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I have been following the woeful tale of Simon Calder’s visit to the ski resort of Morzine in the French Alps!  For those who don’t know Simon, he is a highly respected travel journalist, who produces ‘acres’ of comment on the state of travel and the experience of the traveller.  Simon was holidaying at a hotel in this resort, when he met with an unfortunate slipping accident in the restaurant area of the hotel.  Fortunately Simon does not appear to have suffered injury, but did suggest that ’a judiciously placed sign warning of the slippery floor’ should be placed by restaurant staff to warn other guests!  Regrettably, Simon’s experience is one that is shared by many holidaymakers, albeit in different countries and resorts (I note that Simon refers to his ‘lack of care’ – given the circumstances I doubt that this was the case but this is a salutary tale of being careful what you say where a potential litigation situation arises!).  In addition, Simon then advises that he witnessed many chipped mugs, floors that often resembled the stickiness of a ‘Students Union bar’ and he valiantly acknowledges that guests can be messy but he could often tell tell at dinner what had been eaten by other guests at breakfast!  He tells of a French hotel that is ‘unable’ to provide cheese at dinner and by reference to travel review websites less than satisfactory room management. Read More

HolidayTravelWatch has noted with some relief, a report from ITN, that holidaymakers who went to the Roda Beach Hotel in Corfu, in 2007, and who reported that they had suffered burns from the hotel swimming pool, are to be compensated. Read More

Since 2005, HolidayTravelWatch has provided comment on the ever increasing threat to The Package Travel Regulations. This situation has developed partly through the changing style of purchasing holidays, but principally from the Court of Appeal decision as to what they considered constituted a ‘package’. Read More

If you suffer from a holiday illness, sickness or accident, occurring outside the Package Holiday contract (eg in a restaurant outside your hotel complex, or an accident outside your hotel), then the tour operator may not be liable for these events (remember this may not be the case if it was a trip organised by the tour operator). Read More