Laico Atlantic Banjul Hotel: Couple’s honeymoon was such a ‘nightmare’ they left after 2 nights

May 23rd, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Adam and Sarah Monk spent £2,000 on a luxury honeymoon in Gambia
Their ‘honeymoon suite’ had single beds, stained toilet and a broken shower
So distraught, they booked £600 return flights after just ONE NIGHT

By
Ian Garland

PUBLISHED:

03:39 EST, 23 May 2012

|

UPDATED:

14:00 EST, 23 May 2012

After spending more than £2,000 on a dream five-star African honeymoon, newlyweds Adam and Sarah Monk planned to toast their marriage in the lap of luxury.

But when the couple from Stowmarket in Suffolk arrived at the resort on Gambia’s Atlantic coast they were met with dirty curtains, a stained toilet, a broken shower, loose wiring and single beds.

The Monks were so distraught they flew home after just two nights.

Honeymoon from hell: The Monks hated Gambia so much they booked return flights after just one night there
Wedded bliss: The Monks are now planning a second honeymoon, in the UK

Honeymoon from hell: Adam and Sarah Monk from Suffolk jetted off to Gambia after marrying in March

Honeymoon suite: The newlyweds were given twin beds to sleep in

Dirty: The Monks had to contend with a mouldy shower curtain and chipped tiles in the bathroom

Dirty: The couple had to contend with a mouldy curtain and chipped tiles in the bathroom

Printing company manager Adam, 31 and receptionist Sarah, 27, jetted off on honeymoon in March after tying the knot in front of 40 close friends and family.

They’d spent £2,000 on the trip, which included flights, vaccinations and malaria tablets and a honeymoon package at the Laico Atlantic Banjul Hotel, which included fresh fruit and sparkling wine upon their arrival.

But when they arrived they were devastated to discover there was no five-star reception and their honeymoon suite had two single beds.

Their disappointment grew as they looked around to discover dirty curtains, loose plug sockets, a stained toilet seat and a faulty air-conditioning unit held together with just masking tape.

A broken shower head meant that they had to stand in the corner of the bathroom to have any chance to getting under the water.

When they left the room for the solace of the beach they claim they were hassled endlessly by staff members touting for business.

Mr Monk said: ‘We were expecting rest and relaxation but at every turn someone was trying to hassle us for money – you had to hold on tight to your bags otherwise staff would carry them for you and then demand a cash tip.

‘We were looking forwards to a lovely romantic break and I did not expect to be spending the first night of our honeymoon comforting my crying wife. It was a complete nightmare.

‘After such a wonderful wedding day and looking forward to a great honeymoon for such a long time, all we were left with was bad memories which tainted the whole wedding experience.

‘It was a very expensive holiday for us but it was so upsetting because what we got was far from what we were promised – it was certainly anything but relaxing.’

Five-star: Adam and Sarah Monk's experience was far from the luxury advertised on the hotel's website

Five-star: Adam and Sarah Monk’s experience was far from the luxury advertised on the hotel’s website

The Laico Atlantic Resort: Having paid £2,000 for their honeymoon, the Monks expected an idyllic vacation

The Laico Atlantic Resort: Adam and Sarah claim they were hassled by pushy and aggressive staff at the resort

The couple said the pushy approach from staff made them feel intimidated and with no sign of their holiday rep at the resort they were left feeling isolated.

Deciding a change of room would not be enough to end their ordeal, they took the massive decision to book flights home instead, after just one night, at a cost of an extra £600.

They jetted out of Gambia the following day – meaning their honeymoon had lasted just two full days.

Mr Monk said: ‘Even though our trip was so short, we felt a massive sense of relief to be heading home from the nightmare.’

Their nightmare ordeal was far from finished though as, following a night in the airport hotel, they then had to catch three separate coaches and spent almost 10 hours getting back to Suffolk – more than 200 miles away.

Incredibly the couple have been told they cannot claim a refund from operator Thomas Cook, because they didn’t register an official complaint during their short stay in Gambia.

Wedded bliss: The couple are now planning a second honeymoon, in the UK

A spokesman for Thomas Cook said: ‘We urge all customers to make contact with us while in resort if they have any concerns about their hotel or holiday/honeymoon arrangements, as we have a dedicated team of representatives on hand to offer immediate assistance.

‘Regrettably Mr and Mrs Monk did not give us an opportunity to help on this occasion.’

Mr Monk said: ‘When you look through the small print, there is a line about registering complaints whilst on the holiday but the last thing you are thinking about when you book your honeymoon months in advance is about it being a nightmare and having to complain.

‘The fact that our honeymoon was ruined was one thing but the attitude of Thomas Cook about putting it right for us has been a complete shock.

