Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To NOT go on holiday following bad reviews

37 replies

haveaword · 05/10/2025 20:38

Due to go on holiday for half term. All paid for via large travel company.

Recent review with pics has posted unsafe sockets (off wall with exposed wires), broken raised tiles, dirty shower on arrival and pool left unclean with drifts of leaves. Review also describes an awful blocked toilet situation that was badly handled.

This review was not there when I booked, though one negative from 2023. With hindsight it is a red flag there are no other reviews.

DH who is stressed and exhausted said he is not going, rather stay at home. I feel stupid for not checking more on this property before booking. DH has also said it shares some blame as he shouldn’t leave these things to me all the time.

We are within 14days of departure and contractually not entitled to to change anything - it would be 100% cancellation.

The money has gone regardless of whether we go or not. We can use the spending money plus a few hundred to book another holiday if we want (shorter)

YABU to just stay away from this based on one review and pics?

YANBU to stay away and NOT go

OP posts:
AllPaws4 · 05/10/2025 20:48

Get in touch with the holiday company asap and see whether you can be moved elsewhere before you get there.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 05/10/2025 20:48

Do you have travel insurance which could help with cancellation?

It seems you booked through somewhere like bookings.com. could the bookings company help with sorting a refund? Maybe your credit csrd company could help?

If money isnt an issue then it doesnt matter really but if it is, I think yabu a bit xx

inamo · 05/10/2025 20:53

Explore all avenues before cancelling, such as a different resort/area but same flight.

I'm often sceptical of reviews TBH. How sure are you that any review is truthful anyway. A disgruntled guest (for any reason) can get revenge with a bad review.

Why not post a question on Tripadvisor, not mentioning the review but asking if anyone had stayed there and what did they think. Start with that anyway.

Original poster
haveaword · 05/10/2025 20:53

AllPaws4 · 05/10/2025 20:48

Get in touch with the holiday company asap and see whether you can be moved elsewhere before you get there.

Have done that - and spoke to two staff members today and both said different things and second one gave illogical advice - we could complain about the call handling as an issue in its own right

Thank you for the encouragement.

OP posts:
SundayFundayz · 05/10/2025 20:56

No reviews since 2023? That seems really odd if it’s a hotel - are you looking on tripadvisor?

Coulddowithanap · 05/10/2025 20:57

Just because someone had a bad experience doesn't mean you will.

Remember people are more likely to review something when it's bad. I've never come home from a good/amazing holiday and felt like leaving a review, whereas I have to leave a bad one.

pictoosh · 05/10/2025 20:57

I'd not cancel a holiday based on a bad review, no.

Just getting away is brilliant. If the money has already been spent then it's mad not to go imo.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 05/10/2025 20:57

Do you have travel insurance which could help with cancellation?

Travel insurance doesn't cover changing your mind.

Original poster
haveaword · 05/10/2025 20:59

mumofoneAloneandwell · 05/10/2025 20:48

Do you have travel insurance which could help with cancellation?

It seems you booked through somewhere like bookings.com. could the bookings company help with sorting a refund? Maybe your credit csrd company could help?

If money isnt an issue then it doesnt matter really but if it is, I think yabu a bit xx

No unfortunately no insurance was arranged - we were doing everything today booking stuff online check in….

Again thanks for issues paid direct via debit card - another leaning point to take away.

Money not really issue we could afford to book another package for same price. We have also had a lovely holiday abroad earlier in the year and two UK breaks over the summer. So it’s not our main holiday.

I guess I’m thinking we being too fussy and we should make do but urgh the thought of those pics….

OP posts:
FettleOfKish · 05/10/2025 20:59

I wouldn’t cancel based on one review. I work in travel and have at times received awful feedback from a hotel that other clients have absolutely praised. People are far more inclined to go have a moan if they’ve had a bad time than to review if they’ve had a great time. I’ve become pretty good at reading between the lines of online reviews, and look at the averages rather than individual reviews where people often have an axe to grind, or as often happens these days unfortunately is entirely false.

