To NOT go on holiday following bad reviews

[haveaword]

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

We are away at the moment. Hotel has been fab, food great, room lovely, spotlessly clean, service friendly,
no issues whatsoever. Reading the reviews on tripadvisor there are about a dozen reviews that have been left in the last week all singing the hotel’s praises, and only one review complaining. Agree with others that some just like complaining for the sake of it.

Thanks all…

I think to go and give it chance but have a back up plan or alternative accommodation. I will see what DH says, I’d rather us both be in agreement

People always leave reviews when they have had a bad experience rather than good.

Hotels don't update all rooms at once. Its done on rotation so perhaps the review is for an older crappy room?

Just go and have fun, and if you have any problems complain like merry hell.

Even if everything in the review was true, would those things really ruin your holiday?

There aren't many hotels that don't have at least one bad review. I usually ignore the odds bad review unless there's a common theme running through.

One of the best holidays I ever had was featured in "holidays from hell".
Make your own mind up.

I would contact TUI and explain your concerns, especially the broken tiles and sockets which are dangerous, and see if you can change to somewhere else, even if you have to pay an amendment fee. If not, insist that if you go and it's not better, you can move to some different accommodation.
It's risky with only one review. I tend to only stay in places with lots of good reviews, higher than 8/10.

Not read the FT, is there just one negative review or multiple ? People are more likely to post negative reviews if they are pissed off

sorry just seen the post about it being a villa not a hotel

You probably won’t be able to make a change as it’s too close to departure. Any changes would probably be treated as a cancellation

There's still two weeks for them to fix the issues! I would be flagging your concerns to TUI and telling them they need to make sure the villa owner gets anything dangerous fixed before you arrive. I would still go though.

Also l, not the point of the thread I know, but you really should get travel insurance in place soon after you book any holiday. If, god forbid(!) you were diagnosed with disease which prevented you from travelling, you wouldn't be covered for cancellation costs if you hadn't already got travel insurance in place (as it would then be considered a pre existing condition)

If money is not the issue why not keep the flights and just book a different hotel in the area?

Then you might as well go - if it's not up to expectations book somewhere else when you are there and complain to travel company.