I’ve rented a studio for my husband and myself in Fuengirola/Malaga for 11 nights in September. The size of the studio was exactly the half of that described by the tenant on Homelidays (212000). It was 21 qm instead of 42 qm advertised (plus the balcony, which was a bit less than 2 qm). The studio was advertised for 2-3 persons, however the opened sofa bed was only 125 cm wide, absolutely not enough for 2 adults. Therefore we had to use the 160 cm long camp bed for the second person (I’m 170 cm tall, my husband is 180 cm), extremely inconvenient, thus no space remained in the room which was 10 qm. We were lucky enough that the weather was fine, thus we could stay on the small balcony when we were not away. And we’re also lucky that there was no 3rd person. I wrote a testimonial which wasn’t posted by Homelidays at all. I’ve written to them 7 times (!), first I received an answer that „The comments in your testimonial have been passed on to the relevant department, who is currently pursuing your comments with the owner”, afterwards: ” The testimonial is still being validated by the Customer Services team”, later on they simply didn’t react to my e-mails at all. My last attempt was that I asked them if they realized the fact that they had become pander in cheating the renters as they were fully aware of the incorrect information given by the owner as I’ve written to them several times but the false size of the studio is still on Homelidays website. I have booked a lot of apartments through different websites (VRBO, Homeaway, Holiday-rentals, airbnb, et., etc.) in the last 20 years and I never had such an awkward experience (even not on Homelidays!). It’s clear, that they don’t post negative testimonials as the renters don’t pay for them but doing so they don’t give any protection to the renters. When I rented a stuio in Amsterdam through Homelidays and I wrote a positive testimonial, it was posted immediateliy! The only thing I can do is that I’ll never rent through Homelidays again and I propose it to other travellers as well!

You could post a link to the apartment that you rented from homelidays.

He did give the property number (as good as a link)

But here it is http://tinyurl.com/26t896p

(BTW, the photos are pretty skimpy - but it does look larger than 21 sq meters and even if small - looks like a bargain at €21 a night)

OP quoted the number. This is the studio:
http://www.homelidays.co.uk/fuengiro...-212000en1.htm

I always find it odd that people come here as first time posters to complain like this.

Janis beat me to it

Welcome to Fodor's (is all I have to say)!

OK now I looked. A beautiful water view for 21 euro/night? That place looked like a bargain to me too.

You'll be surprised: there was no problem with the beautiful water view. And if you make a search in Fuengirola, the prices are very similar. Don't forget, it was the end of September and first days of October.

I've ceased to find it strange that people who feel ripped off or had their trips ruined become first time posters on message boards to vent and warn other travelers. I sometimes think some of the posters are actually Fodor's regulars embarrassed to admit they made a mistake after posing so long as "travel experts" so they sign in with new names -- but that's just an idle thought.

I've also ceased to find it strange that a lot of Fodorite regulars reflexively take the side of landlords, tourist vendors and Europeans when people complain about negative experience they've had traveling in Europe.

I didn't "reflexively" take anyone's side. I just thought it looked like a nice enough apartment with a fantastic view for a cheap price.

Thanks for posting the link janis and hetismij. It looks small and the bed looks uncomfortable but like others have said, 21 euros a night, I wouldn't have expected much.

I looked at homildays site and booking and that was by far the cheapest apt. I'm a bargin hunter and it's been my experience that if something is a lot cheaper than anything else of it's ilk, move on.

I think you guys should be nicer to someone who uses the wonderful Shakespearean term "pander".

In my whole life, I've heard "pander" used ONLY once in conversation -- by an Italian woman who spoke beautiful, learned English.

PS: If I remember correctly, the character Pandarus appears in Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida"

That is not a correct use of the word. Perhaps the OP means pandered - but I have yet to hear that there is any prostitution involved. For 21 euros a night I would expect to get a closet - if that.

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

If I read this right the room is about 400 sq ft - or 20 X 20 - which seems a reasonable size. If the OP is saying it was 10 X 10 (well that is minute). But the photo obviously shows something very small and I would never have rented a place without more photos. As someone mentioned - if the price is way less than everything else there is a reason why - it;s best to find out what before paying.

What is 21 qm? Is it 21 quarter-meters?
Is it 21 square meters? If so, why isn't it written sm?


So if it's a room 14 feet by 14 feet, for $35/night. About right. Narrow bed, but that's something I DO NOT TRUST descriptions for; I'll always inquire re dimensions.

if a place is half of what it states.. i would also be upset.

easy...if it's true that the place is 21m and its advertised as 42, then this is a fraudulent advert or at the very least, a gross error that must be fixed asap and before others are mislead. and if the agency is alerted to such an error and does not fix it in a reasonable amount of time, then i completely agree with the OP's charge.

what matters is if the flat is advertised as 42 and is really only 21...what doesn't matter is:
-whether or not someone else thinks this is a good deal anyway
-if it has a nice sea view
-that other flats might be more expensive
-that the OP is a first time poster
-whether words were used incorrectly

Fully agree with walkinaround.

BTW, I've never heard before the word "pander", so I am running to my dictionary. As I am not very fond of the bard, could someone please elaborate?

Actually, Chaucer did the play first, spelling as "Troilus and Criseyde." Chaucer also gave us "pander" first.

Pander is about the same as a pimp, from the character Pandarus in the play.

s

"To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses"....having found this definition of pandering leads me to conclude the poster got what they were asking for....an extremely cheap, low end apartment getting what they paid for (wanted)... not a fault of the "lister" of the apartment.

>>>>>
poster got what they were asking for....an extremely cheap, low end apartment getting what they paid for (wanted)... not a fault of the "lister" of the apartment.
>>>>>

if they were sold 42 meters and they got 21, then they did not get what they paid for....simples.