Holiday hell

If you suffer illness on holiday abroad, your dream trip can soon turn into a holiday hell. One of the most common types of holiday illness is food poisoning, and it affects hundreds of UK holidaymakers every year.

Some people make a claim for compensation against the tour operator, when their hotel is part of a package tour, and some don´t. It is clear, however, that outbreaks of food poisoning in holiday hotels is particularly prevalent in all-inclusive hotels, where standards of food and hygiene are not always what they should be.

Outbreaks of food poisoning at all inclusive hotels in Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Spain and The Dominican Republic have been reported in the past few months, and this seems to be an ongoing problem at many hotel resorts.

Symptoms of sickness, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps can ruin your holiday abroad, and you must seek urgent medical help if you suspect you have contracted food poisoning.

Holiday illness is no joke, and you are entitled to claim compensation from your tour operator if their negligence caused your illness. Contact a personal injury solicitor in the UK when you return home, and choose one who works on a no win, no fee basis, so it won´t cost you a penny to make a claim.
There is no excuse for poor standards of food and hygiene in holiday hotels, and tour operators have a responsibility not to expose you to food poisoning or any other illness in hotels in Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, Turkey, or anywhere else worldwide.

Turkey has earned the dubious crown of ´holiday illness hotspot´ over the past 12 months, and there have been more cases of food poisoning reported by holidaymakers returning from Turkey than from any other resorts worldwide. If you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel, never eat food that has been left out and open to the elements for hours on end, or food which should be served hot and is only lukewarm.

Salmonella is much more prevalent in summer as bacteria multiply much quicker in hot weather. Also beware the holiday barbecue. Never eat any meat which is undercooked or pink in the middle or you could be exposing yourself to Salmonella food poisoning. Minced beef products, including burgers, pork and chicken are particularly dangerous if undercooked. Also avoid any products which contain raw egg, including desserts.

If you make a complaint to the holiday representative, you may be told you have drunk too much alcohol, or that the spicy food is not what you are used to. You may even be told the hot weather has caused your stomach upset. Do not be fobbed off. If you suspect food poisoning has caused your illness, make a complaint and contact a personal injury solicitor in the UK when you return home. If you fill in a complaint form, keep a copy, and if other holidaymakers are sick after eating the same food as you at the hotel, make a note of their contact details, which will come in useful if you bring a claim against the tour operator.

Legally, you have three years in which to bring a compensation claim for holiday illness against the tour operator, but the sooner you contact a personal injury solicitor in the UK, the better. It is best to make a claim when the details of the incident are fresh in your mind, and when any other guests who also suffered illness at the same hotel are more likely to come forward.


Adrian vultur writes for holiday illness compensation claims