‘We were banned from using our hotel beach loungers on holiday in Italy'

Times

2 days ago

✉ We stayed for a week in June at the Hotel Pietra Di Luna in Maiori, on Italy's Amalfi coast, occupying two single rooms, booked through Tui. Hotels in the area have private beaches, and we looked forward to relaxing by the sea. However, when we requested beach passes, we were told 'it is hotel policy' that we couldn't use the facilities. Despite explaining we were two people and offering to pay, we were still refused. The Tui rep tried to help with no success. We believe the issue is the hotel not wanting a solo traveller using two sunbeds (they were all arranged in pairs), but we were two guests. Had we known this policy, we wouldn't have booked. Tui initially offered £100 each towards another trip, which we declined. It has since offered £115 cash or £150 off another holiday, but we still feel unfairly treated. Can you help?Deborah Whiting and Christine McWalters
A. You've every right to feel miffed. Maiori has one of the few sandy beaches on the Amalfi coast and most of it is occupied by hotel beach clubs which charge up to £50pp a day for non-residents. Unfortunately you picked a hotel which has a rigid pecking order for the sunbeds on its beach: those in the best rooms get the loungers nearest to the sea and those in single rooms are banished to the pool. Tui should have been well aware of this and warned you before booking. It has now refunded you £350 each, half the cost of your holiday. A spokesperson said: 'We sincerely apologise to Ms Whiting and Ms McWalters for their experience and the disappointment caused by not being able to access the beach in front of the hotel. We understand this was not the holiday they had hoped for. Our teams are taking actions to ensure future guests don't experience the same disappointment.' The hotel still insists Tui knew about its beach policy and that you were offered the option of paying £26 per day for a pass for two. 'There was no intention on our part to offend or discriminate against our customers,' said Mario Lazzarini, the hotel manager.
• Nine of the best places to visit on the Amalfi coast
✉ I have been using the weight-loss injection Mounjaro for some months now and am due to go on holiday to Spain next month. I have travel insurance with my bank account but wonder if I need to notify them that I am using it. I get it through a private company rather than it being prescribed for a health condition. Is it classed as a medical condition by insurers though?Name and address supplied
A One of the lesser-known side-effects of skinny jabs is the risk to your travel insurance if you don't declare them. Insurers require you to disclose all medical conditions you have, and taking a prescription medication is considered as having a medical condition, even if the prescription is private. Tim Riley, MD of insurance company True Traveller, said: 'Most insurers now rely on medical screening services, typically from companies like Verisk or Antidote, and when you report your condition, you receive a score based on its severity. The positive aspect is that weight-loss management, even if medications such as Wegovy or Mounjaro have been privately prescribed, should not by itself result in an increased premium. However, it's crucial to declare all conditions, because if you fail to disclose a condition that the insurer would not have accepted, any medical claim related to that condition during your trip could be completely denied.' You should carry the pens in your hand luggage, preferably in a cool pack, and take a copy of your prescription or a doctor's letter to avoid any problems at customs.
✉ My partner and I get married on December 19 and would like to go on honeymoon on Boxing Day. We'd like to start trying for a family straight after the wedding so we need to avoid countries with the zika virus. We'd like some sun and beaches but also some activities. We've looked at South Africa but the flights seem very expensive. We have a total budget of up to about £6,000. Any ideas?George Gordon
A. Congratulations! For a zika-free winter-sun honeymoon destination, Mauritius is my top pick and is manageable on your budget if you're willing to be flexible on travel dates and trip length. Tui, for example, has a 10-night all-inclusive stay at Ambre, the adults-only resort and spa in Belle Mare, for £2,954pp, including flights and transfers, departing on December 28 (tui.co.uk). The Canary Islands are also zika-free, and temperatures in December in Gran Canaria are about 22C. Jet2 has a 10-night B&B stay in a deluxe room at the five-star, adults-only Hotel Faro, a swish beachfront property in Maspalomas on the island's southern tip, for £2,936pp, including flights and transfers (jet2.com).
• Read our guide to Mauritius
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✉ My two daughters would like to treat me to a spa day in London. I fondly remember going to the Sanctuary in Covent Garden in my young, slim days, but sadly that has long gone. Ideally I'd love somewhere with a rooftop pool with views across London but we don't have a huge budget. Any ideas?Rose James
A. The Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden was brilliant: a women-only spa retreat with a pool, swinging chairs and koi carp. But it closed in 2014, and nothing similar has replaced it. I'm afraid the rooftop pool with a view is a non-starter (the only decent one is reserved for guests at the Berkeley in Knightsbridge where room rates start at £700). But if a swim is important, you might like a session at the serene Akasha holistic wellbeing centre at the swish Hotel Café Royal in Regent Street, which has a Royal Treat Spa day package, including a 60-minute massage or facial, two hours' access to the spa, with its steam room, sauna, hot tub, 18m pool and relaxation lounge as well as a champagne afternoon tea, for £265pp (hotelcaferoyal.com).
• 18 of the best hotels in London with pools
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✉ I'm turning 60 in 2026 and would love to celebrate with a week-long holiday next summer with my husband, two adult daughters and my son and his partner. We'd prefer a short flight from Newcastle, Glasgow or Edinburgh and are looking for an active trip, no driving and ideally something that supports local communities and is environmentally friendly. Our budget is £15,000. Any ideas?Andrea Campbell
How about a relaxing week of easy walking in the Italian Dolomites? The Alpe di Siusi (Europe's largest Alpine plateau), the Unesco Dolomites Panoramic Balcony with its views over spectacular Sassolungo (one of the area's most famous mountain peaks), and the trail along the historic Ferata de Gherdeina, a former railway line built by Russian PoWs during the First World War that winds down the valley from Selva to Ortiseia, could all be on your agenda. A self-guided week with Inntravel starts at £1,200pp, including half-board in a family-owned hotel, luggage transfers, local bus and rail travel, plus route notes and maps. Flights to Verona or Venice from any of your chosen airports could be arranged for extra cost (inntravel.co.uk).
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