Hotels & Accommodations
Model forced to barricade herself in ‘prison’ hotel due to broken lock
What a lock-block.
A UK model was forced to barricade herself in a “horrendous” hotel room in Turkey after the lock didn’t work — before giving up and shelling out over $950 on an Airbnb instead.
“We were so nervous because anyone could come in,” Chiara Cox, 22, told Jam Press of her demonic digs, which also featured a “filthy mattress,” mold and a used ashtray.
The bombshell had reportedly flown to Antalya with her friend Toby Wolstenholme on July 1st for what she hoped would be a relaxing two-week getaway. They’d reportedly reserved their accommodation through Loveholidays, a UK travel agency offering discount all-inclusive packages.
However, the trip quickly went South after Cox checked into their digs and realized they’d booked the hotel from hell.
“We got to the hotel at 1 a.m. and the guy was asleep on the sofa, we made him jump when we came in and said hello,” the South Yorkshire native recalled. “He checked us in. It was meant to be all-inclusive, but he didn’t give us any information about that, he just put the wristband on.”
She added, “We looked at each other and said ‘this isn’t going to be good’, we could just tell.”
Their worst fears were confirmed after Cox put the key in the door and it opened without them having to turn the handle “because there was no lock.”
And that was just the tip of the iceberg. “I went in first and turned the bathroom light on and said, ‘Toby, we can’t stay here,” recounted the Brit. “As soon as I walked into the bathroom, it had pure mold in it and there was a used ashtray in there.”
Meanwhile, the main room was so shambolic it reminded Cox of a “prison.” She claimed that the aircon didn’t work, the window didn’t lock, and that there were stains on the mattress and wires protruding from the wall.
When they tried to upgrade to a “nicer” room, the clerk attempted to charge them $175.
As a result, Cox and her friend were relegated to spending the night in the heinous accommodations, whose lack of a front door lock made them feel completely exposed.
To keep out potential intruders, they resorted to reinforcing the door with their belongings like a scene out of “The Blues Brothers.”
“We woke up lots of times because we had to barricade the door with our suitcases and the furniture because it was wide open otherwise,” Cox said. “We slept as best as we could and then we peeled back the mattress and it was absolutely filthy, stained, there were hairs on it.”
She added, “We slept in the clothes that we traveled in, and it was horrendous.”
Eventually, the pair became so disgusted with their digs that they packed up and left. “In the morning, we didn’t say anything, we just left the key on the desk,” Cox recalled. “As we were waiting for the taxi, the same guy that was asleep came out and asked if there’s a problem.”
She added, “He just said ‘okay, no problem’ and walked off. He didn’t even care.”
As they still had a lot of days left in their vacation, Cox and her pal decided to book an Airbnb, which reportedly cost them $950.
They subsequently complained about their predicament to Loveholidays, but the travel agency said they didn’t provide “enough time” for the hotel to resolve their issue. The company added that they needed “evidence” that the inn didn’t try and get them a better room.
“It’s disgusting, we need a partial refund at least,” declared Cox. “I know what places like that are like, they will probably say that the room is habitable.”
She has since vowed to stop using Loveholidays due to their poor standards. Despite only paying around $950 for their entire stay, Cox believed that they should’ve at least provided the bare essentials.
“It’s been such a stressful travel journey,” she said. “The stress has not stopped, I wanted a break.”
To make matters worse, the besties were forced to cater for themselves for the remainder of the trip as the hotel was supposed to be all-inclusive.
However, she feels trying to get Loveholidays to refund them is futile. “Even if they don’t refund us for the flights, I’d really like a refund for the hotel,” Cox lamented. “But I can guarantee they won’t put their hand in their pocket.”
A Loveholiday representative has since weighed on the incident, but failed to offer much assurance.
“We’re sorry to hear that Miss Cox’s hotel did not meet expectations on this occasion,” they said. “Miss Cox booked alternative accommodation before notifying our On Holiday Support team of her complaint, so we were unfortunately unable to offer our assistance to resolve the issues at hand.”
They added, “We are continuing to investigate Miss Cox’s complaint with the hotel and will remain in touch with her throughout this process.”
Hotels & Accommodations
From Hotels Booking To Flights, Here’s How You Can Score 50% Bonus Miles With Emirates Skywards!
If you’ve been letting your Skywards Miles gather dust, now’s your chance to rack them up like never before. Emirates Skywards is back with a summer bonanza that’s as irresistible as a karak after iftar. From flights and hotels to shopping and dining, the rewards game is dialled all the way up.
