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

This issue of Travel Insurance is very important to the Consumer, particularly where they suffer holiday problems.  Many holiday complaints involve reports of holiday illness/sickness, holiday accidents, changes to holidays, flight changes and poor customer service, and there are times when the presence of a Travel Insurance Policy is vital to the holidaymakers well-being!  HolidayTravelWatch has responded to The Treasury review of the sale of Travel Insurance, and whether the sale of this important financial product, should be brought into Regulatory control by the FSA.  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

As our article in 2009 proved, many British holidaymakers experienced a ’holiday from hell’, or a less than satisfactory holiday experience!  Many holidaymakers suffered a holiday with serious or catastrophic consequences!  Our latest articles for the 2010 holiday season (20 holidaymakers comments and a list of 40 current complaints), demonstrate that this year is unlikely to be any different for British holidaymakers!  So if you have a holiday complaint – what can you do about it? Do you put it down to ‘just another experience’? You may have a holiday food poisoning claim, the facilities in the hotel or cruise ship were not up to standard, or your suffered at the hands of an airline! Did you suffer from a holiday accident? 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