A family looking forward to a two-week holiday at a five-star hotel in Jamaica were left shocked after an adults-only festival hosted by the resort led to ‘all hell breaking loose’
Rip Off Britain: Family’s Jamaican holiday ruined by festival-goers
Liverpool mum Katie had been eagerly looking forward to her TUI holiday in Jamaica, but says her stay there was ruined by raunchy guests who exhibited “sexual behaviour […] for all to see”.
During an appearance on BBC’s Rip Off Britain, Katie and her sister Rachel spoke of Jamaica as their “second home”, and somewhere where they regularly take their children to visit relatives.
According to Katie, whose husband lives in the Caribbean island nation, it’s important for her children to stay connected to their dual culture. She shared: “Jamaica is our second home. We’re really, really proud of the island and love the culture.”
Sadly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the children hadn’t been able to visit their grandparents in Jamaica for two years. And so, the family booked a two-week stay at the Luxury Grand Palladium Resort and Spa in Montego Bay.
The group of 24 family and friends spent approximately £15,000 on their booking, which should have been a dream holiday. Unfortunately, things allegedly took a turn.
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At first, the five-star hotel appeared perfect, with the group impressed by the delicious food, gorgeous grounds, and the great service provided by members of staff. The resort advertised plenty of family-friendly facilities, including watersports and a kids’ pool, and felt like the ideal place to bring little ones.
Then, four days into their stay, the tone changed when the group learned the hotel was hosting a four-day music festival, Fantasy Island. Marketed as an adults-only festival, Fantasy Island was attended by some 700 revellers, who apparently “didn’t care” whether or not their antics were suitable for children.
The sisters shared: “All hell broke loose. The main pool was overtaken. People were drinking like fish. It’s fine if it’s in a nightclub, not morning time around a pool with children. There was sexual behaviour going on at the pool bar for all to see. They didn’t care if there were children there.”
After Katie complained to the hotel manager and TUI rep, she was offered four free nights by the hotel, while TUI offered them £150 per person in vouchers or £100 in cash. They believe this compensation just wasn’t enough.
Katie and Rachel weren’t the only guests to take issue with the Fantasy Island event. NHS worker Emma Owen and her family were drawn to the hotel due to its family-friendly appeal, and paid £7,000 for an 11-night all-inclusive break. She recalled seeing attendees “vomit in the pool” as the festival got underway.
Travel expert Lisa Minot stated: “It really is down to the tour operator to inform their guests that there is going to be a significant change or impact on their holiday.”
A TUI spokesperson previously told the Daily Express: “We’re very sorry that some of our customers’ holidays were impacted by this unexpected event at the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa in August 2021.
“While the hotel did not make us aware in advance, we understand how upsetting this was, and have offered a refund for the full four days, along with our sincere apologies. We’d like to reassure customers that this hotel will no longer be hosting this event.”
The Mirror has reached out to TUI for additional comment.
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