Hotel trying to force us to pay an extra night

[chinchinchilla]

Long story short, we were staying at a remote hotel overseas. Booking a stay with the hotel includes a return boat trip back to a town as that is the only way to reach it.

Unfortunately the boat broke down just before we were due to depart. It is not the hotel boat, but one of their friends who they use to make the trips with guests. This meant we had to stay an extra night before another local guy could take us in his boat. We left first thing and stayed in our previous and uncleaned room.

Hotel won’t write down that their boat broke down for our insurance because they are worried the insurance would claim against them.

But hotel are emailing us and messaging us via booking dot com asking us to book an extra night to pay them. They want us to pay £150.

Can I safely just ignore them?

Hotel won’t write down that their boat broke down for our insurance because they are worried the insurance would claim against them.

This makes no sense, it wasn't their boat?

No, they don’t own the boat. Their friend does. They pay the friend to take guests to and from the hotel. They essentially subcontract the work out. Do you see what I mean?

Can you say you'll pay on receipt of the letter saying the boat broke down? And keep saying that?

It probably depends on the law wherever you stayed tbh.

Absolutely do not pay. Tourists are always seen as a soft spot. We had something similar to this once on an island off the coast of South America.

Good point

Booking a stay with the hotel includes a return boat trip back to a town as that is the only way to reach it.

If your contract directly with the hotel included the return trip, if they sell a package "accommodation + transfers", makes no difference whatsoever who owns the boat - it's their responsibility that you couldn't leave the island.
If your return trip is a separate contract from booking the hotel, then it's not the hotel's problem you got stuck on the island.
Check the T&C of your booking - there is no one-fit-all answer.