My hotel booking was a scam — and I can't get my money back
✉ On March 1, I tried to book a stay at the Connemara Lake Hotel in Ireland through Booking.com but somehow, just before payment, was redirected to a different site and, instead of paying the quoted price of about £400 for three nights, was charged extra fees and paid a total of £710.82. The confirmation email looked legitimate and even the hotel thought it was real at first, but later confirmed it wasn't and cancelled the booking. What's really worrying is I never actually swiped to approve the payment in my Revolut app — as I normally do for all transactions — because the cost had shot up, yet it still went through. Revolut has raised a dispute but it could take 50 days. Can you help me get my money back?Caitriona McCulla
Unfortunately, you've fallen victim to an online agent that mimics official hotel and booking sites and charges huge non-refundable service fees on top of the room rate. Booking.com, which is not responsible in any way, suggested you work with your bank to resolve the dispute, but Revolut has now declined to refund you, citing 'compelling evidence' of the transaction from 'the merchant'. The lesson here is that it's essential to double-check the URL when you reach the payment page of any website. A Booking.com spokesperson said: 'We always advise customers to book directly through the official Booking.com website or mobile app, and to be cautious when clicking on unfamiliar links. To help, we advise that customers check the destination of the link they are sent, which can usually be seen by hovering over the link with a mouse or by pressing and holding it on a mobile device. Importantly, Booking.com will never ask customers to provide credit card details via text, messaging apps or email, only requesting payments via our platform.' You are now planning to take your case to the Financial Ombudsman.
• The nine ways our Travel Doctor has learnt to avoid holiday scams
✉ I'd like to take my daughter on holiday after her A-levels. We want a hotel by the beach, with a good-sized pool and a bar, within walking distance of restaurants and night markets/shops. The dealbreaker would be having to get up early to reserve sunbeds, so could you suggest somewhere that has a policy of not allowing guests to reserve them? Our budget is £4,000 and we'd like a flight time of less than three hours from London.Alice Kitching
A lovely reward for all that hard work would be a trip to Spain and a stay at the Hotel Alga on the northeastern coast of Catalonia, known for its gorgeous rocky coves and sandy beaches. The Alga has a large, almost Olympic-sized pool, with 30 sunloungers that can't be reserved (it's really not a beach-towels-at-dawn sort of place), and is a short stroll from the beach via a gate in the gardens. It's also just 250m from the little town of Calella, where you'll have a huge choice of restaurants. A week's B&B in a superior balcony room would cost £1,761pp, including flights (and hold luggage) from Stansted to Girona, plus private transfers (sunvil.co.uk).
• 17 of the best places to visit in June 2025
✉ I have the month of July free because my husband is away and I'd like to go somewhere on my own. I prefer sun to snow, spa to yoga, enjoy learning and don't want to be the only single in a group of couples. Finally, I have a Morton's neuroma, which makes walking huge distances painful, but I do enjoy some walking. I'm not particularly cost conscious and enjoy a bit of luxury. Any thoughts?Debra Wood
If you have the funds, a solo July trip to Schloss Elmau, in Germany's Bavarian Alps, would be a treat. It's an extraordinary five-star hideaway with a choice of six fabulous spas, and also stages events with a stellar line-up of musicians, artists and writers. Spend your days enjoying indulgent treatments, short nature walks (ideal if you have a Morton's neuroma), author readings, chamber music concerts and excursions to nearby castles and lakes, and look forward to taking your pick of eight restaurants, where there are plenty of comfortable spots for solo diners. A small double room plus breakfast starts at £358 a night in July if you book a week's stay, including access to the spas, daily fitness activities, and excursions and admission to cultural events (schloss-elmau.de). Fly to Innsbruck or Munich.
• 10 of the best places to visit in Germany
✉ I'm learning Korean and hoping to take my grandson on a trip to Seoul for an 18th birthday present. Do you have any recommendations for reasonably priced accommodation and any must-sees? We'd like to go for about ten days next year. When would be the best time for us to visit?Diana Nelson
This sounds like a brilliant adventure, but as first-timers I'd suggest you go with some back-up and book Inside Asia's Essential South Korea seven-night holiday, using public transport and staying in three-star hotels. It includes a Korean barbecue tour in Seoul; a day exploring Gyeongju, the capital of Korea's ancient Silla Kingdom; a sunset cruise on the Han River; and some time to relax on Busan's white sand Haeundae beach. Seven nights' B&B starts from £1,143pp including two evening tours, airport transfers and train tickets as well as detailed destination guides, and you could tailor-make the trip to add some extra nights. Flights to Seoul are extra (insideasiatours.com). Spring or autumn are the best times to go.
• Read our guide to South Korea
✉ Following the untimely death of my husband I decided to take a short break with a friend to the south of France. I booked a return flight to Marseilles with British Airways for £273, departing May 13, and received what I thought was confirmation. But when I was looking to upgrade my outbound flight at the end of April, I was told there was a problem with my booking, which had been suspended. No reason could be given. BA then told me over the phone that it was cancelling my flight and would refund me in a few days. I said this was unsatisfactory and I wanted my existing booking reinstated. It refused and told me to rebook, but the same flight would now cost me £640. This was an important trip for me (my friend booked separately, fortunately), and I have no idea what the reasoning behind this suspension is. Surely I have the right to claim my existing flight and at the price I originally paid?Victoria Hunt
I was sorry to hear that your restorative break was on the verge of collapse. It seems there was a technical glitch (something BA is not a stranger to) and the email you received after your booking wasn't, in fact, a confirmation. But you had no reason to believe otherwise because you continued to receive flight reminders. Fortunately, after I got involved, BA reinstated your flight (at the original price) and gave you some Avios (the airline's reward points) as an apology.
Have you got a holiday dilemma? Email traveldoctor@thetimes.co.uk
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