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South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Mum's 'nightmare' Corfu holiday with 'no English food'
69-year-old Susan Edwards set off on a seven-night holiday to the Greek island on May 12 where the 'nightmare' began. She stayed at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel with her cousins, aged 77 and 78, her daughter, 30, and her second cousin, 50. But Susan, from Newcastle, said the holiday was "horrendous from the minute [they] got there." You're at the airport - what's the first thing you do? ✈️ — tuiuk (@TUIUK) May 30, 2025 She told ChronicleLive: "It was all-inclusive, £750 each we paid and there was no food we could eat and we couldn't have anything to drink. I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there's certain things I can't eat. "The all inclusive drinks were wine, lager, ouzo, or brandy. Yes, there were soft drinks, but we had to pay €1.50 for water." She soon discovered there was "no English food" available Describing the food on offer at the hotel, Susan said: "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce. "There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. "We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn't eat that. It's the worst holiday I've ever been on." Susan said there was no entertainment at the hotel which is "stuck there in the middle of nowhere". She added: "There was a private beach but it was so steep we couldn't get down to it and it was 150 yards from the hotel. "There's a ramp at the side of the hotel that you have to try and pull your case up when you arrive. My daughter was up and down, up and down, trying to pull everyone's case up for them." She also described being disappointed as she was unable to have a second key for her the room she shared with her daughter. Susan said: "I asked for a second key for my daughter because sometimes I get tired in the afternoon and rather than lying in the sun and getting burned. "But if I went up to have a sleep, my daughter wouldn't be able to get into the room. She would have to wake me up to get in. I asked for a second key but I was told 'no, too expensive'."
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Tourist's 'nightmare' stay at Corfu hotel where there was 'no English food and water cost €1.50'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A holidaymaker has vowed never to book with TUI again following a "nightmare" all-inclusive trip to Corfu that had "no English food" or hotel entertainment. Susan Edwards embarked on a seven-night stay at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel on May 12, alongside her elderly cousins, daughter, and second cousin. However, the 69-year-old from Westerhope, Newcastle, said the holiday was "horrendous from the minute [they] got there". She said: "It was all-inclusive, £750 each we paid and there was no food we could eat and we couldn't have anything to drink. "I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there's certain things I can't eat. The all inclusive drinks were wine, lager, ouzo, or brandy. Yes, there were soft drinks, but we had to pay €1.50 for water," reports ChronicleLive. Upon arriving at the hillside hotel around 2pm, Susan and her party looked forward to some much-needed sustenance. Yet, after ascending a steep ramp to the reception, they were told that pool-side food wouldn't be available until 5pm, which Susan claims turned out to be just a "one-inch square of baklava". The next day brought further disappointment when Susan realised the absence of "English food" at the hotel. She said: "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce. "There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. "We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn't eat that. It's the worst holiday I've ever been on." (Image: Susan Edwards) Susan added that she couldn't enjoy a drink of her choice during her holiday because she doesn't like ouzo and doesn't drink brandy. She explained that she would normally drink bottled lager or one Bacardi and Coke, which she said would have cost her €9 and would have been a different brand. "By the time we paid £750 for the holiday, €70 tourist tax for me and my daughter and an extra £450 for both of our meals, I could have been to the Caribbean on that", said Susan. TUI's website describes holidays at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as being "all about the laidback life" where "ping pong and pool are the liveliest activities on the agenda", aside from the occasional live music and Greek night. It also describes the four-star hotel as having its own private patch of beach "just steps away". (Image: Susan Edwards) Susan said there was no entertainment at the hotel which is "stuck there in the middle of nowhere". She added: "There was a private beach but it was so steep we couldn't get down to it and it was 150 yards from the hotel. "There's a ramp at the side of the hotel that you have to try and pull your case up when you arrive. My daughter was up and down, up and down, trying to pull everyone's case up for them." She also described being disappointed as she was unable to have a second key for the room she shared with her daughter. Susan said: "I asked for a second key for my daughter because sometimes I get tired in the afternoon and rather than lying in the sun and getting burned. "But if I went up to have a sleep, my daughter wouldn't be able to get into the room. She would have to wake me up to get in. I asked for a second key but I was told 'no, too expensive'." (Image: Susan Edwards) Susan said she normally holidays in Spain with her cousins and would always fly with TUI as she felt comfortable knowing "there's a big company behind you if anything goes wrong". However, she feels she is unable to fly with the company again as she has been left unsatisfied with the holiday provider's response. Susan has been offered £100 in holiday vouchers from TUI, however, she claims some holidaymakers she met while at the hotel have been offered more after complaining. Susan has declined TUI's final offer of £100 vouchers. She added: "In the past I've paid more to get on a TUI flight because if anything happened I've always thought you've got a big company behind you if anything goes wrong. Not anymore. This holiday was a nightmare." A TUI UK and I Spokesperson said: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
Tourist's 'nightmare' stay at Corfu hotel where there was 'no English food and water cost €1.50'
