Holidaymakers returning to Leicestershire tell of 'hell' after travel firm's collapse
Holidaymakers have told how their summer trips abroad had been made hell by the collapse of travel firm Goldtrail.
Two flights carrying passengers, who were stranded abroad when the company went bust on Friday, flew into East Midlands Airport last night.
-
Hiren Karia, 18, and Pranil Sharma (left), 18, of Leicester, who have just flown in to East Midlands Airport having returned from a Gold Trail holiday in Turkey.
Goldtrail's collapse left 14,000 tourists stuck abroad and countless more out of pocket.
Wayne Rogers, 40, and his girlfriend Michelle Herbert, both from Broughton Astley, had planned a relaxing getaway in the Turkish resort of Altinkum.
Instead they had two weeks of hell where they were threatened with a knife and almost thrown out of their hotel to sleep on the streets.
Mr Rogers, who had accommodation and flights with Goldtrail, said: "When the news came out they'd gone bust the Turkish just turned on us and the atmosphere was awful.
"We complained about the food and they chased us out the restaurant trying to stab us saying that us Brits never pay for anything.
"At the hotel we were told they could fill the place full of Turkish people who would pay and since they weren't going to get money from us Brits that we had to pay up or get out.
"Even though we had already paid Goldtrail we had to pay £500 up front leaving us with nothing – we couldn't even have dinner last night."
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) arranged for the repatriation of Goldtrail customers on two flights last night from Dalaman and Bodrum in Turkey. Hiren Karia, 18, from Belgrave had been on a trip with seven friends from Gateway College, Leicester, celebrating the end of term.
But their celebrations turned sour when hotel staff got violent at the check out desk.
Mr Karia said: "They were angry that Goldtrail had not paid them and told us we had to pay for the repair of things in the room we hadn't broken, just to get our money.
"When we refused the man behind the counter started punching me – soon there were six of them beating me up."
Mr Karia and his friends were arrested and taken to a police station where they were stripped of their passports.
He said: "They told us if we wanted to press charges we couldn't have our passports back – what choice did we have?"
Goldtrail customers should not lose out financially from the company's downfall.
They were protected by the Air Travel Organiser's Licensing scheme.
11 Comments
View all
by Hiren Karia, Leicester
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 9:31PM
“It was hotel Royal Plaze, In Marmaris.
The hotels weren't paid by Goldtrail because it takes them 3 weeks to process the money and send it to the hotel's or something.”
by CGLee, near Melton
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 8:40PM
“One assumes that these holidaymakers paid for their holidays when they made the bookings. Why weren't the hotels and airlines paid by Goldtrail? It would not be rocket science for parliament to enact a law making it compusory for tour companies to pay the holiday costs within a set time after receiving payment from customers and, in any event before the holiday.”
by kevin, Turkey
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 8:13PM
“Which hotel was it supposed to be in Altinkum?”
by Hiren Karia, Leicester
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 5:45PM
“I was on of the guys that got attacked -
Overall Turkey's a fantastic place and we all had a great time...except for the last day which the hotel messed up.
I dont recommend Hotel Royal Plaza which is located in Marmaris to ANYONE planning a holiday.
But I dont think it's only that Hotel...we've been hearing that its also restaurant and other hotels who are being aggressive and violent as well.
So Turkey's not a good place to be in at this very moment!”
by Mr P, Leicester
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 4:47PM
“So much for Turkish Delight!”
by Ason, Leicester
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 1:55PM
“My brother was one of the 7, the girls were also attacked by these hotel staff, I think goldtrail are entirely to blame and the fact that all of these 7 are under 25 (young people) and have lost personal items and money which was unrightly taken from them, it is an absolute disgrace and I think that the police from the UK should be involved.”
by Avi, Leics
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 1:17PM
“Nick, i wonder how they would have reacted if your tour company had gone bust and they weren't going to be paid for your accommodation.
These reports of threats and violence in this instance have been reported on news channels and radio. So i't not just these guys making things up.”
by Nick, Leicester
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 1:05PM
“So the lads got beaten up by 6 Turks?
Where are the marks on them then? They look in good shape if thats them in the photo!
A anti-Turkish story, me thinks?
I've been 5 times, set fire to tables (by accident), had a faulty tape, and in all that time the Turkish people have been very good hosts and helped out when things went wrong. As for the table on fire, the hotal manager came out and started to dance around the table singing 'I'm a Fire Starter'. He did not care, just had a laugh.”
by Daniel, Leicester
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 12:17PM
“This is unbelievable, what a way to spend a holiday!!”
by Mr A, Leics
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 11:32AM
“Yes, Oldhenry, I agree wholeheartedly,
and I hope that the Turkish Embassy takes a look at how their 'hospitality' is being reflected back here in the UK.
I heard that Turks were very welcoming, friendly and warm towards the Brits...
I know why, now.
I wont be going to Turkey.”