Delhi Belly, Turkish Tummy – there are a multitude of names to describe common holiday sickness bugs.

Whether it’s vomiting, diarrhoea or cramps, these symptoms alongside others are usually signs of food poisoning.

With all-inclusive holidays, majority of all resorts will serve buffet style food which can mean some meat dishes are continuously reheated over a short period of time or salad is left exposed to natural elements.

If you have fallen ill, it’s probably safe to assume other holiday makers have fallen ill too.

Our most recent case with the Lail family resulted in a £5,750 compensation claim for 4 days of illness on a 10 day, all-inclusive holiday to Kos last year.

What happened?

A family of 5 including two teenage children and a toddler visited a popular 4 star resort on the island of Kos in July 2015. Having booked the holiday via a popular travel operator, they thought they would be in safe hands and hotel standards would be high.

With it being a 10-day holiday, their plan was to spend the first couple of days enjoying resort facilities before booking in poplar excursions. Unfortunately, on the third day, Mrs Lail began complaining of cramps which ultimately resulted in sickness and diarrhoea. Sadly, Mr Lail and his two eldest sons also fell ill soon after.

In total, the family of five were ill for a period of four days individually.

How we helped them claim

Holiday Sickness Helpline approached the tour operator requesting details of the family’s holiday including resort information. Fortunately, the Lail family had all the holiday information at hand including the ATOL certificate.

Investigation into the resort found that the hotel failed to uphold certain standards of cleanliness and food hygiene rating. Because the Lail family booked the holiday via a tour operator, they were protected against The Package Tours Regulations 1992 act meant they were able to claim against the tour operator.

Whilst the family didn’t have any official medical records, eye witnesses and other holiday makers at the time of the event were privy to the illness and an additional 13 guests complained of holiday sickness. Utilising their experiences, we presented the evidence to the tour operator who agreed a settlement fee of £5,750 for all four members of the family.

If you have fallen ill whilst on an all-inclusive holiday taken in the last three years then get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you recoup your holiday costs.

For some, all-inclusive holidays are the way forward. Some may recoil at the idea of an all-inclusive. Whatever your preference, there are some strong arguments as to why package holidays are the way forward.

Whether its the holiday food binge you are after or a continuous supply of mojitos, check out some of our tips to ensure your holiday stays safe, happy and enjoyable!

1) Travel at the right time

There is nothing worse than arriving at your holiday destination and being greeted by a tropical storm, thunder, rain or even worse…cold. Unless of course, you like that?! Before booking your holiday, ensure you check and double check average weather.

For those wishing to have a child – free holiday, check the school holidays and whether your holiday destination is on/off peak. Otherwise you could end up battling for a sun lounger!

2) Find the best deal

We have all been there. You find a deal, think its great. Then get to the resort and overhear a couple who spent significantly less. Whilst there is no guarantee that what you book is the best deal, always ensure you have done some digging around to find the best deal, time to travel and hotel reviews from third part sites such as Tripadvisor. 

3) Check what you are eating and drinking

Our clients have told us of some horror stories. Most of our holiday sickness claims can be attributed to food. As with all places, always check what you are eating and ensure meat is throughly cooked. Drink plenty of bottled water and pack some anti-nausea and diarrhoea!

4) Befriend the staff

Knowing who to talk to and when can be a great asset to receiving some extra luxuries. One of the greatest things about most holiday resorts is the friendliness of staff who usually go out of their way  to ensure all your needs are met. Make a few friends and guaranteed (OK, maybe not guaranteed) you will get the best seats, greatest deals and a little bit more rum added to your cocktail!

5) Explore the local area

Whilst not all all-inclusive locations boast a diverse local area, it is worth (if possible), to explore the local area. If you have spent significant funds to go to the destination, consider venturing out and seeing life beyond the resort or alternatively, liaise with your travel rep for organised day trips. It really is the best way to see the world!

Whilst the above is merely a snippet of things to do when on all inclusive, the most important is to stay safe, healthy and happy.

Happy holidaying!

Holiday Sickness Helpline are happy to launch our new website.