A holidaymaker has vowed never to book with TUI again following a "nightmare" all-inclusive trip to Corfu that had "no English food" or hotel entertainment. Susan Edwards embarked on a seven-night stay at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel on May 12, alongside her elderly cousins, daughter, and second cousin. However, the 69-year-old from Westerhope, Newcastle, said the holiday was "horrendous from the minute [they] got there". She said: "It was all-inclusive, £750 each we paid and there was no food we could eat and we couldn't have anything to drink. "I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there's certain things I can't eat. The all inclusive drinks were wine, lager, ouzo, or brandy. Yes, there were soft drinks, but we had to pay €1.50 for water," reports ChronicleLive. Upon arriving at the hillside hotel around 2pm, Susan and her party looked forward to some much-needed sustenance. Yet, after ascending a steep ramp to the reception, they were told that pool-side food wouldn't be available until 5pm, which Susan claims turned out to be just a "one-inch square of baklava". The next day brought further disappointment when Susan realised the absence of "English food" at the hotel. She said: "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce. "There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. "We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn't eat that. It's the worst holiday I've ever been on." Susan added that she couldn't enjoy a drink of her choice during her holiday because she doesn't like ouzo and doesn't drink brandy. She explained that she would normally drink bottled lager or one Bacardi and Coke, which she said would have cost her €9 and would have been a different brand. "By the time we paid £750 for the holiday, €70 tourist tax for me and my daughter and an extra £450 for both of our meals, I could have been to the Caribbean on that", said Susan. TUI's website describes holidays at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as being "all about the laidback life" where "ping pong and pool are the liveliest activities on the agenda", aside from the occasional live music and Greek night. It also describes the four-star hotel as having its own private patch of beach "just steps away". Susan said there was no entertainment at the hotel which is "stuck there in the middle of nowhere". She added: "There was a private beach but it was so steep we couldn't get down to it and it was 150 yards from the hotel. "There's a ramp at the side of the hotel that you have to try and pull your case up when you arrive. My daughter was up and down, up and down, trying to pull everyone's case up for them." She also described being disappointed as she was unable to have a second key for the room she shared with her daughter. Susan said: "I asked for a second key for my daughter because sometimes I get tired in the afternoon and rather than lying in the sun and getting burned. "But if I went up to have a sleep, my daughter wouldn't be able to get into the room. She would have to wake me up to get in. I asked for a second key but I was told 'no, too expensive'." Susan said she normally holidays in Spain with her cousins and would always fly with TUI as she felt comfortable knowing "there's a big company behind you if anything goes wrong". However, she feels she is unable to fly with the company again as she has been left unsatisfied with the holiday provider's response. Susan has been offered £100 in holiday vouchers from TUI, however, she claims some holidaymakers she met while at the hotel have been offered more after complaining. Susan has declined TUI's final offer of £100 vouchers. She added: "In the past I've paid more to get on a TUI flight because if anything happened I've always thought you've got a big company behind you if anything goes wrong. Not anymore. This holiday was a nightmare." A TUI UK and I Spokesperson said: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution."
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Man appears in court over A1 crash which hospitalised seven police officers
Mazyar Azarbonyad is due to be sentenced on Monday. A 20-year-old man who caused a horror crash on a major road that wrecked five police cars and left seven officers in hospital is due to be sentenced on Monday, June 2. Mazyar Azarbonyad failed to stop for police during a terrifying chase along the A1 on April 9, 2025. The personal trainer from Stanley, County Durham, was on a first date at the time, and later admitted to dangerous driving. He is appearing at Newcastle Crown Court charged with two counts of failing to stop, driving without a licence and insurance. He was originally due to be sentenced two weeks ago, on May 20, but this was delayed after a dispute over his driving record required further investigation. After being released on bail, he was spotted still driving from his home to his workplace in Newcastle, and filling up his car at a garage, Chronicle Live reports. Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said an officer first saw the BMW driven by Azarbonyad, which also had a defective light, driving at speed in Swalwell, Gateshead, at around 1.50am. The officer followed and attempted to pull him over. Although he did stop, he sped off as the officer approached on foot. When police caught up with him at 2.25am, he again made off at speed. The chase was then led by specialist tactical pursuit officers, who followed him on to the A1 northbound. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Mr Perks said: "The lead police pursuit vehicle's dash cam shows him doing more than 100mph then approaching speeds of 120mph in an attempt to get away from the police." He added: "As the defendant approached the junction with the A186 he abandoned his attempt to escape but rapidly decelerated from 119mph to stop in the middle of the carriageway. "As a consequence, the pursuing police vehicles were forced to emergency brake in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid a serious collision." The crash that followed was captured by a supporting police helicopter. Several of the officers involved had to be cut free from their vehicles. Although seven required hospital treatment, none of them sustained serious injuries. Azarbonyad's passenger, a young woman he had only met for the first time that night, said he told her he was fleeing the police because of his car's faulty light. She described his car as "wobbling" as its speed exceeded 100mph, and said it felt unsafe. Mr Perks added: "She told him several times to stop before he eventually did. "She thought he could have killed someone. She said, in her opinion, his intent was purely to get away from the police." Penny Hall, mitigating, said: "He was giving a lift to the female and he did pull over initially but then made off from the location. "He says the female said she had drugs on her, something he did not know until she said that. She showed him something he believed must be drugs and he panicked that he had drugs in his car and made off."
