Misrepresentation?

[thaliablogs]

Really not sure what to do. We have been looking forward all year to our holiday. For the first time I have booked 3 weeks off work and we spent ages researching the perfect villa. Booked it back in November - very ouchy but we figured you get what you pay for.

Well, we arrived today and turns out you don't. When I went back to check how we could be so wrong, turns out we weren't. Four of the 9 pictures on the web site are of another villa, which is much more glamorous. And the description is inaccurate eg saying there is a brick oven by the pool when it's actually By the kitchen, miles from the pool.

The villa operator says not their fault, innocent mistake etc etc. I feel like they ought at least to be offering us something in recompense, if not helping us find another villa.

I am sure I must spund like an over privileged ass, and I of course hav a high class problem here, but I worked incredibly had for thisnmoney and I thought I was getting something amazing, andi'm not.

Is it worth pushing them or not?

Is the operator in Britain?

I would complain in writing while there, say it's not worth as much as you paid for it as it's of a lower standard/star rating and ask specifically for a reasonable refund.

Then take loads of pictures and enjoy your holiday.

Then I'd do a small claims court claim for a refund of half or whatever the difference is in star rating/quality when I got home.

I think it would be really hard not to be pissed off and have it spoil it a bit but I would try quite hard.

Yes, nag, nag, and nag again. Phone hourly.

Dh and I had this a few years ago with self-catering apartments in Dublin, claiming to be five star. The water frequently shut off, the telly (tiny) used a coathanger for an ariel and only received RTE2 (in Irish), various doors didn't lock securely, the bedlinens were trashy... We moaned and complained and got transferred to a far superior hotel for the remains of our stay. And that was just a long weekend, not a major holiday.

Thanks both I really appreciate the perspectives! Will do as you suggest.

Good luck. :)

Take photos, ask for alternative villa, put it in writing that you are nitnhappy etc. contact abta on return home if agency don't offer compensation.