Here’s a story which, in my opinion, came about simply because of greed. Once upon a time, somebody thought, ‘I have a spare property. I will do it up and make it a holiday let.’ So, they put in a sink and fridge unit, supplied a bed, and listed it on that website where the background is blue, and where if you even dare search for a location out of interest you suffer several weeks of constant adverts with, ‘James, booking bargains are still available in Eritrea,’ of wherever you happened to misspell. All well and good (except for a young local family who could have made a permanent home in that spare property but who will now have to move away to find affordable accommodation).
Meanwhile, in a country far, far away, a would-be holiday maker is searching for somewhere to stay and goes to the blue website, finds something within budget and close to amenities, and it’s just what she wants, so she goes ahead and books it. Holiday excitement mounts as travelling time approaches, until one week before departure, the blue website contacts her to say that property is no longer available at €700 for two weeks, but not to worry. They have plenty of places available in Eritrea, and, better still, one of them is up the road from the original booking (in Symi), so she can have that. Yes, it is advertised at €2,300 for two weeks, but she will not have to pay any extra as the blue website is taking the hit. Not only that, but this brand new property is also an ancient island feature, on the crest of a hill, with sea views and not far from anywhere. Here, the blue website enthuses, see these (AI generated) images of what the place looks like. See, it has stone walls and new wood, and a sink/fridge unit, and a bed. Now, how can life be any more perfect?
Well, for a start, it could be finished. On arrival, said visitor finds a few faults. For example: the image on the blue website is clearly an artist’s impression of what the property could look like one day. According to that set of images there’s no need to climb over a building site to get to the door. There is no hole in the bathroom floor, leaving the drainage open, and a wonderful, nay, some would say, unique trip hazard right where your left foot will be when you’re on the loo. No table to eat off? No worries, it’s how they live on the island. Shower? It’s behind that curtain under the stairs… The list goes on. Terrible experience.
The place is clearly not fit for purpose and certainly not fit for €2,300 for two weeks.
What do you do? Some of us would contact and complain, insist on repatriation, or get on the next plane to Eritrea and launch a case of false advertising, bring in health and safety, an inspector or ombudsman, or do whatever you could to point out that whoever listed this property should be thoroughly disbarred and spanked, and that the blue website should take some responsibility for not checking the suitability of their offerings. In this true-life case, however, the visitor decides, ‘Oh well,’ and rolls with it. That’s up to them, of course, but it rather makes my blood boil to think that people think unfinished, unfurnished, and falsely advertised properties is a way to go for the sake of a few bucks.
I’m not pointing out the property publicly but I have seen the advertising and the visitor’s own images of the reality, and it’s despicable. Imagine how you would feel if you had paid over two grand for the place and on seeing it, you could tell you had been lied to. There are, apparently, even neighbouring properties in the main photographs which are not there in real life. Okay, so if you are going to try and grab tourist money from your property at least get it ready and safe before advertising it as available.
It’s pure greed on someone’s part. Terrible. Enough said. Off to make a cup of tea…
