A Turkish Holiday Gone Wrong: The Case of Georgia Harrison and the £15,000 Hotel Bill
A British mother’s celebratory trip to Turkey has taken an unexpected and costly turn, leaving her stranded abroad and facing a significant financial burden. Georgia Harrison’s Antalya holiday, intended to mark her boyfriend’s new veneers, has instead resulted in a legal battle with the Lexia Hotel and a hefty repair bill.
A Night of Excess and Unforeseen Consequences
The trip began promisingly enough. Harrison and her partner, Arron Tighe, were in Antalya for Tighe’s £2,000 veneer procedure. Their final day in Turkey was meant to be a celebration, but things took a dramatic and damaging turn. According to Harrison, a mix of alcohol and antipsychotic medication led to a blackout. Upon regaining consciousness, she found their hotel room in complete disarray.
A Desperate Escape Attempt
Panicked, the couple attempted a hasty departure for the airport, only to be intercepted and arrested by Turkish police. Their escape attempt, spurred by the realization of the extent of the damage, was unsuccessful.
The Mounting Legal and Financial Costs
A Turkish judge has now imposed a travel ban on Harrison and Tighe until a staggering £15,000 is paid to the Lexia Hotel to cover the cost of the damage. The desperation of the situation led Harrison to attempt a further escape, this time by boat to Greece, which was also thwarted.
A Crowdfunding Plea and Conflicting Accounts
A GoFundMe page established by Tighe highlights Harrison’s plight and her admission to damaging the shower screen. She expresses deep regret, stating, “[It was] the worst mistake of my life. I can’t change it but wow am I paying for it.” She also claims to have been advised by a UK lawyer to offer only £3,000, believing the actual damage to be closer to £1,000.
The Hotel’s Counterclaim and Photographic Evidence
However, the Lexia Hotel has released a strongly worded statement, along with compelling photographic evidence, disputing Harrison’s account of the incident. The images depict extensive damage beyond a simple shower screen breakage.
Extent of the Damage
The hotel claims the damage includes a television ripped from the wall, a destroyed minibar, broken beds, and a shattered exterior window. The statement also points to food splattered across the walls and ceiling, requiring repainting of the room. Furthermore, wall-mounted fixtures and lighting were removed, and the hotel claims the damage left the room completely unusable for a month.
Financial Ramifications for the Hotel
The Lexia Hotel asserts that the specially designed furniture and fixtures required a month-long repair period, resulting in substantial financial losses from the room’s unavailability to paying guests. Their statement emphasizes their commitment to justice and transparency, presenting the photographs as evidence against what they describe as a one-sided narrative.
A Standoff with Uncertain Resolution
The situation remains unresolved, with Harrison and Tighe facing a significant financial burden and a protracted legal battle thousands of miles from home. The stark contrast between Harrison’s account and the hotel’s photographic evidence leaves the ultimate responsibility for the extensive damage unclear, with the future outcome of this case uncertain.
