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Family’s Dream Lanzarote Getaway Marred by Severe Flooding
A family’s long-awaited holiday to Lanzarote turned into a nightmare after extreme weather and devastating floods struck the popular Canary Island destination following Storm Olivier last week. Tony Moran-Ambrose and his wife, Francesca, who rarely take time off, had planned the trip as a precious break with their two young children.
Rare Family Trip Turns Sour
The Moran-Ambrose family, proprietors of their own restaurant, had excitedly anticipated this rare overseas vacation, given the demanding nature of their business. Tony organized the £2,500 journey as a surprise for friends already vacationing on the Spanish island, according to reports from Luxury Travel Daily. The couple and their children, an eight-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son, departed from Bristol Airport on April 6.
Adding to the surprise, Tony also revealed their travel plans to his friend Phil and Phil’s two children while on the flight. The group arrived at the TUI SuneoClub El Trebol in Lanzarote, their booked accommodation for a week-long stay.
Storm Olivier Unleashes Havoc
However, their idyllic holiday quickly deteriorated when Storm Olivier made landfall just four days into their vacation, unleashing intense rainfall and triggering severe flooding across the island.
Within a mere 24-hour period, the hotel grounds were submerged in contaminated floodwater. Distressingly, the flooding even reached their third-floor room, forcing the family to seek refuge on a sofa for several hours until they could safely leave their room.
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Devastation and Disruption at Hotel
The family, who are the owners of Moran’s Thai Restaurant in Westward Ho, Devon, expressed their profound dismay at the unforeseen events. Tony recounted to Luxury Travel Daily, “We hardly ever manage to get away due to our restaurant commitments, so this unfortunate situation was particularly upsetting.”
“The floodwater caused a total power outage. We were left without access to food, functional toilets, or basic washing facilities,” he detailed.
Despite the ordeal, Tony acknowledged their relative fortune in completing their scheduled seven-day trip, although the final three days were heavily impacted by the widespread flooding. However, he noted that newly arriving guests faced far greater disruption.
Hotel Shutdown and Tourist Stranded
“New arrivals on our departure day were being rerouted and having return flights arranged,” Tony stated, “as the hotel was compelled to close down due to the flood damage, leaving guests with no alternative lodging options.”
He further shared the local receptionist’s shock, mentioning that the long-time resident had “never witnessed rainfall of such intensity.” “Water surged in from all directions; being situated at the base of a mountain meant the floodwater was heavily mixed with volcanic ash,” Tony added.
Tony also described the challenging search for essential supplies, particularly milk for his young son before bedtime, as widespread closures affected businesses surrounding the hotel. He pointed out that alcohol was the only readily available item he could find.
“My deepest sympathies are with the local residents and their livelihoods; it was truly distressing to witness the extensive damage inflicted upon them,” he expressed.
The restaurant owner further noted that TUI issued a general email to guests, informing them of the hotel’s closure and promising further contact within the week.
TUI Responds to Crisis
A TUI spokesperson issued a statement to Jam Press: “Due to unprecedented weather conditions in Lanzarote over the weekend, a small number of accommodations experienced significant impact from the floods.”
“The welfare and safety of our customers and colleagues remain our foremost concern. Our TUI resort teams worked diligently with local authorities and hotel management to secure alternative lodging for customers in affected hotels during this busy Easter period, or to arrange return flights to the UK. We extend our gratitude to customers for their patience and cooperation during these difficult circumstances.”