Man-made or Natural Disasters create a unique set of problems or difficulties for holidaymakers in their chosen destination.  We have long campaigned on this issue, calling for an open discussion of the problems that are presented by these holiday destinations.  We present a number of holiday complaints received on this issue in 2008!  We have only reproduced these stories from our e mail contacts.  These holidaymakers stories have been presented to the EU Commission in our campaigning reports!  The stories have been left largely unedited; they are in the words of the holidaymakers who have contacted us.  The names of travel companies have been removed because we consider the story or the experience of the holidaymaker is central! Read More

This year we have already heard from returning holidaymakers about their holiday illness or sickness experience!  Many are reporting that they have suffered an initial 3 to 4 days sickness, a slight recovery and continuing problems when they return to the UK!  Some holidaymakers have reported to us that they have been subsequently diagnosed with diseases such as Salmonella, E-Coli or Shigella!  Many report that they were not alone in suffering with illness in their hotel, resort or cruise ship!  We are concerned that holidaymakers are suffering an ‘imposed’ isolation, on the pretext that what they are suffering with is a ‘contagious’ virus, when often the ‘virus’ has been repeated week after week and no apparent tests are carried out to assure that nothing more sinister is the cause of the illness!  We take the very firm view that ‘introducing’ holidaymakers into a hotel, resort or cruise ship, where there is clear knowledge that a pathogen or virus threatens the very health of the intending holidaymaker, should be dealt with under the full force of the law!  This issue came into sharp focus earlier this year when several outbreaks of holiday illness were reported; we restated our views that BioHazard & BioCrime offences should be considered by legislators!  At the time our views were considered to be ‘alarmist’, we responded through our YouTube Channel in order to open up this debate! 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

HolidayTravelWatch has provided comment and observation, to The (Rt Hon. The) Lord Brennan QC, ahead of his presentation of a Bill before the House of Lords, designed to compensate victims of terror attacks overseas. Read More

We ask the question – Is It Really All God’s Fault when holidaymakers are either trapped or forced into destinations affected by Natural or Man Made Disasters? We take a look at the issue of Force Majeure in Holiday Contracts and examine the morality and possible legality of creating holiday contracts with all the potential that arises from a ‘risk destination’ - Is It Really All God’s Fault – 30.6.06.pdf Read More

The Directors of HolidayTravelWatch were deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of two ‘Guardia Civil’ Officers, following the bomb blast in Palma Nova, Majorca, on Thursday last week.  Deepest sympathies and heartfelt respect are offered to the families of the deceased.  It should be recognised that the ‘travel industry family’ does not just extend to those who strictly work in the industry, but also in the many ancillary services that provide support to a local economy.  We recognise that local police, in whatever country, often have to deal with many difficult situations for and on behalf of holidaymakers, it is criminal that officers working many hundreds of miles from the centre of this dispute should be struck down so callously. Read More