SKIREBEL Magazine

An Israeli couple from Tel Aviv who booked a ski holiday to Turkey and ended up on a beach holiday instead have won a court case against the tour operator who sold them the holiday.
The couple booked a ski holiday to Turkey in March through Eshet Tours and pre purchased lift passes and ski insurance as well as skiwear.

However on arrival in resort they found the ski lifts non-operational and were told that the ski centre had closed for the season. Locals directed them to a nearby beachside hotel. There they had difficulty contacting a tour operator representative who advised them it would take more time to organise return flights back early and that they would cost $1000. They eventually decided to stick with the booked return flights and have a beach holiday.

Back in Israel the couple asked for as refund of their 7,600.00 NIS (New Israeli Sheqalim / $2,100 US) ski holiday costs but the tour operator refused saying they had taken the holiday and not returned early. The couple then sued the tour operator for the cost of the ski holiday, unused skiwear, loss of income, emotional distress and legal expenses for a total 17,800 NIS ($4,940).
The tour operator argued it could not be held responsible for weather conditions and that it had fulfilled its legal duties in the circumstances. They said it was the couple’s responsibility to check if there was adequate snow before they left Israel. The judge decided it was the tour operator’s responsibility to provide a ski holiday if they sold a ski holiday and ordered them to pay the couple 9,000 NIS ($2,500), after rejecting the couple’s claim for lost income.