Their vacation turned into a nightmare. The European Court of Justice ruled on the Poles' case.

Polish tourists went on vacation to Albania. On their first day, the men were woken by the noise of demolition work at two hotel swimming pools. Within a few days, the seaside promenade and access to the sea were also demolished, leaving the tourists deprived of the resort's main attractions.

The conditions of the stay deteriorated daily. Guests had to wait in long lines for meals, and due to the limited number of dishes, they arrived at the restaurant at the beginning of the scheduled hours. "Afternoon tea was no longer served," the CJEU stated in a statement. In the final days of the stay, further construction work began – this time on the extension of the hotel's fifth floor.

After returning home, the Poles requested reimbursement of travel expenses and compensation. The court, in considering the case, asked the CJEU whether a full refund of the trip price was possible, even though some services had been provided.

Poles fought for a refund of their vacation costs. The European Court of Justice sides with them.

The Court found that where the quality of travel services is grossly inadequate, travelers are entitled to a full refund. Even if some services were available, their inadequate performance could render the package travel meaningless and no longer in the customer's best interests.

At the same time, the CJEU stated that compensation is not due if the tour operator proves that the causes of the problems were independent and unforeseeable, for example, resulting from a decision by public authorities. "It is for the national court to determine whether the tour operator or facility manager was informed of the demolition decision," the Court emphasized.

The CJEU also emphasized the importance of transparency in the authorities' actions. If the demolition work resulted from an administrative act, it should have been publicly announced in advance. The final decision on refunds for Polish tourists will be made by a court in Poland.

Read also: "Albanian Alps" in the fall. Beautiful views and warmer than Poland . Read also: Greek island at the end of the season. Round-trip flights cost 450 PLN.