Honeymoon ruined by drilling

After getting married in August 2008, they jetted off to begin their two-week, dream trip to the Riu Tropical Bay resort in Jamaica. But when they arrived they were shocked to find that their hotel was being refurbished.

Ed and Caroline weren't able to move hotels, so instead had to put up with drilling that started at 8am and went on until 6pm, every day. They couldn't relax by the pool, on the beach or use many of the hotel's facilities.

The newleyweds had paid £2,732 for their dream honeymoon - Thomas Cook offered them a £285 voucher as compensation. When they protested, they were offered a further £205 in cash - which they just found insulting.

When Watchdog contacted Thomas Cook the company agreed to give Caroline and Ed a full refund. A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: "We can only apologise to Mr and Mrs Whiffin for the time taken to resolve their complaint.

We would also like to reiterate our sincere apologies for the distress caused by the refurbishments being brought forward by the hotel. This clearly spoilt what should have been a very special occasion. In light of this, we've offered Mr and Mrs Whiffin a full refund of their honeymoon and we're pleased that they've accepted this."

"The refurbishments at the hotel were planned to start after Mr and Mrs Whiffin's honeymoon, but these were brought forward without prior notice to Thomas Cook or our representatives in the resort. We were able to move the vast majority of our guests to alternative hotels."

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