So, we can now see the result of the swine flu pandemic – the BBC have reported that reports of this illness have jumped by 50%!  Do you remember our first blog on this issue, how the holidaymaker we reported on was dealt with by the HPA and Health Authorities?  Do you remember all those holidaymakers caught in the first outbreak in Mexico and how they were repatriated?  At the time some reports estimated that there were some 10,000 British holidaymakers in Mexico at the time!  What then happened to the holidaymakers when they returned to the UK: Read More

The holiday illness wagon rolls on down there in Egypt and most importantly, tour operator representatives still insist that they hand out medical advices!  It appears that on one Nile Cruise, a large number of holidaymakers were ill, but hang on a second, why are they complaining, they were told that this would happen to them?  It appears that at the welcome party, holidaymakers were handed a letter from the tour representative stating that they would get the ‘Pharoahs Revenge’!  Well it seems that these holidaymakers certainly got more than what they bargained for – and there is the clue – a bargain – one of the key features of when you form or create a contract!  I have no doubt that this reference to ‘Pharoahs Revenge’ was not set out in any of the holiday brochures, nor in the terms and conditions!  Could this be the reason why this particular tour operator’s solicitors are keen to gain possession of the ‘evidence’? Read More

In a recent edition of the Travel Trade Gazette a letter was written by a travel agent under the title – ‘Protection crisis is harming the good guy’s reputations’.  It is important to consider the key points that this agent raised.  They argue that if you sell insurance or other financial products you have to be accredited or certified.  They also highlight regulatory requirements if you sell food or are involved in certain building work.  The writer of the letter then states – “So surely the ruling should be if you want to sell holidays and travel to the consumer, you must be bonded.  No bond, no business.  Too many companies come and go, owing thousands of pounds to consumers.  They offer ‘cheap’ holidays, often making pennies and wonder where it all went wrong.  This then tars us with the same brush.  The good guys are bonded, offer protection, have better knowledge and care about the consumer.  They are not there to make a quick buck”. Read More

We have spoken recently with a holidaymaker who took a short break in England.  He decided to spend a long week-end in Cardiff and booked into a hotel near to the airport.  On the day of his arrival he reports that he was not suffering with any health problems.  Further, he also reports that the room was clean and tidy, with no debris left behind by any previous guest.  Within a day, he began to complain of feeling cold and toward the end of the week-end was suffering with a bad throat, aching in the back of his legs, high temperature, no energy and a dry cough.  The holidaymaker believed that he was developing flu. Read More

We have heard of one hotel in Egypt where the range of holiday complaints are diverse and this leads me to think that the Egyptian Tourist Authorities have still not got this right!  I had asked previously as to whether Egypt was the new Dominican Republic for Holiday Illness – I had hoped that 2009 would prove that this was not the case!  Regular readers will know that we have highlighted the manner in which holiday complaints were being ‘handled’, either by the travel industry or by hoteliers, raising the concern that holidaymakers were in fact being bullied away from making complaints! Read More

The issue of Holiday Financial Protection through the ATOL scheme has attracted intense scrutiny since the collapse of the XL Group and Freedom Direct.  We have been guiding Mr & Mrs A – consider this quote from Mrs A – “the more this is highlighted the better – various people who I have spoken to – are under the impression that if a Tour Operator has an ABTA/ATOL No, they are covered – how wrong they are!!”  Mr & Mrs A booked a holiday through the collapsed travel provider, Freedom Direct.  They purchased a flight, hotel and transfers, all stated as one inclusive price.  They have advised that it was their intention to purchase a package holiday and that there was nothing that they could see or hear, which put them on notice that it was anything other than a package holiday! Read More

Well the Burmese authorities finally showed their true colours – the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi  - and holiday companies and apologists for this regime still want tourists to visit this country?  Here are the Google results for holidays currently for sale to Burma! Disbelief! Read More