Nightmare holiday - how to approach a claim?

KeysMcK

Thanks for flagging it. We’re going to catch a few hours sleep then will contact our GP.

A lot of the symptoms sound right, but equally they could all be from separate ailments. I’ll make sure to flag it.

Between the bad chests, bad stomachs, bad experiences and the awfully itchy mosquito bites (obviously this has nothing to do with the resort!) it’s fair to say we’ve returned home in a far worse shape than we left in. Had some decent experiences, and it was situated in an amazing location, but overall the holiday was a bust.

Will update to let you know how we get on.

Pollycat

Just curious if you read the reviews for this hotel before booking?

Were they any reviews that flagged up issues with air-con, lack of water etc?
Is lack of water a resort/island-wide (rather than hotel) issue?

Years ago, we used to go to Goa and it was usual to have power cuts, sometimes as many as 4 in one evening.
This affected bars, shops, restaurants and smaller hotels. Only large 5 star hotels were OK.
Unfair to complain about power cuts in a review when it was a wider issue (IYSWIM).


You mention other people having sickness.
Did you get their contact details?
Of the 'few couples' (discounting those people who spent their holiday in the pool drinking) you spoke to, were any as ill as you?
Did they complain in resort?
Are they going to take it further when they arrive home?

Potbellypig

OP - Seems like you've got a lot of the bases covered. Out of interest, how much are you looking to get back?

KeysMcK

Hi,

Reviews came in waves, it was always very positive and then suddenly a big wave of negative. Average 4 on trip advisor

Other couples, there’s one guest in particular who I think has a similar story to me who I’m still in touch with via social media. I heard lots of people saying they were going after a claim when then got home for one reason or another.

Resort staff claimed that it was a mains supply pipe issue, so every resort or property passed the fault would be without water. This being said one of the non water days we went to the beach next door to our hotel as we needed to be out of the room, and they had their own bathroom and shower. These all pumped out tap water whilst our hotel was dry. The restaurant on the beach was also still trading and appeared to have water. There was no warning that having no water would be a regular occurrence or that it should be expected. Think it was just an issue at the time I was there.

I don’t really have an amount in mind, I don’t know what’s really normal as I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve been IA, including with TC, a good few times over recent years and have even been a bit poorly before but I’ve never even thought about taking it further before. It’s not something that would ordinarily sit right with me. But this has really taken the cake, so I’d expect something quite considerable back.

I can’t say it was a holiday with no positives, but we were there for my other half’s birthday, and our anniversary and this trip wasn’t something we could afford to do often. It was a special occasion and it felt anything but special. We felt under the weather through all of it (we didn’t even consider that this could be their fault until the penultimate day. Like I said earlier, until I checked the aircon in the room we thought it was just a cold/flu we’d picked up en route!), I spent days running to the toilet, passing blood at one point!, I’ve taken two courses of antibiotics, and the resort, we spent days unable to shower, and the upkeep of the resort itself just wasn’t up to standard. I’m just feeling fed up and !!!!!!ed off to be honest.

I’m going to the doctors tomorrow and I’ll make sure me and the other half are actually ok, then I’ll decide the route. Unless we come out with some very nasty diagnosis I’ve decided I’ll complain to TC direct, with legal action as a second option if I’m not happy with their response. One reason for this decision is because I don’t really understand the process, and why it would require a court. Second reason is that these are all holiday sickness claims through solicitors, things I’m unhappy about to far deeper than just be being sick.

Sorry about the ranty replies, I just get so annoyed when I start going into it!

loskie

are antibiotics not for an infection? Do you have an infection or a gastric condition?

JamoLew

some gastric conditions are infections, what would you suggest ?

They would of course need to be properly diagnosed before antibiotics should be considered and prescribed.

This is probably where a lot of holiday resorts fail. They just prescribe something to make the tourist feel like something is being done rather than it actually being required for treatment

KeysMcK

Or they’re so used to bacterial food poisoning being the culprit they just treat that off the bat!

Been the the doctors. I have a chest infection but nothing serious, and they also said acute bacterial diarrhoea may be the cause, perhaps C Diff as a secondary thing as it can be caused by one of the antibiotics they gave me. Been given a tube to give them a stool sample, doing that today.

Going to get the ball rolling with my complaint/claim today. Would you agree that contacting them direct is the best way to go? Or should I just bite the bullet and call a solicitor?

Polly_Esther

In any complaint/claim make it absolutely clear what you are claiming. Don't be vague. They need to know exactly what you are looking for and you should be realistic based on the circumstances/events.

peachyprice

loskie wrote: »

are antibiotics not for an infection? Do you have an infection or a gastric condition?

Antibiotics are used to combat bacteria, poor food and water hygiene could lead to bacterial gastroenteritis, there are specific antibiotics that treat bacterial gastroenteritis.

Pollycat

KeysMcK wrote: »

Going to get the ball rolling with my complaint/claim today. Would you agree that contacting them direct is the best way to go? Or should I just bite the bullet and call a solicitor?

Polly_Esther wrote: »

In any complaint/claim make it absolutely clear what you are claiming. Don't be vague. They need to know exactly what you are looking for and you should be realistic based on the circumstances/events.

Complaints should be concise and unemotional. Try not to write pages and pages.

The fact that the holiday may have been your silver wedding anniversary celebration paid for by your Auntie Beryl isn't relevant.

Don't use sarcasm, don't embellish.

To be clear, I don't think you will as your posts have been pretty good but just a reminder.

Good luck with your claim.