Sickness bug at hotel, what are our rights?

[Terry Tibbs]

Wasn’t sure wether to post this here or the law section..
We’ve booked a package holiday with a uk holiday company, stupidly I didn’t check any trip advisor reviews before I booked - in my defense we went to this hotel a few years ago and we’ve always wanted to go back as we had no problems and had a great time.

There are many reviews by people that have gotten sick, it’s either a bug that is hanging around or the food. These started in may/June and pretty much every day another one pops up saying the same thing. Many reports of being admitted to hospital to be put on an iv drip. I have also spoken with someone in person that stayed there last week and he got ill too, and also mentioned ambulances arriving 2 or 3 times a day to take people off to be sorted out. I always take trip advisor reviews with a pinch of salt but unless this is some strange attempt to tar this hotel I can’t but help take notice.

I want to change hotels as the last thing I need is any of us getting sick. My wife has a crap immune system and when she gets ill she really feels it. Not to mention it’s not a cheap holiday (for us at least) and we don’t want it wasted. Being I’ll is a miserable experience let alone it happening in a foreign country when you’ve paid handsomely for the experience!

I have spoken to the holiday company, who say they have had no reports of any sickness, and we are welcome to change the hotel but I’ll be hit with a £200 admin fee. I’m calling bullst, they must know this is going on. I know I should have checked the reviews first (I usually do) and I suspect I’ll either have to pony up even more money or just chance it - do we any have any rights to change the hotel (for no extra fees) or if we do go and get sick (and they knew about the issue) what then?

If it makes any difference it’s a hotel in the Canaries.
Thanks for any advice!

[markiii]

changing it because of something that might happen, not sure you have a leg to stand on. it will cost what it costs

[Blib]

£200 for peace of mind = bargain, IMO.

[QuartzDad]

Blib said:

£200 for peace of mind = bargain, IMO.

This.

[grumbledoak]

You either go or you don't. You will never know what the other course of action would have resulted in.

If it worries you I would just change hotels and pony up.

[untakenname]

I'm guessing it's all inclusive? If not just drink bottled water and eat out then you should be fine and not out of pocket.

[Riley Blue]

Blib said:

£200 for peace of mind = bargain, IMO.

Definitely this. My O/H has a seriously weakened immune system and I would never risk taking her to a hotel where there have been guests who have had sickness bugs - if she can't keep down her medication she ends up in hospital.

[Slow.Patrol]

Just treat it like a holiday abroad.

Don't have ice in your drinks, give the buffet a swerve, only eat cooked food, no salad and treat any meat dish with suspicion.

ETA. If you go swimming, keep your mouth shut

[Terry Tibbs]

Cheers all. Yeah I’m resigned to paying up I think. I know it’s a risk wherever you go but it seems to be a real issue at this particular hotel. Doesn’t seem quite fair to me but if that’s how it is then how it is.

[Blib]

Terry Tibbs said:

Cheers all. Yeah I’m resigned to paying up I think. I know it’s a risk wherever you go but it seems to be a real issue at this particular hotel. Doesn’t seem quite fair to me but if that’s how it is then how it is.

Don't forget to post a photo from your hospital hotel.

[fat80b]

It’s a downside of the review system as it makes it easy to then see things that you might otherwise never have seen.

You would probably be absolutely fine but with it playing on your mind it’s never good, and given that, I’d pay the 200 quid as it’ll make for a happier holiday.

We went to a place in turkey in half term that had mixed reviews including some complaining of sickness and it was totally fine ……until the last day where the Mrs got quite sick…..

We’re back in turkey now but at a different hotel.

[Sheepshanks]

I read an article recently that Spanish - and it specifically mentioned the Canaries - hotel owners were thinking of dropping all-inclusive for Brits as they were getting so many 'fake' food poisioning claims.

I've just tried to Google to find it and all I can find is a load of stuff from 2017, but I wonder whether the same thing is still going on.

[twing]

I had exactly the same worries the last time I went away - Cape Verde - a FB group for the hotel was inundated with people being ill and property being stolen. We were worried sick, spent a fortune on medicine and security bits Got there and had no problems at all nor did we hear of anyone having any.
I'm normally useless abroad, my stomach just doesn't do well but it was fine. I now put it down to luck of the dray and the fact that people will always put up a negative review but not always a positive. I was terribly ill in Egypt (every time I went) but the last time it was one quick jab from the on-site doctor and I was right as rain in no time.

[Terry Tibbs]

Thought I would post an update.
The holiday company never got back to me, I rang 6 times (each time being on hold for over an hour) only to be told the same thing each time - we will look into it and call you back. They never did. Didn’t reply to emails either.

So I’m the end we had no option other than to go and hope for the best. We arrived on Monday, so far my wife, my youngest lad and myself have been horrendously unwell. It’s norovirus, probably the worst I’ve ever had.

We aren’t the only ones either.

So yeah, payed all that money just to sit in a hotel room feeling like death!

[MrBig]

Terry Tibbs said:

Thought I would post an update.
The holiday company never got back to me, I rang 6 times (each time being on hold for over an hour) only to be told the same thing each time - we will look into it and call you back. They never did. Didn’t reply to emails either.

So I’m the end we had no option other than to go and hope for the best. We arrived on Monday, so far my wife, my youngest lad and myself have been horrendously unwell. It’s norovirus, probably the worst I’ve ever had.

We aren’t the only ones either.

So yeah, payed all that money just to sit in a hotel room feeling like death!

Oh no

I got norovirus in France a few years back, it's horrific. Hope you all feel better soon.

[Terry Tibbs]

Thanks MrBig.
The wife and I are recovering now (after a about 48 hours), my son is still feeling very rough. I’m really not happy with tui, we’ve spoken the rep and he admitted it’s been a problem for a long time. What a waste of time and money.

[darreni]

Terry Tibbs said:

Thought I would post an update.
The holiday company never got back to me, I rang 6 times (each time being on hold for over an hour) only to be told the same thing each time - we will look into it and call you back. They never did. Didn’t reply to emails either.

So I’m the end we had no option other than to go and hope for the best. We arrived on Monday, so far my wife, my youngest lad and myself have been horrendously unwell. It’s norovirus, probably the worst I’ve ever had.

We aren’t the only ones either.

So yeah, payed all that money just to sit in a hotel room feeling like death!

Why on earth did you not just pay the 200 quid to change hotels as you previously mentioned?

[untakenname]

Or drink bottled water and go out for food?

[Terry Tibbs]

Believe me I would have gladly paid the £200 and changed the hotel, but they never actually gave me the option of doing that - even though initially they said they would. They easily the most difficulty infuriating company to try to communicate with. When you do finally get through there is no record of your earlier conversations with them and the person you get through is difficult to converse with as their English is poor.

So I sent emails, which were never replied to.

[Terry Tibbs]

untakenname said:

Or drink bottled water and go out for food?

Bottled water is supplied, but this is norovirus - it could literally be anywhere. The maids are probably doing a good job of spreading it room to room when they do housekeeping.