That an adults only resort should mean that!

[hotelheartbreak]

DH and I have been to Hell and back with IVF and have finally started to accept we won’t be able to have a baby. As part of that journey we decided to treat ourselves to an amazing holiday, to grieve and accept our new normal. We have been careful to plan to stay at adults only resorts and we’ve just checked into our first one, and there are kids everywhere! Apparently you need to be 18 to stay in the resort, but not to meet the minimum spend at the beach club pool bar and there are kids everywhere. Surely this defeats the point?

That would annoy the hell out of me. I have children myself but if I fancy a child-free holiday, I don't even want to look at another kid, never mind hear them!

Was there any detail explaining the set up provided or on their website, I wouldn't presume just by the name there would be no children anywhere

That’s ridiculous, and in fact I wouldn’t want a hotel that allowed not residents to use the facilities anyway as it’s bound to be crowded.

I agree that it defeats the purpose of adults only - and people are entitled to choose and adult only resort, which they might want for all sorts of reasons (like yours) or none at all.

I think it’s fine to make it 16+ (looking at a pp’s comment) but this is ridiculous.

I’d be raging. I think you might have a case to get your money back or at least a room upgrade. I’m raging on your behalf given the circumstances! I hope you find a way to enjoy your holiday.

I’m annoyed for you. It makes no sense. What benefit is there from knowing there are no children in any of the hotel rooms? Obviously people book these types of hotels because they don’t want children around. At the pool, restaurants etc

Usually adult only is over 16 but like families with kids come over from other resorts and hotels to spend time at yours? That's not on. I'd be pissed. I don't use adult obly hotels cause I don't want to sleep in the same hotel. I do it cause I don't want to spend the day and dinner times with them.

….just reporting back what we were told. Applies to hotels, not nightclubs etc which are restricted by alcohol laws.

We always try to avoid school holidays because it's cheaper, and places are less crowded. Obviously that's our personal preference, not saying all childfree couples should do the same!

So sorry about IVF.

Yes it should be adults only everywhere if advertised as that. We have found best to double check and check reviews, we went to one described as adults only but took children and under 12s were free. Not too many as not school holidays. We were fine with that but not what had been sold.

Some adult hotels aren't allowed to 'own' the beach outside the hotel grounds due the the laws of that country - Cyprus springs to mind - so the beach bar will be open to the public.

Is the actual main hotel and pools okay?

So do we, but there seems to be an implication that we should avoid any time when children are on holiday. Not only is this unreasonable as many people have no choice about holiday timings (factory fortnights, teachers, lecturers and staff at schools, colleges and universities etc), it’s also an attitude that “children are so speshul and must be prioritised at all costs”, that pisses me off.

I'm so sorry to hear about your IVF journey.

I'd be really pissed off if I had booked/paid for an adult only resort and there were loads of kids there (and I say that as someone who has two kids, aged 12 and 18!). We camp for our hols, and there's no way I'd even consider booking us into an adults only campsite/festival. I always check very carefully that it is something that is definitely "family friendly" and not "adults only" - why should others have to see my kids if they've booked a nice quiet campsite/festival that is adults only.

I'd check the T+Cs on your booking and then complain. x

I know this happens, as in the past I used to book family holidays with an agent offering heavily discounted holidays at resorts in Spain. I’m not sure how it worked but they were always packages in resorts that were supposed to be for adult only holidays , but had not been booked out and therefore the remaining apartments / self catering chalets had been sublet to bargain holiday providers, usually at low season.

OP, you should complain, either to the hotel or to the company you booked with.
I have been to an adults only hotel in the school holidays. A lot of teachers were staying there!

The worse hotels I have stayed at were ones that allowed non residents in for the day.

Who did you book through? I'd speak to them.
And I'd want my money back/relocation by the hotel.
They aren't going to stop kids coming in while you're there, so you need relocation/compensation.

I’ve just been to an adult only resort in Asia but it’s the off season so the rules don’t seem to apply. There were kids staying there but the whole place was only 1/3 full so we did not see much of them.

It’s definitely worth a complaint in your case OP.

I totally agree with you. Whatever the reason, it is not adult only resort when children are there. At the very least they should mention this in their information. People choose adult only for a reason. We often choose adult only camp sites but there have been times when kids are around.

Agree. I'm sorry this happened.

This can happen when there's a few hotels from the same company in the area. They allow use of facilities of the complex but no access to the actual accommodation.

To me it defeats the point in being adults only.

I’d be seriously pissed off. We book adults only so we don’t have to put up with other peoples’ kids

Lol. Who is going to say the contrary if they do?

Im not sure I understand what you mean "that you have to be 18 to stay but kids are at beach club"?
Anyway I would complain when you're home, false advertising I think.

You may be able to make a claim through a chargeback through your credit card provider where a company has failed to deliver the promised service. You must attempt to resolve the issue with the holiday company first. If you paid for a holiday directly costing more than £100 section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the credit card company jointly liable.

Section 75 and a chargeback are two different processes so you will need to see which applies to your situation depending upon how you booked the holiday.

You can start by complaining in resort and making a note of the response. You dont have to accept something crappy like a free meal or drinks as a resolution. You should also, as other posters have advised, take photos of video (from a distance) showing children using the facilities. Then when you return complain formally to the company and ask for a partial refund of say 30-50% or whatever seems reasonable to you. At this stage you can also make it clear that you intend to pursue further action in the case of non resolution.

You can also leave strong factual reviews on all the revue sites

YANBU. That must be very painful and I'm sorry.

I would raise merry hell with the resort management and the company you booked with. I hope you get a resolution.