Da Vinci

Our booking was for seven nights at 1/33 Duke St, Sunshine Beach QLD, from 31 December. On 2 January, we found more than 70 maggots in the master bedroom, including in our clothes, suitcases, and personal belongings. At 10am I called and emailed Niche Holidays with photos and videos, asking them to arrange somewhere else for us to stay. They refused both alternative accommodation and a refund, and seemed more concerned with finding out where the maggots came from. Niche sent a maintenance man to pick them up. They confirmed he collected at least 75 from the floor, then left a can of fly spray and said there was nothing else he could do. There were still maggots crawling under the bed. After more calls and emails, Niche said the problem had been fixed and the apartment professionally fumigated and cleaned, but neither had happened. Staff again said there'd be no refund and the matter was “out of our hands.” After confirming with QLD health that it was unsafe to stay, we had to book somewhere else and leave at 4:30pm. Niche later called maggots normal “creepy-crawlies” for QLD weather and said there should be no issue living and sleeping with them. When I asked whether staff would sleep in a room full of them, they said no, even though they thought it was acceptable for me and my two young children. We paid $6,300 for this accommodation, and Niche and the owner refused to refund us. I had to spend another $5,000 on alternative accommodation. The infestation and their response were appalling. They confirmed the number of maggots, then treated us like idiots and provided the worst customer service. Don't book with Niche Holidays.