Our horrible holiday with those noisy neighbours
Couple suffer building work nightmare
Additional reporting by Jane Barrie Linda and Graham Black are seasoned holidaymakers, having visited the same resort in Tenerife for the past 10 years.
They’d planned their latest break to Costa Adeje 11 months in advance, paying £2600 to TUI.
When the travel firm advised that bui lding work was sti l l ongoing at an adjacent hotel two weeks before they were due to leave, the Blacks weren’t unduly worried.
Linda said: “It wasn’t ideal but TUI assured us management at our hotel would do all they could to ensure the work didn’t impact on our holiday, including allocating us a room on a higher floor or at the opposite end of the complex.
“We thought we were in safe hands. How wrong we were.”
At 7am on their first morning at the Guayarmina Princess hotel in February, the couple, of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, were rudely awakened by trucks.
Admin support worker Linda, 55, said: “They were blowing their horns incessantly right underneath our balcony. believe it. We’d paid £2577 for the fortnight, four-star, and certainly hadn’t budgeted for any more.”
They were equally disappointed after speaking to a TUI rep. Linda said: “We were told the charge stood and if we wanted to change rooms we were on a waiting list.”
After a week of putting up with the noise and fumes, they complained again.
Linda said: “This time the rep told us we’d be put on the list for a transfer to another room but we heard nothing.
“Then we discovered other guests had been allocated a different room almost immediately. We felt like second-class citizens.”
To add insult to injury, their flight home was delayed by 22 hours.
Linda said: “This was hardly the relaxing break we’d anticipated, so we complained to TUI.” But they got nowhere and contacted me.
It’s not the f irst time I’ve reported problems at the resort. I secured £750 from TUI for Elaine Townsend, of Crieff, Perthshire, in August.
She’d also suffered chaos at a hotel opposite despite being told the work at the Torviscas Playa would be “light refurbishment”.
I got on to TUI. They said: “We are sorry to hear Mr and Mrs Black’s holiday experience was impacted due to building work beyond our control.
“While the customers were aware of the work prior to booking and we followed this up with a reminder prior to their departure, we’d be happy to speak to them directly to offer a gesture of goodwill.” “I’m fed-up chasing Talk Talk. By my calculations this has gone on for two years.”
I got on the case and the firm quickly paid £179.74.
Talk Talk said: “We have provided Mr Henry with a refund to cover the outstanding charges and closed the account.”
John said: “Thanks for all your help.”