When they pulled into the local chemist's shop to ask directions, they were shocked to discover that Eastbourne (population 4,600), New Zealand, does not even have a hotel.Shop assistant Linda Burke said: "They just walked in and asked me where Royal Parade was, with the Majestic Hotel. "I said: Oh no, there's no hotel here. I looked at it and said: That's in the UK, that's in England.
Photo from here.
"He checked on the internet and said he did think it was funny they charged him in pounds." Ms Burke rang around but discovered all the local bed and breakfast places were full, so she offered them a room for the night in her house. The couple, who were exploring New Zealand while visiting the country to watch South Africa play in the Rugby World Cup, had mistakenly booked into the hotel in Eastbourne, Sussex, on the internet. "I booked into the right hotel, just in the wrong country," Mr Adendorff said.
Despite the good-natured ribbing they received, the couple said Eastbourne was very nice and the locals were friendly. "I don't know how Eastbourne in England popped up in the comparisons on the internet," Mr Adendorff said. They were unable to get a refund from the Majestic Hotel because their cancellation was at such short notice.
2 comments:
Despite the hilarious goof up I bet they had a nice time. Ms. Burke was very kind to offer them a place to stay. That kindness in itself would make for a good holiday.
I'm going to be a humourless killjoy - what else is new. Mr Adendorff didn't book into "the right hotel", just in wrong Eastbourne, since there is no hotel in Eastbourne, New Zealand.
Still, I'm glad their trip wasn't ruined and they had fun. Laughing at your own mistakes, especially the bigger ones, is something at which I personally would like to get better.
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