A MOTHER has been left out of pocket after a dream getaway with her disabled daughter turned into a holiday nightmare.

Sue McCarthy booked a two-day trip for January with Weekender Breaks.

She was due to be staying in a hotel overlooking the Vatican, but when the firm went to confirm her accommodation, it switched her to a different hotel nearly three miles away and has refused to refund her.

The 53 year old, from the New Forest, expected to take her son and daughter, 19, who has learning difficulties on the trip.

Sue paid £520 for the trip as part of a deal offered by Wowcher and was excited to be so central.

But when she rang to confirm the trip, Weekender Breaks said it would "upgrade" her to a different hotel.

She said: "It was just going to be a really nice trip - this has ruined the whole experience.

"The salesman made out as if he was doing me a huge favour.

"He didn't say where the upgrade was and he didn't give me an option, he just said 'I'm going to upgrade you'."

When Sue got an email and found out where the hotel actually was, she rang up straight away – but was told it was too late.

Sue added: "The Wowcher deal was for right next to the Vatican, why would you think otherwise in any way shape or form that they were putting you miles outside the city?

"You assume they are being honest and upfront."

The original Wowcher deal was for a hotel called the Hearth, just seconds from the Vatican.

The "upgraded" hotel - the Raganelli - is miles away.

Wowcher has refunded its share of the tickets and requested Weekender Breaks do the same, saying it falsely advertised the trip.

In an email Wowcher told the booking company: “We really push that you could refund our customer for the independent amount of £260 that you charged, as there was a matter of false advertisement here, as they did not know where the hotel was situated.”

Weekender Breaks offered Sue other hotels, but these were not up to the standard or location of the original, she said.

Weekender Breaks has been asked to explain why it would not offer a refund.

The company has not responded.

Sue booked on 22 November and has exchanged dozens of emails with Weekender Breaks trying to resolve the problem.

The trip was booked for 6 January, but now Sue was unsure if she could go.

She added: “I am now £260 out of pocket, unable to take this trip and they are refusing to refund me.”