FuzzyWolf · 05/10/2025 20:59

I’d just go and make the most of it.

inamo · 05/10/2025 21:02

FuzzyWolf · 05/10/2025 20:59

I’d just go and make the most of it.

I agree and take the chance. Those pics could be from anywhere anyway, unless you are 100% certain they were taken in that hotel. Are you certain?

Original poster
haveaword · 05/10/2025 21:04

inamo · 05/10/2025 20:53

Explore all avenues before cancelling, such as a different resort/area but same flight.

I'm often sceptical of reviews TBH. How sure are you that any review is truthful anyway. A disgruntled guest (for any reason) can get revenge with a bad review.

Why not post a question on Tripadvisor, not mentioning the review but asking if anyone had stayed there and what did they think. Start with that anyway.

Yeah true but the pics don’t lie..

I will try that re asking question thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
haveaword · 05/10/2025 21:05

SundayFundayz · 05/10/2025 20:56

No reviews since 2023? That seems really odd if it’s a hotel - are you looking on tripadvisor?

Yes it’s a Villa - booked via TUI

OP posts:
rwalker · 05/10/2025 21:07

Some people are just professional complainers
in Spain last year a couple were banging on about how shit it was the food the entertainment everything honestly couldn’t believe they were in about the same place we were staying in

blubberyboo · 05/10/2025 21:08

haveaword · 05/10/2025 21:05

Yes it’s a Villa - booked via TUI

Show quote history

Are there other hotels in the area which you could switch too if it does turn out bad? More than likely it will be fine and if its booked as a package holiday via TUI then you will be able to ask for some help while in resort

diditwelldone · 05/10/2025 21:11

I have recently got back from Rhodes and after booking apartment I then read the reviews. Some reviews were awful 😞 Kicking myself that I hadn’t looked first .
Anyway we went ahead with the holiday and it was fantastic,apartments beautiful with fabulous views ,service ,food,pool etc . There was absolutely no comparison to what we had read .
I have now left 5* review . Some people just moan for the sake of it .

Shoes232 · 05/10/2025 21:11

If money isn’t an issue use the flights and book another hotel

diditwelldone · 05/10/2025 21:12

rwalker · 05/10/2025 21:07

Some people are just professional complainers
in Spain last year a couple were banging on about how shit it was the food the entertainment everything honestly couldn’t believe they were in about the same place we were staying in

This 👆👆👆

intrepidpanda · 05/10/2025 21:13

You will be more likely to get your money back if you go and give evidence of any issues.

tiredangry · 05/10/2025 21:25

TUI ought to be able to make a change to this, based on the unsafe electrics - you are taking children. I would keep at them - can you go into a store and get someone to help? I would beg for the accommodation to be changed.

Schoolchoicesucks · 05/10/2025 21:25

If the money isn't an issue then go, see what it's like and if it's terrible book into a different hotel for the rest of your stay. Take photos and see if you might be able to claim something back if it's not as described.

pteromum · 05/10/2025 21:29

Are your flights the same? Non refundable? If so, keep in about cancelling the villa, keep the flights and as you say use the spending money etc to find something else. Lots of hotels will have offers.

don’t lost the entire thing for sure.

or go, with some hotels in mind, if it is as bad as it says, photo and complain and go to hotel with budget mentioned.

BlueberryLatte · 05/10/2025 21:32

That's annoying. I wouldn't want to lose the money (cheapskate), so would probably go anyway, but I wouldn't judge you for not going either. Is your dh refusing to go? Are you going to go on your own if you decide not to stay home?

isitmyturn · 05/10/2025 21:33

What about the other reviews?
I always look at the overall average. If it's 4.5 or over then I would disregard one bad one.
I would go. Plan to get things put right asap once you arrive but it may well be fine.