Hi huddy,

Many thanks for your question. I've spoken to both Bob and Duncan and they both agree: stand your ground with Sunshine!

Your booking is with sunshine who are a division of Hays Travel – Hays are a well known retail agent grouping comprising directly owned agents and independent agents who are part of the group and Sunshine are a member of ABTA – Association of British Travel Agents.

You should stand your ground with Sunshine and ask them for (at the very least) a standard room in this hotel for no additional expense. Alternatively, one of an equal standard to their original booking at a hotel of equal standard. If they do not provide you with a satisfactory offer, go to the ABTA arbitration service and seek a resolution.

http://www.abta.com/consumer-services/travel_problems/arbitration

From the details you have given us, you seem to have clearly made a booking in good faith and would fully expect it to be confirmed. Bob and Duncan's suspicion is that the suite has either been overbooked by the hotel or the agent failed to confirm the booking...

You're fully entitled to an alternative of equal standard to your original booking - as outlined in ABTA's Code of Conduct.

I hope that helps. Do let us know how you get on - I'd be very interested to hear about it.

Hi Duncan,

Please could you give me some advice to my rights on a hotel booking?

I booked a suite at the albatros palace in hurghada on feb 5th 2010 for 1 week.its now paid in full and i have my accomadation voucher.today i get an email from sunshine.co.uk saying that the hotel has been over booked and there is no roomleft at the hotel.they offered me an alternative in the form of the albatros beach resort which i dont want.no one could off booked a suite before me as i booked the first day them came on the website on the 6th march 2009.

there are only 12 suites in the hotel.i have checked on the web and there are plenty of normal rooms,the best being a sea view,which was about the same price as a suite.they havent offered me this as the price has risen about 70% since i booked it.

i really want to stay in a suite as its a suprise for my wife on our first wedding anniversary.i like the look of the intercontinental resort hotel but i cant see them offering me this as its far more expensive.

what do you suggest i do.any help much appreciated