LILLINGTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- Imagine booking and paying for a hotel online, only to make the trek to the beach and arrive to find the hotel shut down.

That's exactly what happened to Brian Sexton and his family. The Lillington family drove to Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks, excited for a getaway, only to discover the hotel they had reserved through Booking.com was closed.

I was so angry Brian Sexton

Instead of a warm welcome, they found garbage trucks in the parking lot, a locked gate, and a "No Trespassing" sign. "I was confused. I was like, there's no way. How are we going to find a place? I was so angry. I was upset," said Sexton.

A quick Google search confirmed the worst: the hotel was permanently closed. "I tried calling Booking.com immediately, but it was around 8:30 or 9:

See Full Page