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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a bit pissed off about our holiday even before we get there?

70 replies

Titsywoo · 06/10/2016 21:58

We have never been able to afford a proper family holiday but have done really well in the last couple of years and have been able to afford one this year. Booked to go to the Holiday Village in Rhodes for half term. Splashed out a bit extra to go to their deluxe section with a swim up room.

Joined their unofficial FB page and over the last few weeks more and more people have been saying how their family members have been getting sick while there. Now the hotel have come on saying yes unfortunately there is a breakout of a vomiting bug. They seem to be trying their best to deal with it but with people feeling a bit better then going back in pools/to dinner before 48 hours infection free period it doesn't look like it will be abating any time soon. We can't cancel at this stage without losing all our money. So we have to go away with the high chance that we are going to get ill.

Oh and accuweather says there will be rain and thunderstorms 4 out of the 7 days we are there.

Great.

OP posts:
Original poster
Titsywoo · 06/10/2016 23:05

Thanks Zany. I'm a terrible worrier and control freak which doesn't help Grin. I should probably just stay off the group.

OP posts:
44PumpLane · 06/10/2016 23:07

Start taking probiotics now and take them with you.
Take rehydration sachets with you just in case.

Take a pack of sntiseptic cleaning wipes to go over surfaces when you're there and whip round the bathroom. Also take that dettol aerosol and lightly spray all handles and bathroom etc every day you have room service (because they'll use the same cloths to wipe down your sink as they do to wipe down someone else's and that someone else might be ill)

Alcohol hand gel and first in to buffets.

That'll give you your best chance of avoiding any bugs and you'll be fine!!

0pti0na1 · 06/10/2016 23:08

Yes that sounds worth a try... transferring to another holiday village.

SistersOfPercy · 06/10/2016 23:17

We've visited Egypt a lot and always taken probiotics. We also carried travel size sanitizer aha avoided drinks with ice and salads.
None of us have ever been ill.

Rehydration sachets are a great idea, not so sure about immodium etc as I recall reading the different strains of virus abroad were pretty resistant and you needed stronger drugs.

helensburgh · 06/10/2016 23:19

I reckon people often exaggerator here symptoms. Not always but it might not be as wide spread .
I'd wash hands as often as possible..use an antiviral hand gel
Boots sell one.

pregnantat50 · 06/10/2016 23:19

happened in 2014, same place, lawyers are involved in suing them!

www.yourholidayclaims.co.uk/holiday-illness-at-the-first-choice-holiday-village-rhodes/

HemanOrSheRa · 06/10/2016 23:22

Are you going at the end of the month then, OP? I think this outbreak is a result of people not obeying the 48 Hour Rule because they are on holiday. The same thing that sweeps through schools at this time of year. Very selfish. I'd give it until middle of next week to see if the hotel has got a handle on the outbreak.

Garlic supplements are very good at protecting your tummy. And helping against mozzie bites. I take AllicinMax capsules before I go away. A bit pricey but worth it.

pregnantat50 · 06/10/2016 23:23

www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/news/rhodes-holiday-village-sickness-bug-hits-british-holiday-makers-959

when i put the hotel in, virtualy every year has had an epidemic...surely that cant be right it would have been closed down

Fintress · 06/10/2016 23:24

First thing to do with a packet of hand wipes before you even get there is clean your tray table on the plane. They aren't cleaned from one flight to another.

Probiotics are a good idea, we take them every day and ovbiously on hols, never been sick in all our travels.

Ignore the weather apps. Our recent holiday was forecast for 2 weeks of rain and thunderstorms. We had 2 weeks of glorious sunshine.

leccybill · 06/10/2016 23:25

I hope the weather is kind to you. October can be a risk in Greece.

