Birmingham Tourist Left Homeless at 2am After Fleeing Mouldy Holiday Apartment
A Birmingham tourist was left wandering the streets of a Portuguese resort in the early hours of the morning after abandoning his mould-infested accommodation upon arrival. Ryan Wheeldon, 26, from Kitts Green, arrived at his apartment in Albufeira, Algarve, at 11.30pm on Monday, February 9, only to find the property in a deplorable state that triggered his asthma.
Nightmare Start to Holiday
Ryan, who suffers from asthma, reported struggling to breathe within minutes of entering the apartment due to pervasive mould and foul odours. He described the accommodation as starkly different from the advertised photos, with mould visible everywhere and stains covering the sofas. The situation was so severe that his friend began heaving over the balcony from the overpowering smell.
The beds were even damp, forcing Ryan and his friend to sit and wait for a response from the unresponsive property owner and Booking.com, through which the booking was made. With no immediate solution or refund offered, they refused to stay, becoming effectively homeless at the start of their holiday.
Desperate Search for Shelter
At 2am, the pair walked the streets in search of alternative lodging, eventually finding refuge in a hotel that kindly accepted them. Ryan expressed gratitude, noting that the hotel was not obligated to take them in, and had they refused, the tourists would have been stranded outdoors. Despite the traumatic start, the remainder of their holiday proceeded smoothly.
Booking.com Response and Refund
Initially, Booking.com offered only 16 Euros in compensation, leaving Ryan dissatisfied and vowing to avoid the platform in the future due to a lack of faith in their service. However, after BirminghamLive intervened, the online travel agency confirmed a full refund would be processed. A spokesperson stated, "We were sorry to hear about this customer's experience, and while properties that list on Booking.com are responsible for ensuring their guests have a good stay, we are processing a refund for the reservation shared as well as providing a further gesture of goodwill."
Ryan, a former holiday rep in Kavos with experience in subpar hotels, emphasised that this accommodation was unacceptable by any standard. The incident highlights potential risks with online booking platforms and the importance of consumer vigilance when travelling.
