A couple, Frankee and Jonny James, aged 33, had to shorten their inaugural family vacation abroad due to feeling unsafe at a Spanish hotel where they alleged encountering issues such as unpleasant odors, subpar cleanliness, and preferential treatment towards Spanish guests. The incident occurred during their £1,800 holiday with their 8-year-old son, Rowan, at Hotel Sorra Daurada Splash in Malgrat de Mar.
The James family expressed frustration over being neglected by hotel staff for 10 to 15 minutes while witnessing staff prioritize Spanish guests. Eventually, the family decided to return home prematurely after suffering from food poisoning and feeling uncomfortable with the treatment received.
Following this ordeal, the family has decided to opt for future holidays within the UK rather than traveling abroad. Jonny, a prison officer from Bedford, criticized the unequal service they experienced at the hotel, emphasizing the disparity in treatment between Spanish and English guests.
Their trip, which began on October 25, was meant to be a relaxing getaway in the sun, but the family’s expectations were marred by a series of disappointments at the supposedly family-friendly resort. Frankee, an optical adviser, lamented the closure of the water park, lackluster food quality, and unpleasant bathroom conditions at the four-star establishment.
Issues with hygiene standards and food quality persisted, with Frankee describing encountering raw eggs, moldy butter, and poorly labeled food items at the hotel’s buffet. Consequently, both Frankee and Jonny fell ill with acute gastritis after consuming a meal at the hotel, leading to their decision to cut their vacation short.
The family’s dissatisfaction with the hotel’s management and overall experience prompted them to depart two days ahead of schedule, on October 30, disrupting their holiday plans. Frankee expressed disappointment that their first post-Covid family trip abroad had been marred by negative experiences, leading them to reconsider future travel destinations.
Despite only receiving a partial refund and incurring additional flight change costs, the family remains adamant about their decision to avoid international travel in favor of domestic holidays in the UK. Notably, online reviews of the hotel corroborate the James family’s grievances, with other guests similarly recounting unsatisfactory experiences and poor service standards at the resort.
Criticism of the hotel’s management, cleanliness, and service quality has been echoed by various guests on platforms like TripAdvisor, highlighting a pattern of discontent among visitors. Hotel Sorra Daurada Splash has not provided any response to these allegations.