British holiday-maker refunded 750 Pounds for Hotel full of Germans

the Interceptor · May 31st, 2008, 12:34 PM

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle1231344.ece

Quote:

Brit's holiday from Helmut

A DAD who took his family to a luxury holiday hotel only to find they were surrounded by Germans was awarded £750 by a court yesterday. David Barnish, 47, forked out £4,000 for the all-inclusive trip to the Greek island of Kos.

But on arrival at the 700-room Grecotel Park hotel with wife Karen and his three daughters, David grew suspicious as he noticed all the unoccupied sunbeds draped with towels – and the sound of just one distinctive accent.
He said: “We tried to join a windsurfing lesson and yoga classes but all the instructions were in German.

“My youngest daughter wanted to attend the kids’ club but couldn’t understand what was going on. “Even the TV was in German, except for one channel.”

The finance company boss, of Madeley, Staffs, claimed the Thomson break for Karen and daughters Molly, 12, Gemma, 19, and 21-year-old Kim was spoiled because the hotel did not cater for English people.

He said: “We entrusted Thomson with our holiday, going for an upmarket Premier Beachclub hotel for its facilities, but we weren’t able to use many of them.”

Yesterday Thomson holidays was told to pay David £750 at Stoke-on-Trent County Court for breach of contract.

Deputy District Judge Naish ruled that a customer going to a hotel featured in an English brochure “doesn’t expect to have to press for activities to be accessible in their own language”.

He added: “The brochure is significantly misleading.”

David, who represented himself, said afterwards: “I’m not racist, as equally I wouldn’t like my family holiday at a hotel overrun by English.”

A Thomson spokesman commented: “We are sorry that Mr Barnish did not feel the entertainment on his holiday was what he expected. However, we are pleased with the outcome.”

The Germans! images/smilies/lol.gif

jayhawk · May 31st, 2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

David, who represented himself, said afterwards: “I’m not racist, as equally I wouldn’t like my family holiday at a hotel overrun by English.”

Racist??

Cobol74 · May 31st, 2008, 12:50 PM

Sun beds + Beach Towells = Germans.

And they don't queue properly!!! images/smilies/lol.gif

He means xenophobic I think.

Viper007Bond · May 31st, 2008, 01:09 PM

I'm with the guy on this. They advertised in English, but didn't speak a lick of it. Now if they only spoke Greek, that's one thing as you are in Greece, but to speak a 3rd language altogether is highly misleading and not delivering what was advertised.

fbc · May 31st, 2008, 01:36 PM

Is it just me who immediately thought of this:

+ YouTube Video

But yes, I can see why the guy was bit pissed about his holiday.

Speedtouch · May 31st, 2008, 02:09 PM

^ Ich auch.

Ah Faulty Towers. So funny. images/smilies/lol.gif

KaJuN · June 1st, 2008, 01:56 AM

I agree with Viper on this one. Sounds like a classic case of false advertising and a really poor job by their travel company.

Scooby5 · June 2nd, 2008, 10:56 AM

Should have been awarded more than 750-quid though...... little wonder Thomson were "pleased with the outcome."

Quadrax · June 2nd, 2008, 12:22 PM

"Don't mention the war! I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it!"

images/smilies/lol.gif

May 31st, 2008, 12:50 PM	#3
Cobol74 Joined: Mar 21st, 2006 Last Online: 04:31 PM Location: Southampton Posts: 6,218 Car: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 TDI Slush box. Rep Power: 58	Sun beds + Beach Towells = Germans. And they don't queue properly!!! He means xenophobic I think. __________________

May 31st, 2008, 01:09 PM	#4
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: 10:01 AM Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 21,086 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 237	I'm with the guy on this. They advertised in English, but didn't speak a lick of it. Now if they only spoke Greek, that's one thing as you are in Greece, but to speak a 3rd language altogether is highly misleading and not delivering what was advertised. __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

May 31st, 2008, 02:09 PM	#6
Speedtouch Joined: Jul 30th, 2006 Last Online: 07:15 PM Location: Kent, England Age: 16 Posts: 2,856 Rep Power: 34	^ Ich auch. Ah Faulty Towers. So funny. __________________ Eyre Photography

June 1st, 2008, 01:56 AM	#7
KaJuN Joined: Jul 31st, 2006 Last Online: November 17th, 2008 Location: USAF Basic Training Age: 23 Posts: 4,628 Car: Land Rover Discovery, 1980 Yamaha XJ650 Rep Power: 91	I agree with Viper on this one. Sounds like a classic case of false advertising and a really poor job by their travel company. __________________ D-Fence: Kajun is just outside caressing his Discovery....touching it gently, you know......it is such a dirty bitch.....but he seems to love dirty girls in high heels who are taller then him and have "quite a few pounds" on their hips ^^ Yes we can! Join my fan club. You know you want a piece of this action!

June 2nd, 2008, 10:56 AM	#8
Scooby5 Joined: Mar 24th, 2005 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: A Scot in Singapore Posts: 409 Car: '06 Subaru Legacy 2.0L GT Wagon Rep Power: 20	Should have been awarded more than 750-quid though...... little wonder Thomson were "pleased with the outcome." __________________ The species of whale known as the Black Right whale has four kilos of brains and 1,000 kilos of testicles. If it thinks at all, we know what it is thinking about. -- Jon Lien (Professor, St. John's University, Newfoundland)

June 2nd, 2008, 12:22 PM	#9
Quadrax Joined: Jan 1st, 2008 Last Online: August 7th, 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 535 Car: Jap crap Rep Power: 21	"Don't mention the war! I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it!" __________________

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