A hen party group in Ibiza was left without accommodation after their booked apartment mysteriously vanished from Booking.com days before their arrival. Flavia Zsofia Hannus, 23, had reserved a three-bedroom flat for a three-night bachelorette trip with six friends near the Ushuaïa Club.
Mysterious Disappearance
Just days before the group was scheduled to arrive on the popular party island, the property stopped responding to messages and then disappeared entirely from the platform. The group had initially become suspicious when they received a separate payment link outside of the Booking.com site. Although Booking.com informed them the external payment was legitimate, the group proceeded with the booking. The situation escalated when the host failed to respond to messages for over 48 hours as the group attempted to arrange a late check-in for their 11 p.m. arrival.
After further investigation, Hannus discovered that the apartment listing had been completely removed from Booking.com. The reservation itself had not been canceled, but the entire property listing had vanished from the platform. The group was due to fly on a Sunday, and by the afternoon of their arrival day, they still had no check-in instructions.
Scramble for New Accommodation
Hannus spent approximately two-and-a-half hours on the phone with Booking.com agents attempting to secure alternative accommodation for the group of seven. She expressed concern about ending up stranded on a foreign island without a place to stay on a Sunday night. The travel platform eventually offered alternative options, but Hannus stated that these were located on the opposite side of the island, necessitating a significant change in their plans. Furthermore, the alternative accommodation required upfront payment, compounding the group's worry as they had already paid £1,800 for their original booking.
Impact on the Trip
Paying for the replacement accommodation significantly reduced the budget allocated for the bachelorette party. Hannus noted that securing last-minute accommodation for seven people during Ibiza's peak season was exceptionally expensive. Only the bride, her sister, and one other friend were initially informed of the accommodation issues. The rest of the group was to be told upon arrival at the airport, as Hannus feared some members might not board the flight if they knew there was a possibility of arriving without lodging.
Hannus described the situation as extremely stressful and frustrating, emphasizing that Booking.com was slow to offer alternative solutions. Despite eventually securing a place to stay, the uncertainty impacted the beginning of their trip. The original apartment had been chosen for its proximity to their planned first-evening venue. Instead, the first day was spent recovering from the stress and exhaustion.
While the group managed to enjoy the remainder of their trip, the worry over refunds and additional costs persisted. The bride also found it difficult to fully relax due to the lingering uncertainty about reimbursement for the original booking and any extra expenses incurred. A Booking.com spokesperson stated that ensuring platform safety and trustworthiness is a top priority, and that the company uses advanced technology and expert teams to check listings for suspicious activity. The spokesperson added that on rare occasions, issues are investigated, and properties can be removed from the platform, as was done in this case.