John and Ally Middleton had hoped for a peaceful retreat away from the relentless noise of building work at their home in Kirkby, Merseyside. Their anticipation for tranquility led them to book a seven-day getaway in Anglesey, Wales, through Cottages.com for £406. However, what was supposed to be a serene countryside escape quickly transformed into a “holiday from hell” when they discovered that the charming lodge they had rented was located adjacent to a noisy construction site.
Upon their arrival, the Middletons were informed by the lodge’s owner that construction work on her own property, situated opposite theirs, would commence on Monday. True to her word, the couple woke up to the sound of cement mixers, diggers, and dumpers operating just 20 yards away from their accommodation, disturbing the idyllic setting they had envisioned.
Shocked by the incessant noise, which they likened to being next to a motorway, John and Ally made the difficult decision to cut their holiday short and leave the rental property a day earlier than planned. The situation was exacerbated by their dog Molly, who began experiencing seizures due to the stress induced by the noise.
Despite their efforts to arrange a transfer to a quieter property, the Middletons were met with resistance from the owner, who was unwilling to forfeit the booking. In response to their dissatisfaction, Cottages.com initially offered the couple a £62 refund, equivalent to 15% of the total cost. However, the Middletons rejected this offer, adamant that they deserved better compensation for their disrupted vacation.
Ally, a 56-year-old casual worker, expressed her frustration, emphasizing that the holiday was intended as a much-needed respite from the chaos of ongoing building work at their home. She recounted the disappointment of waking up to the noise of construction machinery, contrary to the peaceful retreat they had anticipated.
John, a 58-year-old council worker, echoed his wife’s sentiments, emphasizing the detrimental impact of the construction noise on their holiday experience. He emphasized that the noise levels were so high that they felt as though they were situated next to a busy motorway, rendering their getaway anything but relaxing.
The owner of the property defended her position, asserting that the construction noise was only present for one day of the Middletons’ stay and that they had been adequately compensated for this inconvenience. She maintained that she had attempted to address each issue as it arose and expressed regret that the guests were not fully satisfied with their experience.
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Cottages.com issued an apology to the Middletons, acknowledging that their holiday did not meet the expected standards. The company offered the couple a full refund as a gesture of goodwill, seeking to rectify the disappointment caused by their disrupted vacation experience.
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