A disgruntled dad was awarded $1,200 after he sued his tour operator, complaining there were no sun loungers left at the Greek hotel he was vacationing at with his family.
The unidentified German tourist paid over $8,400 for an 11-day stay at the Grecotel Kos Imperial resort on the island of Kos with his wife and two children in August 2024.
But the family getaway was spoiled almost immediately when they couldn’t find any pool chairs during brutal 95-degree heat.
A German man sued his tour operator over the fact that his hotel in Greece didn’t have available pool chairs. vivoo – stock.adobe.com Each morning of the trip, they woke up early to snag the coveted seats — but said they were already taken as early as 6 a.m.
The perplexed parents were only able to find two free ones on just one day of their stay — leaving their two children, ages nine and 12, chairless and forced to sit on the ground, according to CNN.
Although there were signs at the pool area prohibiting guests from holding seats with their towels, the warnings were ignored, the dad claimed.
The exasperated patriarch brought the issue to his tour guide on the first day of his stay, but was told it was the hotel’s problem.
He then went to the hotel, which also did nothing.
During the trial at Hanover District Court, footage taken at the pool was played — which proved there were rows of chairs covered in towels that were unattended, according to the New York Times.
Judges ruled in the traveler’s favor against the tour operator, TUI Deutschland, saying it was responsible for the “travel defect.”
German law deems a travel defect exists if a trip does not meet the amenities detailed when the booking was made.
The plaintiff will receive $1,200 for his harrowing experience. vegefox.com – stock.adobe.com Although the court said both the tour operator and hotel were not obligated to supply a lounger to every hotel guest, the chairs should have been available in reasonable proportion to the number of people staying at the resort.
The dad will receive $1,200, or 15% for each day his family was left without pool chairs.
