Cape Verde - TUI in trouble.

NoodleDoodleMan

BBC Breakfast just featured pending legal action against TUI by numerous customers in respect of serious issues on holidays there - including fatalities - food poisoning a central problem.

A RIU hotel shown but not named (or at least I missed it) in the report. I believe several of the hotels offered by TUI are RUI establishments - they have a marketing relationship

It may be on later news again today, I don't know how that might pan out.

TUI still sending clients there, with reports of ongoing problems.

If CV is on your bucket list ………………

la531983

Ive been to Riu Capo Verde twice in the last two years. Once in an August at the height of summer, the other in February just gone.

Can honestly say I never saw a single fly on food like the videos I have seen today. Nor buffets looking as messy as shown. Nor undercooked food.

Booked to go to a different island next year. I would go again today if I could.

NoodleDoodleMan

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70d8dn1nrpo

I wonder if it's only one specific RIU hotel ?

Alan_Bowen

I must admit the video looked dreadful and I doubt anyone would eat from a buffet that looked like that. Nevertheless Irwin Mitchell have amassed 1700 claims and this mornings report may well bring forth more, IM are known to litigate by press release. The claims have been going for around 3 years and the first 300 cases have already had a preliminary hearing to decide how the cases should proceed. For years TUI was the only mainstream operator to the islands using Riu Hotels with whom they have a very close relationship. Although some passengers will jump on a bandwagon, it seems to me there has to be a fire somewhere for there to be this much smoke. One of the issues I understand is the poor level of medical facilities available and therefore insurers face having to evacuate in all but the simplest of cases…..

Grumpy_chap

Will give the cold calling claims companies something to do after the car finance mis-selling is done.

TheShape

If CV is on your bucket list ………………

I think it's worth bearing in mind that there are different islands in Cape Verde with different hotel chains and opportunities to avoid AI and buffet style dining.

I've recently been to Cape Verde and took sensible precautions such as not drinking the water, avoiding buffets, eating freshly prepared food, checking food served was well cooked etc.

Obviously an amount of good/bad luck involved but sensible precautions are likely to tip the scale in your favour in CV or anywhere.

sheramber

How many people visited CV in the same period but did not get ill?

diveunderthebonnet

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954035#Comment_81954035

I wonder how many people travelled to CV did not get ill but are claiming they did ,looking for compensation.

twopenny

It's a tough thing to claim for. You need a blood or stool test to define you have the bug.

Then you have to prove you didn't pick it up somewhere else. I wonder how many went to the same cafe, food places, handled the same door knobs, money and serving implements?

The regime of washing your hands before handling food and not touching your mouth or nose isn't just a pandemic thing. It used to be advised for many African and Asian countries because we are not immune to the bugs there along with not drinking the water, drinks with ice in, cleaning your teeth in bottled water.

People see the glossy photos and assume that it's just the same as Europe because it's a holiday.

martindow

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81955823#Comment_81955823

I was about to say the same thing. I can't imagine an insurer paying out unless, at minimum, you can provide evidence of seeing a doctor. And what would your loss be? The value of a few days holiday lost is going to be trivial especially when the claims company takes their percentage.

Pollycat

Didn't TUI sue some customers who complained about being ill but had posted photos on social media showing them having a fabulous time?

ETA:

I'm not all all suggesting that the holidaymakers discussed in this thread weren't being truthful.