Are Kids Clubs Safe? We return to this topic and consider the shocking experience of one holidaymaker, and the tardy response he has received to his complaint! Read More

Do resort reps think that they are fireproof?  Do travel companies know what their resort reps are saying or are they complicit?  Yes, I am back again to report on an old friend – Resort Representatives openly advising holidaymakers at welcome meetings, that the new holidaymakers WILL suffer holiday illness and that the way to deal with it is to buy ‘brand X’ drug from the local pharmacy!  I don’t know about you, but if I had been told at a welcome meeting that I would very probably become ill during my holiday, I would be at the front of the queue asking to get out of there!  I have dealt with this issue before, in the first blog we dealt the issue of holidaymakers freely accepting ‘medical advice’ and taking drugs that are banned in Western Countries; the second blog dealt with the ’surprise’ advices at a welcome meeting where holidaymakers are told that they will become ill! Read More

Have you been told that ‘normal booking conditions apply’?  Has your holiday been changed before departure from what you thought you would receive? In the first of a series, we discuss a travel Consumers rights where a ‘Significant Change’ has been made to their holiday. We highlight the rights contained under Regulation 12 of The Package Travel Regulations and discuss what could consitute a ‘Significant Change’.  In the last few years many holidaymakers have experienced ’significant changes to their holiday contracts; this is something that is causing serious concern at the EU Commission!  We would also recommend that you read our article on your Regulation 13 pre-departure rights as this provides further obligations on travel providers! Read More

The HolidayTravelWatch PTR Tip, within the latest edition of ‘Get’Away’, highlights the rights enjoyed by a travel consumer under Regulation 15 of The Package Travel Regulations (this is the Regulation that provides for liability against a travel provider in a holiday contract), and the defence that can be employed by a Travel Organiser. Read More

When HolidayTravelWatch was first formed, it was quickly realised that holidaymakers needed a checklist to guide them when they encountered problems. Over the years HolidayTravelWatch has gained invaluable experience which it has endeavoured to share with as many holidaymakers as possible. To underline the present need for holidaymakers to have an invaluable guide, you should read three items we have published – 20 holiday complaints written in the holidaymakers own words for the 2010 holiday season - 40 of the current holiday complaints received by us for the 2010 season – and – our latest full report to the EU Commission which again sets out, in the holidaymakers own words, the problems they experienced in the 2009 holiday season! Read More

Last year we highlighted 20 of the most appalling holiday complaints for the 2009 holiday season!  This year we again repeat the process at the start of the current 2010 holiday season, to highlight the wide range of problems that holidaymakers face!  This year we have seen the following holiday complaints come through on our e mails alone; Read More

Last year we highlighted 20 of the most appalling holiday complaints for the 2009 holiday season!  This year we again repeat the process at the start of the current 2010 holiday season, to highlight the wide range of problems that holidaymakers face!  This year we have seen the following holiday complaints come through on our e mails alone; building work, exposure to building dust causing respiratory problems, numerous so-called norovirus complaints, missing hotel facilities, slipping on wet unsignposted hotel floors, incorrect visa information supplied by travel agents, repeat hotel illnesses, poor and inedible hotel food, E-Coli, inadequate travel insurance cover, failure to provide significant change rights, DIY holiday complaints, poor beach conditions, leaking sewage, holiday price changes, unsafe ship conditions, cockroaches and dust in holiday accommodation, poor information on luggage allowances, denial by tour companies of mass outbreaks of illness, unannounced flight departure changes, illnesses following room pesticide use, insistence on tour companies in sending holidaymakers to destinations following adverse weather events, hotel not open on arrival, misrepresentation of hotel accommodation in holiday brochures, failure of all-inclusive facilities, booking problems, problems with terms and conditions, airline collapse financial complaints, grey bed linen, cracked bathroom tiles, leaking ceilings, no hot water in hotel rooms, no holiday bookings made, overbooking, false teeth and corn plasters found under bed, mass holiday hotel illness, vomitting and blood passing following hotel illness, Salmonella, Hot air balloon excursion accident, Volcano/Ash Travel Crisis complaints and Shigella!  Here is a selection of 20 appalling holiday complaints and problems (we have ommitted the names of tour companies etc and left the complaints made in the holidaymakers own words): Read More