have argued for more in hindsight.

Baby1023 · 31/05/2023 14:48

go and buy a thermometer if you have to. Get proof that it is not at the right temp so you can escalate the complaint for refund/comp if needs be.

Elphame · 31/05/2023 14:50

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/05/2023 14:31

Of course complain, it should be ready to use on arrival and if it's not then the price should reflect that.

It's an HSE compliance requirement to change the water between guests and hot tubs can take hours to heat up before they are a comfortable temperature unless they can be filled with hot water which isn't always possible.

If you are regularly arriving at an airbnb during a busy time of year and the hot tub is ready to use then there is a possibility that they are cutting corners. I know some that change the water every few months...

To the OP - buy a thermometer and check it yourself. The temperature of 38/39C is correct and if it isn't up to that you should indeed complain.

Cosycover · 31/05/2023 14:51

Try and get a thermometer to check? Although you shouldn't need to do this at all.

I would go back to reception and kick up a fuss. And I'm not like that at all but in this scenario I absolutely would be.

ginislife · 31/05/2023 14:52

38/39 degrees would be hot not tepid. Our hot tub was set to 39 degrees and it was like a hot bath. (It's now empty and switched off since the fuel went up !!)

NowItsLikeSnowAtTheBeach · 31/05/2023 14:58

Cosycover · 31/05/2023 14:51

Try and get a thermometer to check? Although you shouldn't need to do this at all.

I would go back to reception and kick up a fuss. And I'm not like that at all but in this scenario I absolutely would be.

Agree.

They know fine well it's not working as it should be and that you've paid a premium for accommodation with a hot tub. I'd be demanding that premium back, full stop. Loudly. In front of other guests if they weren't listening.

BigShoutyRaven · 31/05/2023 14:58

Is it Forest Holidays? I'm still pissed off at the "I'm sorry you felt we didn't live up to your expectations" email I got when I complained about only being able to check in an hour after normal check in, rather than the early check-in we'd paid for (they didn't refund as it was "beyond their control" their cleaners hadn't cleaned in time.) The hot tub wasn't usable until Wednesday evening either.

I understand the whole H&S aspect of changing the water between guests, however all they had done with the jizz covered cushions on the sofa was to turn them over.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 31/05/2023 15:16

Mm
I bet it was Forest Holidays. Tbf we went last week and it was hot by Monday evening, too hot really.
Agree with getting a thermometer and checking it.

Daffodil92 · 31/05/2023 15:20

Absolutely not, they are taking the piss. I’ve stayed in a few hot tub lodges, one in January and the hot tub was gorgeous and warm!
being nice is getting you nowhere, I would be kicking off at this point, demand to be moved and a partial refund for the days without a hot tub, or a full refund and you’ll check out. Threaten to leave reviews everywhere.

Bbqshowdownusa · 31/05/2023 15:25

I’d go out and buy a thermometer from the shop to check the temp myself.

we went to a place last year and I looked up the manual for the hot tub online and set the temp to 40 after I complained and no one came out within a few hours. It was hot a few hours later.

gamerchick · 31/05/2023 15:30

Check the temp yourself. Complain again and say you haven't had what you paid for and want a partial refund.

LookWhosInsideAgain · 31/05/2023 15:30

Yes, it’s Forest Holidays. There’s a pharmacy in the nearby town which will hopefully have a thermometer. It’s an annoying extra journey that takes time out of our holiday which is making me even more pissed off. Ah, well.

I’ve not spoken to any other families but the lodge next to us has rosy cheeked children sitting on the edge of their hot tub with just their feet in. We’re having to be as completely submerged as possible to avoid freezing and dc2 was attempting lengths earlier to try and be able to stay in it for longer.

OP posts:
LookWhosInsideAgain · 31/05/2023 15:31

Bbqshowdownusa · 31/05/2023 15:25

I’d go out and buy a thermometer from the shop to check the temp myself.

we went to a place last year and I looked up the manual for the hot tub online and set the temp to 40 after I complained and no one came out within a few hours. It was hot a few hours later.

I’d love to do this but the controls are behind a locked panel. Also when they showed me it is displaying that the hot tub is trying to maintain a 38 degree temp, it just hasn’t achieved it.

OP posts:
DogInATent · 31/05/2023 15:38

Knowing how some lodge operators work I'd be grateful there were signs it had been drained down and cleaned.

I reviewed (for work) one companies policy and cleaning procedures for their hot tubs and spas, and it was just eeeurggh... with every page turn.

Brendabigbaps · 31/05/2023 15:39

We’ve got an inflatable hot tub, if we fill it with cold tap water it’s heated to 40 within about 8hrs.
Yours is definitely not working correctly if it’s tepid after 2 days!

mummymeister · 31/05/2023 15:43

setting aside my utter dislike of hot tubs in commercial properties (because very few of them abide by HSG282 which is the law and test twice daily and empty and clean after each guest) you paid for a service which they have failed to provide. i would be asking for a full refund personally. you only booked with them because they said they had this, and if they cant provide something that is fit for purpose its false advertising.

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