Compensation for gastroenteritis at holiday resort

ktb

My husband, young son & I just returned from a weeks holiday in Sharm El Sheikh and unfortunately whilst there my husband was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and had to be transferred to the on site medical centre and put on a drip, as well as being prescribed various medications.

I also suffered bad stomach cramps the night before my husband was taken ill, but thankfully this never transpired into a full blown illness. My son also returned with chronic diarrhea and has since been diagnosed by a UK GP with lactose intolerance - which he did not have before the holiday and the GP said can be triggered after contracting a bug.

We only ate & drank at the resort (a Hilton hotel) and the illness came on over 3 days after we arrived - so I gather that this narrows down the source to most likely being from the hotel?

A family friend has suggested we might be able to claim some compensation for my husband's illness.

Googling reveals lots of 'no win no fee' companies - but I presume as with most things related to compensation this is something we could do ourselves? We didn't book directly with a travel operator but a travel agent, would I start with them or go direct to the operator that the agent booked our rooms with?

I have never done anything like this so would be very grateful of any advice.

Voyager2002

You can write to the complaints department of your travel agent, and they will probably send you some vouchers for money off your next holiday. And you could do something similar with Hilton International, probably with the same result.

tomtontom

If you choose to go to Egypt then you expect to pick up a tummy bug. Surely you were aware of this before you went?

Your travel insurance will cover the cost of any treatment.

dawyldthing

My gran got dysentery when in Tunisia years ago and that was with Thomsons. They just said it could have been picked up from anywhere.

In all honesty though if you don't get a bad stomach from a lot of the Middle Eastern countries (Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco etc) then you are one of the lucky ones from what I've found. They will tell you alsorts from change of food to change of water, different spices to anything inbetween. Plus all standards are different to over here.

missbiggles1

Coral Sea Waterworld?

ktb

tomtontom wrote: »

If you choose to go to Egypt then you expect to pick up a tummy bug. Surely you were aware of this before you went?

We have both been to Egypt previously without any issue - so no we did not "expect" for my husband to end up on a drip & miss a number of days of our first holiday with our baby, no. Thanks for the constructive post

Yolina

Gastroenteritis isn't necessarily caused by food and is rather highly infectious so it could have been picked up in a number of different ways

ktb

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Coral Sea Waterworld?

No, was Sharm Waterfalls missbiggles1

ktb

Yolina wrote: »

Gastroenteritis isn't necessarily caused by food and is rather highly infectious so it could have been picked up in a number of different ways

Thanks Yolina, yes I am aware of that - i'm not really asking about that though, more about the compensation processes.

Yolina

ktb wrote: »

Thanks Yolina, yes I am aware of that - i'm not really asking about that though, more about the compensation processes.

I somehow doubt that you can claim compensation for picking up a virus on holiday. If it had been 100% sure from food poisoning then yes the hotel would have some responsibility, but something that could have a number of other sources?
I suppose you could contact the hotel or tour operator/travel agent, you might get a small goodwill gesture but I wouldn't hold my breath

mick_vandick

In all honesty though if you don't get a bad stomach from a lot of the Middle Eastern countries (Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco etc) then you are one of the lucky ones from what I've found.

With all due respect, that is rubbish.
I go about 3-4 times a year to Egypt and have only been properly ill once. I've had a bit of a bad tummy a couple of times for a day or so which is due to eating too much food, heat and just a change of diet. Unfortunately a lot of people get a cramp and just assume that it is the dreaded Pharaohs revenge. You would know if you had this believe me.
You could try a claim but i would go through your travel agent and they can do it on your behalf.