I'm jealous, i'd love to try the HV in Rhodes but we can only go in August and it's £5k for 3 of us Shock

pregnantat50 · 06/10/2016 23:34

one good thing, though first choice have illness cover if its cause by the hotel, eg poor hygiene or food poisoning. I sincerely hope you dont get unwell and have a great holiday but if you do they have paid up to a thousand pounds per traveller that became unwell. xx

Lorelei76 · 06/10/2016 23:58

Probably a silly question
If the place has openly admitted there's an outbreak, your insurance still doesn't cover you to change your booking? I haven't been on this type of holiday but it seems awful that you can't change it when there's known to be an outbreak?

christmashope · 07/10/2016 06:08

Go and enjoy your holiday
Me and my family went to Tenerife holiday village at the height of the 'infections/sickness bugs' at the hotel, we were all fine
I think a lot of people do get upset tummies etc when abroad but that's completely normal
Maybe a bit of scaremongering going on
honestly have a fab time

Ankleswingers · 07/10/2016 06:27

Buy a probiotic. I rave about them and being an emetephobe, give them to my whole family as a preventative especially with my DC being at School/ Nursery. I recommend a company called 'optibac' - if you google it you'll find them.

I would also be keeping an eye on the reviews and watching to see if the bug has gotten worse...if so I would be enquiring about changing hotels. It just really isn't worth the risk IMO but then being emetephobic im not necessarily the best person to give advice, as this would be my total worst nightmare.

Good luck OP.

Lorelei76 · 07/10/2016 06:31

Ankle I'm also an emetophobe abd wouldn't go..
Side note, never taken probiotics, is this an evidence based thing? Only heard of grapeseed oil as helping with noro but I've never gone to a place with a known outbreak.

storminabuttercup · 07/10/2016 06:33

The hotel will be doing all they can to contain it, if it's passing person to person keeping the kids out of the pool won't help much as they will still have to eat and drink in the same places.

I'd go and try not to worry, take rehydration stuff, probiotics before you go and enjoy.

Rhodes is beautiful!

user1474781546 · 07/10/2016 06:39

Honestly? I would try to move. Weather in Greece can be cool/rainy windy in October so you may find a little too chilly for swimming anyway.

velourvoyageur · 07/10/2016 06:48

I would ask at the reception for compensation if you can't use the pool, for one thing.

brokenbone · 07/10/2016 07:07

enteromed.co.uk/
Have a look at this product. There's a review from a family on the testimonial page that says they had a sickness free holiday to turkey by taking this daily. I work in a pharmacy and highly recommend this. Hope it helps.

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 07/10/2016 07:16

You may find the pools cold - we went to the Greek Islands at the beginning of June, and we found the weather warm, but the pool cold. Didn't stop us swimming though, or having a lovely holiday.

We also had thunderstorms in Greece in August - didn't spoil the holiday - they were actually quite spectacular.

Take antibac wipes, a bathroom cleaner and that hand cleanser stuff. Clean your bathroom as soon as you get there.

Avoid salads and ice in drinks (I always do this on holiday).

blueturtle6 · 07/10/2016 07:35

Start taking some probiotic's Yakult etc to build up good bacteria in tummies

AnaG1ypta · 07/10/2016 07:42

I caught cryptosporidium and amoebic dystentry at HV Egypt. Was ill for 6 months. DH and DSs were fine.

Make sure you take meds. DH went to the pharmacy in case they had anything better than what we'd brought and I ended up taking something banned in this country as it's a carcinogen in rats. :(

Mrsemcgregor · 07/10/2016 07:44

Travel consultant here! There well may be a bug going around, it's easily done in such resorts. HOWEVER in my experience about half of these people that get ill are ill from drinking all day, not staying hydrated in heat that they are not used to and haven't been careful regarding not drinking local water. Remember ice cubes and ice cream (unless packaged) aren't safe and neither is salad (which is washed in tap water). Take reviews with a pinch of salt and just be careful.

It's worth mentioning that if a lot of guests report being sick (regardless of the real reason, very few will actually see a doctor and have a bug confirmed) the resort will always assume worst case protocol.

ParForTheCourses · 07/10/2016 08:03

Drink lots of grape juice and take probiotics. Fingers crossed all will be well.

pregnantat50 · 07/10/2016 10:44

Mrsemcgregor makes a good point, and I would normaly agree but in this case it appears to be affecting the children rather than the adults, so not alcohol related (I hope!)

I have been lucky and never fallen ill whilst abroad (apart from breaking my leg...but thats not contagious!)

I have just read the FB Group and the latest posts seem to mention the bug less and less so it could be shifting, by the time you are there it may have dried up, I hope you have a lovely holiday and come back to tell us all about it x

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