Couple books Dh45,000 holiday home that doesn't exist

They were forced to book into the nearest accommodation 40 miles away.

By Web Report

Published: Mon 30 Sep 2019, 10:35 AM

Last updated: Mon 30 Sep 2019, 12:57 PM

British couple's luxury holiday plans were ruined when they discovered their £10,000 (Dh45,000 approx) Airbnb penthouse in Spain did not exist.
Ian and Denise Feltham, from Chiswick, west London, booked through the hosting site an expensive penthouse with a hot tub, Turkish bath and private lift in the VIP room.
The couple went by 37 reviews and a five-star rating of the resort at the Las Boas complex in Ibiza that also allowed them to bring along their Yorkshire terriers - Ross and Honey.

But once they arrive at the hotel, they were left horrified to discover the Airbnb listing was a fake. Left with nowhere to go, they were forced to book the nearest dog-friendly accommodation 40 miles away for an extra £200 a night.
"When we turned up, the receptionist said, 'There isn't such a thing as the VIP Penthouse in Las Boas'. A gentleman who lived in the building said they get tourists turning up all the time and that it's a very big problem," Daily Mail quoted 75-year-old Feltham as saying in The Times.

The property in Ibiza was listed by Lux Travel Collective and had not provided the couple arrival details in the week leading up to the holiday - despite being contacted several times. That's when Feltham, a property developer, became suspicious and tried to phone the company's number based in Thailand, but to no avail. When Feltham went to Airbnb, he was reportedly told he could only get a refund if they turned up at the property and were not allowed a room.

The couple was then forced to fly to Ibiza with their dogs before they were eventually turned away. Following the incident, Airbnb refused to take responsibility for the fake room in spite of taking a £1,290 cut from the booking.

However, a spokesperson told the newspaper: 'Our handling of this issue fell below our usual high standards and we have reached out to the guest to apologise and refund them in full. We have suspended the listing while we investigate and are continuing to work with the guest to make things right'.