A British family’s dream holiday to Spain turned into a nightmare when they were allegedly snubbed by hotel staff in favour of local guests. Frankee and Jonny James, along with their son Rowan, set off with high hopes for a sunny getaway in Malgrat de Mar. But they claim their £1,800 trip quickly spiralled into a “holiday from hell.”
The couple described waiting at the hotel bar, only to see Spanish guests served first while Brits queued. Jonny, a prison officer, shared his frustration: “We all paid the same, but locals got better service. It’s unbelievable.”
Besides the alleged mistreatment, the James family faced a series of unsettling experiences at the Hotel Sorra Daurada Splash. Frankee mentioned the place was plagued by bad smells and poor hygiene. “The water park was closed, food labels were unclear, and worse, had a strong sewage odour wafting from our room’s toilet,” she lamented.
To add to their woes, they fell sick, with both parents experiencing acute gastritis after a meal. The family’s holiday spirit was crushed, and their concerns were allegedly dismissed by the manager, who they claim refused to speak in English.
Feeling unsafe and disheartened, they cut their holiday short, flying back two days early. Despite receiving a partial refund, they had to cover additional costs for the earlier return.
This disappointing experience has left the family rethinking foreign trips, choosing to holiday within the UK in the future. Although it’s taken away from the excitement of travel abroad, Frankee admitted, “I feel horrible our first family holiday abroad since the pandemic was ruined.”
Have you ever faced travel mishaps like these? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! 🌍✈️
📸: Francoise James/SWNS