Scottish Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
We bought old school bus on eBay & transformed it into family travel wagon – it has bunk beds, fridge & washing machine
They spent six months renovating the bus which boasts impressive features SCHOOL TRIP We bought old school bus on eBay & transformed it into family travel wagon – it has bunk beds, fridge & washing machine Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FAMILY have hit the road after buying and transforming an old school bus bought on eBay. Travelling with their two daughters, a couple from Newcastle have swapped their restaurant business for life on the go. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 The couple from Newcastle are travelling in the bus with their two daughters Credit: SWNS 8 After purchasing the bus online they set about to renovate it Credit: SWNS 8 The renovated bus now boasts a number of features Credit: SWNS Lotti Harrison, 29, and Ty Burns, 37, sold the business to snap up a £25k classic American school bus on eBay. Having always dreamed of travelling in a van, Ty spotted the 11-metre long school bus listing in August 2024. The couple knew they had to go for it and Ty renovated the bus by himself for the next six months. They fitted their new family travel wagon with bunk beds, a full-sized fridge, washing machine and king-sized bed. It's even kitted out with noise-proof acoustic panelling to help with noise levels as well as underfloor heating, air-con and a log burner. Speaking to Chronicle Live, Lotti said: "It's very fancy, it's a luxury bus - we haven't scrimped on this. "We wanted it to be as comfortable for us and the girls as possible." They then sold their restaurant business and ended the tenancy for their four-bed, three-storey town house. The couple kept essentials and sentimental items but sold off the majority of their furniture and possessions with Lotti saying "it felt so good to get rid of stuff." They then set off on their travels last month for Belgium before making their way through Luxembourg, France and Italy. How to use ChatGPT for home & garden renovations without spending a penny - see how good it looks before you even start Their next stops are Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia before they travel through Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. The route back to the UK will see them pass through Greece, Italy and France. They hope to use their savings to fund their travels for a year before deciding whether to continue upon their return. Although not without its challenges, highlights so far have included Disneyland Paris and cycling around Lake Annecy in France. 8 Ty, 37, spent six months transforming the vehicle Credit: SWNS 8 The couple snapped up the bus for £25k when they saw it online Credit: SWNS Lotti said: "We've never been that 9 to 5 vibe - but ever since having the girls we realised how quickly time goes. "We wanted to spend as much time now together as a family and watch them grow up. "Sending them to a nursery didn't seem right to us. "If we didn't do it now, we'd probably never do it." The couple always dreamed of travelling and even bought a bus they saw on the side of the road for £500 six years ago. But their plans were put on hold after realising the bus was "knackered". 8 It even features a log burner for the family as well as underfloor heating Credit: SWNS 8 The bus has been getting attention on the road Credit: SWNS Lotti added: "Since having the girls the reality was a bit more tricky." But Ty then spotted the school bus on eBay and the couple decided to go for it. Their two daughters are loving life on the road, according to Lotti. She said: "The girls have taken to it so well. "Waking up in a different place is so exciting for them." They also love that they can stay in a place if they fancy or move on if the weather is "rubbish". There have been fans along the way too with everyone "in awe" and "beeping their horns". Lotti said: "We can't go anywhere without being papped". The mum of two also hopes to inspire others to travel and encourages others to get out of their "comfort zone". She said: "There's a whole world out there." Lotti and Ty aren't the only ones to have their home on the road either. Earlier this year a couple bought a double-decker bus on eBay to transform it into a flat on wheels after being unable to afford a house. Eventually, the bus will come complete with underfloor heating, a full-sized bedroom and lounge.