‘We did not want anything more than our money back – we are not asking for any compensation but they just don’t want to take responsibility for it and their attitude has bordered on hostile – they are concentrating on finding the loopholes to get out of paying us anything rather than trying to make things right.’

His bride Sarah added: ‘I was in tears, floods of tears – it was just not what we had expected or the relaxing experience we have been told about when we booked it.

‘It was just absolutely awful – I did not want to be there and just wanted to get home.

‘It was not what a bride would expect on the first night of a honeymoon – I think the room was the low point, it’s not where you spend the whole time but I think it’s an important part of the honeymoon.

‘To have it in that condition, in sweltering heat and the air conditioning unit not working, it was terrible.’

The couple are now planning a second honeymoon but will stay in the UK this time, with a trip to Devon or Cornwall on the cards.

Mr Monk added: ‘Luckily, when we got back, the weather at home was nice so we managed to have an enjoyable week off work but we could not stop thinking about how we should have been enjoying our honeymoon.

‘It has been embarrassing and upsetting when our wedding guests, who kindly donated cash towards the honeymoon, have been asking us how the trip was and we have to tell them about how it all went so badly wrong.’

Looks a look better: A much more appealing view of the hotel

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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My grandparents had a lovely honeymoon. A week in St Ives in a little hotel and taking advantage of the free rail travel grandad got for working for GWR. They were married for over 50 years. Expensive weddings and honeymoons are not a requirement in a marriage.

– Country Lass, Manchester, 23/5/2012 16:33

For the first time ever last summer we felt the need to complain about a holiday. It was with Thomas Cook in Majorca. The company didn’t have a representative in our hotel – or even in the resort. However, we eventually managed to comply with the small print and register our complaint before we returned home. I wish this couple well with their complaint as in our case Thomas Cook made it very clear they had no intention of doing anything at all the restore our confidence in their company….not even a verbal apology.
After years of using Thomas Cook for holidays, we have voted with our feet and will never travel with them again.

– Berkshire53, Reading UK, 23/5/2012 16:32

You get what you pay for. We are going on a “luxury” holiday to East Africa for 2 weeks this year. It cost £18000.

– Holly, London, 23/5/2012 16:32

If the beds in the picture were made , it wouldn’t look nearly as bad

– student, england, 23/5/2012 16:31

Much ado about nothing. This couple very obviously have no idea what a “nightmare” scenario really is.

– Peter, Cheshunt, 23/5/2012 16:30

In these days of mobile phones it would have been easy to contact the company direct. You can even record the conversation. It is always possible to go to another hotel even for one night and sort it out from there. No point in holding hands up and running, that is a bit tantrumish.

– Oldie, London, 23/5/2012 16:30

Two days? They hardly gave it a chance did they …….. we’ve been to Gambia a couple of times if you read Trip Advisor you cannot fail to be prepared for lower standards, a certain amount of hassle etc. I.m sure a word with the rep would have resulted in a move to more suitable accomodation – it seems they had obviously made up their minds to cut run. Gambia is a lovely, welcoming place with good food friendly (if sometimes persistant) people. Africa is Africa ….. the difference in culture is what travelling to such a place is all about. They chose the wrong holiday for them ….. and should live with it rather than make a fuss.

– Carol, Middle England (Literally), 23/5/2012 16:29

Even the malaria tablets, if they were daily malarone, would cost about £80 per head. That’s nearly 10 per cent of the cost of the holiday right there. And who would be stupid enough to accept such medicine against a sometimes fatal illness from a holiday operator, rather than getting a prescription from their own doctor?
The pills might have been fake or out of date. And these are the kind of people who would not know how to minimise the risk of getting bitten by mosquitos.

– Dan Masters, South Gosforth, 23/5/2012 16:27

this is wrong – how can the hotel show one thing and it be soooo different?
They are entitled to a refund and I would suggest they dont go back to a 5* in Afruca again

– living in the country, Shire, 23/5/2012 16:23

I paid £380 for a weeks girly hol to Gambia in March 2009, the hotel was 3* similar to the one shown but cleaner! The people I agree were slightly intimidating initally, the women were consistently rude and bitchy and the men were loud and over friendly, but once you got used to the fact youd have a “friend” accompanying you everywhere you went outside the hotel it was OK he only wanted a Fanta and never asked for it.
At the end of the week I started to like it but it is practically 3rd world more so than India (which I love) you wont get “luxury” in Gambia but the prices for everything were the same as london we spent rather alot on just eating locally, I couldnt drink as was 5 months pregnant…which didnt seem to be a deterrent for the local men haha
Up shot is they shouldve researched and gone somewhere else or at least gone and manned up !

– come onnnnnn, reality, 23/5/2012 16:21

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