Since 2008 we have expressed serious concerns over the health and safety standards operated in the popular holiday resorts in Egypt.  We began by asking if Egypt was the ‘new’ Dominican Republic for Holiday Illness and Complaints?  In that article we suggested that it would be well for the Egyptian tourist authorities to learn from the Dominican Republic experience; it appears that they did not!  Less than 2 weeks later, we again expressed concern over the range of holiday complaints and problems reported to us; apart from illness complaints we were also hearing  how complaining holidaymakers were being ‘bullied’ out of making complaints!  We again called on the Egyptian Authorities to act; it appears that they did not!  In July 2009, we again called for the Egyptian Authorities to act upon the growing number of complaints and illnesses reported to us; again, it appears that they did not!  We again express our concerns! Read More

The recent events of the Icelandic Volcano Crisis demonstrated the fragility of our transport system if affected by a natural or man-made disaster!  Many thousands of travel plans were disrupted and many air passengers and holidaymakers encountered difficulties in getting assistance from airlines.  This Organisation, like many others, championed the route to resolution of these travel complaints through the rights and obligations contained within EU Directive 261/2004 – The Flight Delay, Cancellation and Denied Boarding Rights Directive! Read More

Many holidaymakers find that when they are abroad and have holiday complaints to make, they have difficulty in accessing information that is timely, free and of some assistance!  To counter this problem, HolidayTravelWatch has created its own ‘Calling Card’ – www.holidaytravelwatch.tel !  The ‘card’ is electronic based and contains all the necessary contact numbers that you will need, to obtain our assistance!  It also provides links and access to up-to-date holiday complaints and of course our useful ‘Holidaymakers Backpack™’, which links you to all the holiday complaints guidance and material that you will need, to kick-start any complaints or problems you may have!  All you have to do is to copy the link for the ‘Calling Card’ into your favourites on your PC or Mobile Phone, that way you are never far from help wherever you may be! Read More

For many holidaymakers, dealing with holiday illness, accident or other complaints, either at home or abroad can become quite stressful!  One of the many difficulties Consumers face is understanding what their rights are, which law applies to their claim and how do they go about getting compensation?  Well help is now at hand for all those holiday from hell experiences!  HolidayTravelWatch has put together an electronic ‘Holidaymakers Backpack™’ which contains all the essential articles and guides needed to kick-start those holiday claims! Read More

It is almost 12 months since we called for an EU-wide Vessel Sanitation Program!  Since September 2009, we have received 15 distinct reports of alleged holiday illness outbreaks on-board cruise ships; indeed one ship has now featured on 6 separate occasions within our ‘Call to Arms’ section!  Holidaymakers are reporting a wide variety of problems on-board different cruise ships; here are 20 examples of some of the real holiday cruise complaints we have received: Read More

For several years, HolidayTravelWatch has been engaged in providing commentary and observations to Westminster and the EU Commission on Holiday and Travel Problems!  In making their comments, they have now provided over 1,500 ordinary Consumer comments on their holiday experiences.  We have responded to a wide variety of Public Consultations and attended the all important stakeholder meetings in London in January 2010 & Brussels on 22 April 2010.  In Brussels, we presented the Consumer position on the proposed amendments to The Package Travel Directive, to Industry and Consumer Representation Groups of the 27 Member States.  The range of reports submitted in 2010 include: Read More

Holidaymakers contacting our helpline, often tell of the helplessness and lack of assistance they receive, when they raise their holiday complaints whilst in resort!  2010 has realised a worrying pattern of complaints, indicating that rather than seeing an improvement in the holiday product, we are continuing to witness the same old so-called acceptable face of travel!  We are concerned that complaints are not being adequately considered, nor is action being taken to deal with real or potential holiday illnesses!  We have seen one comment from a returning holidaymaker, extolling the virtues of the complex they have returned from, but highlighting at the end of their travel review, that parents were allowing their children to defecate in the hotel swimming pool and that one individual had decided to to do the same for ‘fun’! Read More