Holiday hotel facilities used for private functions

[ganesh]

Isn't this 'double selling' illegal.I can't find out anything on the net.
We stayed at a large hotel which had a private beach and several bars.During our stay we were moved from part of the beach and one of the bars to make way for wedding receptions and private parties on several nights.Surely this is against the law? They are efectively advertising those facilities to paying guests,then charging those people for their parties and using those facilities whilst stopping them from being used by us.
Any ideas where I can look into this? I was very cross at the time and I am complaining to the travel company who we booked the package with.Have I got any legal ground?

[boxtops]

I can feel how annoyed you are ganesh - but then I would have used the pool just in the morning, it wouldn't have bothered me that much. When they cleared us off the beach as the truck was bringing all the new furniture, we just went somewhere else. We too were in a good reputable hotel, we just took it as "they have to do it sometime". I love my holidays so I try not to let things rattle me, but I do understand your perspective on it and I wish you luck with your complaint to the tour organisers.

[boxtops]

^^mine crossed with yours, too! ;-)

[ganesh]

Yeah,I love my hols too and although they are never perfect,I normally have a nice,chilled out time too and don't let things rattle me either.However,they are extremely important to me and this time we did spend a lot of time choosing as it was a 'big'holiday and there were honestly so many bad things about the place and this was just one annoying aspect.The parties were also very big and loud and went on very late.I'm not big on the whole sueing thing but I do feel strongly about justice and I don't think people should be allowed to get away with things.I doubt if I will get anywhere but at least I will have exposed them and made them accountable.

[ganesh]

Thanks for all your opinions,and I will compose my letter carefully.I have researched the trade descriptions act under section 14 which prohibits businesses to 'falselyadvertise any sevices or facilities they cannot provide unless there are unforseen circumstances of course.They may,as you say,get out of that by saying we could still use a part of the advertised beach and still find somewhere else to drink,but the point will be made.

[bednobs]

personally i don't agree with the first batch of answers. I think you have a right to be thoroughly peeved, and i think you have a right to expect some compensation (unless of course as eddie says it says somewhere that facilities may be temporarily unavailable)
did you take it up with the rep in resort?

[ganesh]

eddie-yes it does say weddings in the brochure I think,I will check on it,but doesn't say anything about temporarily closing advertised facilities for it.I would have assumed they had extra arranged areas for that.The actual weddings were fine as they were on a bit sectioned off from the beach which no-one else used and they were only about half-an-hour.They were actually quite pretty to watch.It was the receptions after where they removed us,took away all the loungers and put loads of tables out for their party.The bar area next to this was rearranged too.This didn't help being right next to our room but then that's another issue.
bednobs-yes we did take it up with the rep there who actually agreed with us and said it was 'well out of order' and told us to write down the details and send TC a letter when we got home.He may have just been placating us of course and will probably have conveniently 'forgotten' what he said when it comes to confirming that.I will of course be quoting him in my letter.
I will check if there is a website,but we booked it entirely through TC and I seem to remember the bit about weddings was a general bit at the front of the brochure and not specific to the individual hotel.I will go through the fine print.

[ganesh]

Thanks all,I will name and shame and let you know what happens probably in a few months from now.

[tigwig]

I can state from past experience that Thomas Cook do not give a sh1t when it comes to customer complaints. I know its different but last year my parents booked a package holiday for 9 of us to the Dom Rep. Part of the reason for choosing them was the excellent facilities on the aircraft and the generous seat pitch. A few days after they paid the final balance which totalled to over £11,000 they informed us that the aircraft was going to be downgraded and have no seat back entertainment and a 29 inch seat pitch. We were disgusted and wrote several letters of complaint and their attitude was terrible. They know legally they can do it so they are not bothered. The flight was horrible, 9 hours with a baby on your knee and cramped up with no leg room was not pleasant at all. It was no different to a budget airline plane which is fine for short haul but not long haul. This was not a one off either. The cabin crew said i happens all the time and if they cant fill the airbus then they just swap to the smaller plane to save money, bugger the passengers who are lured by the glossy brochures promising excellent facilities on board. Plus my sister has been foolish enough to book again with them to Florida in Oct and they have done it again! Exactly the same, only telling them 3 days after they paid the final balance. Good luck with your complaint and sorry for my rant!!!!

[ganesh]

Totally understand,and you are right about them.I have been on several long haul flights with different companies.I was very impressed with Virgin Atlantic.They were very attentive,kept feeding us,the food was actually nice,and there was plenty of leg room.They also had a screen on each seat and films you could individually contol youself and pause and switch whenever you liked.This last Thomas Cook flight was horribly cramped with no leg OR arm room and crap in-flight entertainment on screens that kept breaking down.I won't even start on the food or lack of it.And your'e right,they don't give a ...

[ganesh]

Just an update on my legal battle with TC.We actually won the case at arbitration but didn't get the whole amount back (about a third of the holiday cost) but still pleased because of the principle.I urge everyone to not put up with bad service and crap holidays especially when you have saved up a lot of money for the experience.Although it took a year and a lot of letters/argument we won .The only reason we didn't get more compensation was because although the arbitrator agreed that we were wronged he said we should have assumed that they were falsley advertising things from the rest of the brochure details and small print and that it wasn't going to be the brilliant holiday that they suggested! Also we didn't have much photographic evidence or any witness statements.During the whole process they lied several times but we couldn't prove it.VERY STRANGE logic but you can't argue with the final decision.Still happy to have complained,especially as we have since had an amazing Thomson package holiday which proved to us yet again that you can still have a fantastic holiday with a tour company.
Don't let these people get away with it!!