A pensioner has hit out at Thomas Cook because her hotel in Spanish resort Benidorm had ‘too many Spaniards in it’.

Freda Jackson said that she broke down crying at the end of her two-week break in May this year.

She complained that she was almost knocked over by ‘rude’ natives and asked why they can’t go somewhere else on holiday.

Freda Jackson asked why Spanish people can’t go somewhere else for their holiday (Picture: Ross Parry)

Retired care assistant Freda said: ‘The hotel was full of Spanish holidaymakers and they really got on our nerves because they were just so rude.


‘One evening a Spanish guy nearly knocked me flying and he just walked off without even apologising.

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‘The entertainment in the hotel was all focused and catered for the Spanish – why can’t the Spanish go somewhere else for their holidays?’



Freda, 81, stayed at the Poseidon Playa on the outskirts of Benidorm with her friend, paying £1,133 for the holiday.

They now want their money back or a free holiday.

Freda, who lives in Blackburn, Lancashire, said: ‘I have never complained about a holiday before – but this one was a disaster from start to finish.

They now want their money back or a free holiday (Picture: SWNS)

‘My friend and I paid for it from our pensions and it was a struggle trying to fund it over 12 months and the holiday was totally ruined – I cried after.

‘We wanted to go somewhere on flat ground and not in the hills because we have mobility issues.

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‘To top it off once we got to reception they told us we had been put on the 14th floor, thankfully we were moved to the second floor, and that it was 42 steps down to the hotel’s swimming pool.’

Freda, who has previously visited Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Tenerife, claims Thomas Cook ‘mis-sold’ and ‘ruined’ her dream holiday.

She said there were no reps on the holiday who they could complain to about the trip – so instead Ms Jackson submitted a letter of complaint to Thomas Cook.

Thomas Cook bosses initially offered Freda and her friend a £75 holiday voucher as compensation for the ‘disappointing’ trip abroad.

She was staying at the Poseidon Playa on the outskirts of Benidorm

But after declining the initial ‘goodwill gesture’ made by the travel company, they made an improved offer of £566 to be split between Freda and her friend.

Freda says she is yet to respond to the travel company about their renewed offer.

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Thomas Cook have said they relocated the pair to the second floor on the second night after they asked for a ground floor room.

They also said staff offered Freda assistance on the small slope at the hotel – but they claim the 81-year-old refused assistance.

The holiday operator have also reiterated the fact the compensation they offered Freda and her friend was due to the last minute change of flight – not because their holiday was overrun by Spanish holidaymakers.

A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: ‘Due to a system error Ms Jackson was not informed of a change to her flights until six days before departure.

‘We are very sorry for the inconvenience this caused and are investigating to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

‘We have offered Ms Jackson and her travel companion a gesture of goodwill to try and put things right which we hope she will accept.’