OAPs' club 18-30 holiday hell

Nov 20 2011 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

A ROW has broken out after four pensioners wanting a quiet holiday in Spain were sent to a busy hotel now in the Club 18-30 brochure.

John and Vera Byrne, aged 69 and 66 respectively, booked the TRH Palma Nova with Thomas Cook expecting a relaxing break.

They were accompanied by family friends John and Maureen Hannant, aged 76 and 71, so they were hardly looking for wild nights at the disco.

But the two couples discovered the hotel one minute from the beach in Magaluf was a magnet for young people.

They refused to stay and spent £800 on alternative accommodation to get away from the hustle and bustle.

There is also a dispute over the location of the hotel, with the couples expecting to be in the heart of quieter Palma Nova instead of a stone’s throw from noisier Magaluf.

The hotel is now in Club 18-30’s 2012 brochure where it boasts pool parties with the best DJs from Magaluf’s nightclubs.

Vera, of Westerhope, Newcastle, said: “We thought we were getting a nice quiet hotel in Palma Nova suitable for pensioners.

“We had been to the resort before and, although we knew it was close to Magaluf, it is a better choice for four mature adults looking for a peaceful break.

“I have travelled to this area many times before and know only too well that Magaluf is noted for loud young people while Palma Nova is not.

“After we booked my daughter looked the hotel up on the internet and we were horrified at what we found.

“It is only one minute from the beach at Magaluf, more like a Club 18-30 than a normal hotel, and is frequented by young people.”

Thomas Cook, which owns the Club 18-30 brand, said there was nothing they could do.

The couples had to travel but, after calling at the hotel, decided to stay elsewhere at their own expense.

A spokeswoman told me the hotel was not allocated to Club 18-30 clients.

But I showed them next year’s brochure and there it was on page 82.

The TRH Palma Nova, new for 2012, 500 metres from the main strip in Magaluf and the same distance from the beach.

It made a point of mentioning those pool parties hosted by Magaluf’s top DJs.

I was told the hotel was on the border between Magaluf and Palma Nova, but the postal address was Palma Nova.

The spokeswoman said: “We know how important holidays are and our experienced travel agents work closely with customers to help them choose the best options for their budget and overall needs.

“We're very disappointed that Mrs Byrne felt the hotel wasn't right for her but hope she enjoyed her time in Spain.”

There was a further comment from Thomas Cook when the spokeswoman said the hotel was not in the Club 18-30 brochure at the time of travel.

And there would be no compensation because the party had decided to switch accommodation.

I was also told that reps in the resort would have explained the hotel was quieter in September, when the couples went, than in the height of summer.

Vera said: “The hotel encouraged us to complain to Thomas Cook in the resort as some clients had previously had the same issues.

“She said we were not the first and would not be the last. I do not believe the hotel was suitable for pensioners, or families, and am more certain than ever now that I know it is officially Club 18-20 accommodation next year.”