Greek tragedy averted in wake of XL collapse

7:10pm Wednesday 24th September 2008

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A TAUNTON travel agent has helped avert a Greek tragedy for a couple who faced being stranded on a holiday island in the wake of the XL Leisure Group collapse.

David and Jackie Booth were facing a huge hotel bill a week into their two-week holiday and no flights home from the Greek Island of Paros when XL went into administration.

David Booth told the County Gazette that hotel staff were demanding money.

He said: “The hotel wanted full payment for the holiday. They were demanding money and it was getting quite unpleasant.”

The Booths booked the holiday through travel agents Dave Criddle in Taunton and were in constant touch with the shop’s agent, Amy Matthews.

David said: “The hotel were originally demanding money for two weeks’ stay but Amy was arguing with them and faxing them bits of paper.

“In the end, we only had to pay for one week on top of what we had paid.

“Her communication with us helped out all the guests who were stuck. She helped everybody out and really went the extra mile.”

Miss Matthews, herself, was also caught up in the XL disaster as her honeymoon was booked through the tour operator.

She said: “I could understand completely what they were going through.

“I was trying to sort out my own honeymoon and I knew what it was like.

“I was just trying to help as much as I could. They were stuck abroad without information so I just tried to do as much as possible get them home.”

David and Jackie Booth were flown home on one of the rescue flights on Saturday.

Amy Matthews has re-booked her honeymoon with another operator and will be trying to claim back the money she lost.