'I had to lean over balcony for sea view I paid extra for' (2025)

Kim Antrobus says her hotel view was more 'like Beirut' instead of the sparkling Atlantic Ocean she was expecting

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A mum who paid extra for a sea view was appalled to discover the hotel room looked at an apartment block - but claims Loveholidays told her just to lean over the balcony to see the sea.

Kim Antrobus says her girls' getaway to Costa Da Caparica, Costa Azul, Portugal, with her friend Louise Edlin last month was 'ruined' as she had expected a picturesque view. The pair paid more than £400 each for a 'side sea view' room but were shocked to discover their room was actually positioned in front of two urban buildings.

Kim, who lives in Southport, Merseyside, said the view resembled that of 'Beirut or inner city London' rather than the stunning Portuguese coastline. The 43-year-old said her friend could see a 'small amount' of the Atlantic if she leaned right over the balcony.

After complaining to Loveholidays, the mum-of-four said the company would not escalate the matter further - arguing the pair were correctly 'provided with a sea view room'. Kim and Louise were forced to upgrade their rooms for a further fee but believe advertising their original room as a 'side sea view' was 'misleading'.

Loveholidays apologised for the issues Kim faced during her trip and offered to refund the price of a sea view room upgrade. They put the blame for the room classification on the hotel, claiming they were not responsible for that.

Kim, who works in marketing, said: "I didn't even realise there was a 'side' sea view - we thought we were booking a sea view. To me that wasn't a sea view room. You have to lean over a balcony to see it. I can't remember seeing a side sea view when I booked it because I would've questioned it.

"My friend had to climb onto the balcony bit, leaned right over and said 'you can just about see the sea. I couldn't see it myself. I've got a slipped disc and there's no way I can lean that far over to see it. There was absolutely no way you could see the sea without leaning right over the balcony.

"There were buildings - it was like Beirut or inner city London in front of us. It just didn't look like we were on holiday by the sea. It wasn't the view I was expecting."

After contacting Loveholidays, Kim claims the company argued that you can see the sea 'with a stretch' - but believes you should not have to pay extra for their disappointing view.

Kim said: "It ruined my holiday. Every single day I spent trying to argue a point with Loveholidays. It was a beautiful hotel, just a shocking side sea view. We changed rooms straight away, I wasn't staying in that room.

"She said you can 'see the sea with a stretch'. It doesn't say on the website a 'side sea view with a stretch over the balcony'. I feel like it's misleading on the website. You shouldn't upgrade people for a 'partial side sea view'. We paid extra for that view. If we'd just paid for a bog standard view, it wouldn't have bothered me. I won't book with them again now. I'd tell other people to steer clear."

A Loveholidays spokesperson said: "While every hotel classifies their room types differently, we understand Ms Antrobus' disappointment, and as a gesture of goodwill, have offered a refund of the additional Euro 30 she paid to upgrade to a full sea view room."