TUI couple kicked out of Corfu hotel and banned from flight in holiday nightmare

A couple from North Shields claim that TUI "washed their hands of them" after they were evicted from their hotel in Corfu and denied boarding on their return flight to the UK. Paul Bell, 64, and his wife Ellie, 65, had booked a week-long half-board holiday at the Terezas Hotel in Sidari, Corfu, having previously enjoyed a stay there.

Their holiday was abruptly ended when TUI removed them from their hotel and prevented them from flying home, despite the couple having booked a package deal. Paul is baffled as to why they were expelled and left hundreds of pounds out of pocket, having to organise an alternative flight home with Jet2, arrange a taxi to the airport instead of a transfer, and find another hotel for the remainder of their holiday.

TUI stated in correspondence that the decision was based on repeated incidents during their stay deemed unacceptable and disruptive. However, Paul contests this, stating that TUI never sought their side of the story.

Earlier in the holiday, Ellie had voiced complaints to the manager about the food quality, which Paul described as "tepid" and "not very nice". He commented: "Some of the things you would get were rice with sprouts, or another time you'd have rice with a slice of beetroot in it.

"My wife spoke to the manager twice, she complained about the food being inedible and he didn't seem interested. She asked him to join us for breakfast the next day so we could show him what we meant, but he never turned up," reports Chronicle Live.

The couple then enjoyed a day out and upon return, they "had a word" with the representative. The following day, as Paul and Ellie were looking forward to a trip to Corfu town, they were unexpectedly given a letter evicting them from the hotel.

Dated May 20, the letter stated: "You caused a serious disturbance by shouting inside the hotel restaurant in front of other guests, resulting in significant distress and disruption to the peaceful environment of the hotel," and "you directed aggressive and disrespectful language towards both hotel staff, the hotel owners, and TUI representatives on site."

However, Paul insists that their conduct was misunderstood, underlining that no one from TUI sought their account of events. Paul commented: "I don't remember anybody shouting.

"We only had interaction with the rep when she visited the hotel, and nothing disrespectful occurred. They've chosen to take the manager's word for it, without hearing our side.

"But surely every story has two sides? I was livid, as it completely ruined the plans we had for the day."

Paul and Ellie experienced a holiday headache when, without the chance to respond or appeal, they were instructed to contact the UK consulate for further help. In an abrupt turn of events on May 21, at 22.28, they received a notification that Ellie could not return on flight TOM1531 on Friday, May 23.

Barely half a day later came yet another email, this time informing the couple that both Paul and Eleanor were prohibited from boarding the flight. TUI referred to their terms and conditions when saying the action was "due to your conduct and behaviour".

In a scramble, Paul secured Jet2 flights from Corfu on Thursday, May 22, shelling out €328.56 for a swift return. However, once back in North Shields, TUI landed them with an email stating their travel ban had been lifted, and they were clear to fly on their scheduled flight-a gesture nullified by their already having completed their journey.

"That doesn't help us now, because we were told we have to make our own travel arrangements and we came home. We had to pay €60 for a taxi to the airport as well, because we weren't allowed on the transfers."

Describing their usual trips, Paul lamented, "When we go on holiday, we try to go somewhere nice and quiet, sit and chill, try the local stuff, go to the towns and see the scenery and to have food like we did (in the hotel) was really disappointing. We got no back-up whatsoever from TUI.

"They took whatever the manager said as gospel and came to a decision just like that. Had we been drunk and disorderly, fine, but we weren't - we've never had any bother on any holidays before, until this time with TUI."

It is understood that TUI intends to refund the couple's return flights with Jet2.com and their travel expenses to the airport. TUI declined to provide further comment.

Paul isn't the only holidaymaker from the North East to return from Corfu dissatisfied. Earlier in June, Westerhope grandmother Susan Edwards vowed not to book with the company again after complaining there was "no English food" at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel.