A family is demanding compensation following a nightmare holiday stay in a shabby, mouldy apartment.
The Hemingways, of Golcar, paid £4,800 for two weeks at the Levante Lux in Benidorm in August.
The party of five adults and three children had been sold what was meant to be a comfortable and relaxing break with Thomson.
But when the family arrived at their apartment they found ‘punch holes’ in three doors, a loose sink and loose glass in the patio door.
They discovered mould around the apartment as well as damaged, unstable wardrobes in the bedroom.
The Hemingways – including diabetic dad Mark – were unable to use the cooker as all the shelves had been removed.
Outside, the family saw rusty metalwork and missing drain covers around the swimming pool – and they noticed that most of the sun loungers were broken.
Mark complained to a Thomson rep and asked to be moved but was told there were no vacancies elsewhere.
After enduring four nights in the damaged flat, the Spanish owners of the complex moved the family to the nearby Levante Beach which was cleaner and in better repair.
The Hemingways have since been offered £307 compensation — but the family have turned it down believing they are entitled to £1,000 to cover their stay in the dilapidated apartment.
Mark, 43, said: “It looked fantastic in the brochure. The lady who booked it with us said it was a nice apartment and building and that she’d never had any complaints.
“When we got there we thought we were in the wrong place.
“The gates were rusty and had holes in them and the lights had exposed wires coming out of them...
“The front door of our apartment looked like it had been kicked in...
“When we eventually got moved they closed the rooms we were in to refurbish them.”
Mark, a glazier, added: “We were unable to have a holiday until we were moved; it caused us some distress.
“I would never use Thomson again. They’ve not acknowledged us as customers.”
A spokesman for Thomson said: “Thomson is sorry to hear of Mr Hemingway’s experience.
“Our team in the resort did everything possible to assist Mr Hemingway during his stay.
“Following a review of his complaint we have offered him a gesture of goodwill.
“We would like to reassure customers that this hotel remains a popular choice for our customers.”
