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

If this summer holiday season has taught nothing else, it is that there are many holidaymakers returning with complaints of illness and are simply not getting themselves checked out by their GP or local Environmental Health Officer.  Why is this important? Quite simple really – QED – Quick and Early Diagnosis!  Consider this: at a recent conference I attended, one speaker advised that of all holiday sickness or illness reports, some 40% go on to suffer a permanent condition or disability!  So much for the ‘Spanish Tummy’, ‘Turkey Trots’ or Pharoahs Revenge’ Brigade! Read More

In 2007 we examined the issue of Neurotoxins in aircraft and found a surprising lack of urgency into this pressing question – nothing has changed!  This article sets out the real effect of neurotoxins (also known as Aerotoxic or Sick Aircraft Syndrome) on pilots and passengers – in our view, the issue is and remains an International Scandal!  It also raises a serious point – if these neurotoxins are escaping into aircraft cabins and cockpits, then surely there is the same potential for those toxins to reach those on the ground who live near to airports?  If that is the case, should they not also be included into a study that has purpose and meaning?  The issue still has wide resonance today! Read More

Following a complaint received from a Holidaymaker, we investigated and reported in the May 2007 edition of Get’Away, the issue of the potential for Carbon Monoxide or Neurotoxins within Aircraft Cabins.  This condition is now commonly known as Aerotoxic or Sick Aircraft Syndrome.  This has become one of the most important developing travel issue this decade!  We have reported extensively on this issue, our latest report having beiong submitted to EASA in January 2010! 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

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