Emirates Skywards Is Dishing Out Massive Bonus Miles This Summer, And You Don’t Want To Miss It
We’re pleased to announce that Emirates Skywards members can now redeem Skywards Miles for Classic Rewards on all @flydubai flights, across all cabins, starting from 5,000 Miles. https://t.co/qRPJqXNYIB pic.twitter.com/zEDBaSLnVs
— Emirates (@emirates) April 29, 2025
Dubai folks, this one’s a no-brainer. Until 31 August, you’ll earn 25% bonus Miles every time you spend with Skywards Everyday partners. So that coffee run or shopping spree at Dubai Summer Surprises just got a whole lot sweeter. Drop AED 100 or more and you’ll be automatically entered into a raffle where ten lucky winners will walk away with 100,000 Skywards Miles each.
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Planning a staycation or booking a hotel for that long-overdue break? Lock it in by 3 August and earn 50% bonus Miles at Emirates Skywards Hotels. The deal’s valid for stays all the way through 30 September 2025. Members can earn up to 10,000 Miles per night. That’s enough to plan the next escape before you even unpack.
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— Emirates (@emirates) July 18, 2025
On the Skywards Miles Mall, you’ll earn 25% bonus Miles when shopping with over 3,500 brands. Prefer local? Amazon UAE’s got your back. Until 31 July 2025, you’ll earn up to 100 Miles for every AED 50 you spend. First-time shoppers on the platform can score 2,000 bonus Miles just for showing up and checking out.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Emirates/Website
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First Published: July 18, 2025 6:55 PM
Hotels & Accommodations
Wyndham, Grubhub partner on food delivery to 6K hotels
Dive Brief:
- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Grubhub to offer guests across its entire U.S. portfolio — nearly 6,000 hotels spanning 20 brands — food and convenience item delivery through online ordering, the hotel company announced Thursday.
- Wyndham guests can order through a branded digital experience on the Grubhub app while on-site at participating hotels. Guests will also be able to activate a complimentary six-month Grubhub+ membership, unlocking added benefits like free delivery.
- The partnership aims to provide guests with added convenience and comfort, according to Charmaine Taylor, senior vice president of strategic and financial partnerships at Wyndham. Wyndham joins a list of other hotel companies to work with Grubhub.
Dive Insight:
Through the partnership, guests at participating Wyndham hotels will be able to order for delivery food and convenience items — think toothpaste or a phone charger — by opening the Grubhub app or scanning one of the Grubhub QR codes featured on hotel marketing materials.
In addition to online ordering, guests will be able to access exclusive perks like $0 delivery on eligible orders, lower service fees and a 5% credit back on pickup orders, according to Wyndham.
“Together, we’re elevating the on-property experience, delivering seamless convenience for not only the hundreds of thousands of guests that walk through their doors every year, but also the tens of thousands of hotel team members who make those hotel stays possible,” Grubhub VP Rob DelaCruz said in a statement, noting that Wyndham has one of the largest footprints of any major hotel company in the U.S.
The partnership will expand Grubhub’s services to some 6,000 hotels — more than the company’s previous collaborations with Choice Hotels International and Hilton, which brought online ordering to more than 500 hotels and 2,600 hotels, respectively.
Grubhub also previously partnered with Extended Stay America, My Place Hotels of America and Sonesta after Americans became more accustomed with food delivery during the pandemic.
Wyndham’s Grubhub collab comes after the hotel company partnered with Applebee’s in May to enable Wyndham Rewards members to earn loyalty points and receive free delivery through mobile orders with the restaurant chain.
Brand partnerships drove a surge in hotel loyalty membership at Wyndham and key competitors in 2024, CBRE reported in April.
Hotels & Accommodations
Travel Mistakes I’ve Made at Five-Star Hotels
One of my favorite parts of staying in a nice hotel is ordering room service. Answering the door in a plush robe and slippers to have a cart roll in with cloches, condiments in tiny glass bottles, and drinks in stemmed glasses makes me feel like a VIP.
But I’ve often missed out on what could have been exceptional dining experiences had I put on clothes and walked down to the hotel’s restaurants. At five-star hotels, I’ve found that the restaurants typically have a luxe ambiance, award-winning cuisine, and different menus from the in-room dining options.
In spring 2024, when I stayed at the Phoenician, a five-star mega-resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, I didn’t try any of the award-winning dining venues — Mowry & Cotton, J&G Steakhouse, and Thirsty Camel.
At the Grand America Hotel, I opted for room service breakfast, so I didn’t get to experience the European vibe at the bistro, Laurel Brasserie & Bar.
I did the same thing when I woke up at the Versace Mansion in 2021, and I missed out on a meal on the patio next to a 24-karat gold pool. At the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City in 2022, I didn’t even see the rooftop restaurant, Eléa.
Most recently, when I booked one night at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in May, I ordered dinner instead of getting a table at the Michelin-recommended restaurant Botanist, which was filled with live plants.
Next time I stay at a five-star hotel, I’ll eat in the hotel’s restaurant.
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