Full of Spanish holidaymakers: Ms Jackson was staying in the Spanish seaside resort of Benidorm, Alicante Spain. Photo / Getty Images
Full of Spanish holidaymakers: Ms Jackson was staying in the Spanish seaside resort of Benidorm, Alicante Spain. Photo / Getty Images
A British grandmother claims her holiday to Benidorm was ruined because her Spanish hotel had "too many Spaniards in it".
Freda Jackson, 81, Blackburn, Lancashire, said she cried at the end of her two-week trip to the popular holiday destination which she booked through travel operator Thomas Cook.
The DailyMail reported that the grandmother from North West England felt her holiday had been "ruined" by the amount of locals using the resort and was baffled by why they couldn't be more adventurous in their holiday choices. "Why can't the Spanish go somewhere else for their holidays?" she said.
The pensioner, who suffers from mobility issues, says her hotel was teeming with 'rude' native Spaniards - and claims one nearly knocked her over on one occasion.
She also claims that despite her request for flat ground access her room was located on a slope instead and that Thomas Cook failed to notify them when their flights changed.
"The entertainment in the hotel was all focused and catered for the Spanish - why can't the Spanish go somewhere else for their holidays?"
The White Lion pub: Benidorm has changed to meet tastes as a popular destination for UK travellers. Photo / Getty Images
Grandmother-of-six Ms Jackson and her 61-year-old friend paid a total of £1,133 for the holiday and have demanded a full refund or a free trip.
Ms Jackson said: "I have never complained about a holiday before - but this one was a disaster from start to finish.
"My friend and I paid for it from our pensions and it was a struggle trying to fund it over 12 months and the holiday was totally ruined - I cried after.
"We wanted to go somewhere on flat ground and not in the hills because we have mobility issues.
"To top it off once we got to reception they told us we had been put on the 14th floor, thankfully we were moved to the second floor, and that it was 42 steps down to the hotel's swimming pool."
The pair travelled 1,500 miles from Manchester Airport to Alicante on May 10, after not being notified by Thomas Cook that the dates of their flights had changed.
Ms Jackson, who has previously visited Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Tenerife, claims Thomas Cook "mis-sold" and "ruined" her dream holiday.
She said there were no reps on the holiday who they could complain to about the trip - so instead Ms Jackson submitted a letter of complaint to Thomas Cook.
Thomas Cook bosses initially offered Freda and her friend a £75 ($145) holiday voucher as compensation for the "disappointing" trip abroad.
But after declining the initial "goodwill gesture" made by the travel company, they made an improved offer of £566 to be split between Freda and her friend.
Ms Jackson says she is yet to respond to the travel company about their renewed offer.
A Thomas Cook spokesman said: "We are very sorry for the inconvenience this caused and are investigating to make sure it doesn't happen again.
"We have offered Ms Jackson and her travel companion a gesture of goodwill to try and put things right which we hope she will accept."
Thomas Cook said they relocated the pair to the second floor on the second night after they asked for a ground floor room.
They also said staff offered Freda assistance on the small slope at the hotel - but they claim the 81-year-old refused assistance.
The holiday operator have also reiterated the fact the compensation they offered Freda and her friend was due to the last minute change of flight - not because their holiday was overrun by Spanish holidaymakers.
A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: "Due to a system error Ms Jackson was not informed of a change to her flights until six days before departure.
"We are very sorry for the inconvenience this caused and are investigating to make sure it doesn't happen again.
"We have offered Ms Jackson and her travel companion a gesture of goodwill to try and put things right which we hope she will accept."
