Travel

Brit Thomas Cook holidaymakers on Costa del Sol fear being thrown out of hotels as reps ‘vanish’ after firm’s collapse


BRITISH holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol spoke of their panic – after Thomas Cook reps “vanished” and hotels suggested they might be kicked out.

Sunshine breaks were put on ice while customers struggled to find information about their pre-paid accommodation, flights, transfers and excursions.

 Brit holidaymakers on Costa del Sol fear being thrown out of their hotels after Thomas Cook reps 'vanished' after the firm's collapse

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Brit holidaymakers on Costa del Sol fear being thrown out of their hotels after Thomas Cook reps ‘vanished’ after the firm’s collapseCredit: Reuters

Most representatives from the package holiday firm who are usually based at resorts to deal with guest issues and queries were nowhere to be seen.

Helpline numbers went unanswered or were diverted to a recording which simply said: “Thomas Cook UK Plc has entered compulsory liquidation and is now under the control of the official receiver. The business had ceased trading with immediate effect.”

When The Sun visited one hotel in Malaga, Spain, we found a rep in a Thomas Cook T-shirt who was being bombarded with worried customers.

He said helplessly: “I know as much as you. As far as I know, I don’t even have a job any more.”

One Thomas Cook travel agent on holiday in Malaga tearfully told how colleagues had gone into the office to find it locked.

The woman, who asked not to be named but has worked at a branch in Greater Manchester for 20 years, said: “It’s devastating. My holiday has been thrown into chaos and I’m going home unemployed.

“My colleagues went into work this morning and found a sign on the door telling them the business is closed and their jobs are finished.

“I’ve heard nothing from the company but I’ve seen it on the news. It’s not a nice way to find out.”

No one’s being asked to leave hotels in this area at the moment but that could change. If that happens then tourists could be asked to pay up if they want to stay longer

Antonio Mayor, president of the Benidorm, Costa Blanca and Valencia Hotel Association

Antonio Mayor, president of the Benidorm, Costa Blanca and Valencia Hotel Association, said: “Thomas Cook is a corpse and all that’s left to do is bury it.

“In Benidorm alone hoteliers are going to lose around a million euros in unpaid bills. It’s a resort which is very popular with British tourists.

“Hotels are going to treat tourists well but the length of time they stay in hotels under the current circumstances will depend on what the British authorities decide and how far the ATOL cover goes.

“No one’s being asked to leave hotels in this area at the moment but that could change.

“If that happens then tourists could be asked to pay up if they want to stay longer.

“It depends very much on the signals coming out of the UK. Hotels are going to look after their clients but logically we’re not going to provide planes or free accommodation for days on end.”

A receptionist at the Sentido beach resort in Benalmadena, Spain, shrugged when asked if Thomas Cook customers would be allowed to stay.

She said: “We haven’t asked anyone to leave yet, but we still need to get paid. We don’t know what is happening.”

 Wendy Kingman, 49, needs daily medication but only has enough to last until Wednesday

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Wendy Kingman, 49, needs daily medication but only has enough to last until WednesdayCredit: Nick Obank
 Susan Rawlings is supposed to stay in Malaga with her mum for another 10 days

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Susan Rawlings is supposed to stay in Malaga with her mum for another 10 daysCredit: Nick Obank

At the nearby beachfront Palladium Hotel Costa del Sol, a worker said: “We haven’t been able to speak to anyone at Thomas Cook. The usual rep hasn’t turned up today.

“Last night we were told everything would be OK, but now everything seems far from OK.

“I’m sure we won’t kick anyone out on the street but we might ask people to pay for their rooms. We can’t survive as a business unless we get paid.”

Wendy Kingman, 49, needs daily medication and only has enough to last until Wednesday, when she is due to fly home to Ely, Cambs.

She suffers from CRPS which causes chronic pain, for which she takes morphine, and also needs daily thyroid tablets.

She said: “We haven’t got a clue what’s going on. There’s no information at all.

“I’m coming to the end of a two-week holiday which has been absolutely lovely, but now I’m really starting to worry.

“If I can’t fly home on Wednesday as planned I’ll need an emergency supply of medication, but I’ve got no idea how to get that.

‘IT COULD BE FATAL’

“Without it, I’ll be in terrible pain and my health will deteriorate very quickly. My thyroid issue can be fatal.

“It’s awful what’s happened to Thomas Cook, but for me it could be fatal.”

Network Rail signaller James Heathcote, 53, from Cambridge, who is staying at the Sentido beach resort in Benalmadena, Spain, said: “We always book through Thomas Cook because it’s so easy and their prices are good.

“I don’t know what’s happened to our usual rep. We haven’t been told anything. It’s very worrying.”

Retired teaching assistant Susan Rawlings, 66, of Stoke-on-Trent, is on a £4,000 holiday in Malaga with her mum Marjorie Johnson, 89, of Gateshead, Tyne-and-Wear.

She said: “We only got here yesterday. We had a welcome meeting with the Thomas Cook rep, but now she’s nowhere to be seen. As far as we know she’s out of a job.

“We’re supposed to be here for another 10 days but now we don’t know what will happen.

“If push comes to shove we’ll have to pay for the hotel and flights ourselves and then try to claim it back later.

I’ve been saving all year for this holiday so I’ll be really annoyed if it gets ruined

Colette Powell, IT saleswoman

“Thomas Cook had a terrific reputation but it’s ended disastrously.”

Groundsman Alan Walker, 58, and wife Catherine, 57, are into the second half of a two-week holiday in Spain.

Alan, of Arbroath, Scotland, said: “We’ve always used Thomas Cook because they’re so friendly and helpful. We’re not very computer literate and prefer booking in person.

“I hope we don’t get kicked out of our hotel or asked for loads of money.

“We’ve already paid Thomas Cook in full for this holiday.

“If we get stuck in Spain for weeks on end I’m not too worried – not sure what my boss will say though.”

IT saleswoman Colette Powell, 51, of Solihull, is on a Thomas Cook holiday in Benalmadena with pals.

They are staying at the beachfront Palladium Hotel Costa del Sol and due to fly home on Tuesday.

She said: “I’m very worried about what will happen. I’ve always trusted Thomas Cook but now I don’t know what to think.

“I’ve been saving all year for this holiday so I’ll be really annoyed if it gets ruined.

“It’s really sad this is happening. I’ve grown up with Thomas Cook. They’ve always had a great reputation. When I was younger, going on a Thomas Cook holiday was considered quite posh and luxurious.

“I just hope I’ll be able to get home, because we’ve had no information whatsoever. We’re just watching the news and getting in a panic.”

 Colette Powell said she'd be really annoyed if her holiday in Benalmadena is ruined

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Colette Powell said she’d be really annoyed if her holiday in Benalmadena is ruinedCredit: Nick Obank
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