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

[Titsywoo]

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.

Pregnant50 - yes let's hope the kids aren't chugging the vodka!!

I always take alcohol in large quantities as a preventative measure on holiday, (in the beleif that if it kills bacteria in mouth washes, then it should do the same for other bugs....) thats my excuse and I am sticking with it :)

Make sure you wash your hands with soap and water as alcohol gel doesn't kill the bugs that cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

But do both and clean door handles and your bathroom when you arrive and enjoy your holiday.

Start taking probiotics now and pack rehydration sachets.

can't you change resorts? Gloria Palace in Gran Canaria really nice.

State the reasons why.

unfortunately this is a reason why good to check reviews of hotel and resort beforehand.

I'd be taking a pro-biotic capsule with every meal.

I've traveled through India and SE Asia and never got a vomiting bug by doing this.

I had this before i went on my honeymoon in April this year. paid lots of money for a 5 star hotel and have never been anywhere like that before, loads of trip advisor reviews before we went saying about a sickness bug. I was absolutely dreading it. got there and there was no sign of any sickness! it was spotless. I took lots of antibacterial gel and rehydration sachets just in case but I didn't need it. hopefully it will have passed before you get there. good luck!

I highly recommend using this:

www.boots.com/en/Boots-Advanced-First-Aid-Anti-Viral-Hand-Foam-200ml_1036207/

I had a compromised immune system for a few years and was terrified of getting norovirus or similar. This antiviral foam offers better protection than the antibacterial gels as it kills more of the vomiting bugs. Since using this (for four years) I haven't had a stomach bug despite having had gastroenteritis twice in two years before discovering this.

If you use this and do lots of good handwashing that should mitigate contaminated handles on the serving spoons at the buffet etc., on stair banisters etc. It won't help with germs in the pool though.

Your only option is to go and enjoy your holiday but taking extra care with hand hygeine to hopefully reduce your chances of getting ill.

I agree with PP, in that you absolutely should not take immodium to stop the runs. You want your body to flush out the bug (so drink loads of water and take some Diarolyte with you).

I think tummy bugs are often a problem in these all inclusive buffet style restaurants, so many people picking up the utensils, kids touching stuffon the buffet etc , you can understand how bugs spread like wildfire. We were at a huge all inclusive place in majorca a few years back and my ds who was about 6 at the time slipped in the restaurant in another child's vomit ( vile !!). Just use anti bacterial gel as much as possible.

Use antibac gel like it's going out of fashion.

Wipe your bathroom over with antibac wipes when you arrive.

Only use bottled water including for brushing teeth.

Stock up on Imodium for diarrhoea and dioralyte for vomiting, just in case.

Try very hard to resist the siren calls to sue when you get back.

Get GP advice on Immodium. Mine told me it does do what it says but creates more problems.

Imodium is essential if you have diarrhoea when you are due to fly home.
Only way I was able to get home from Thailand once.

Babyroobs, I agree, I get upset stomachs everytime I go to eat at a Harvester which I am sure is down to the salad bar. If I am feeling constipated I eat there and it solves the problem :)

Rhodes is my favourite place in the world and I was there earlier this year. The vomiting bug is bad luck but you were always taking a chance on the weather because you're going right at the end of the season.

I had an awful d and v bug on my last day at an AI hotel (we had just vacated the room aswell ) I took some buscopan which the 200 euro Spanish Dr prescribed and they did help a bit, il bet you will be fine but take some of those just in case as they reduced the cramps

Take pro biotics from now. Don't take immodium with diarrhoea, your body is giving you it to flush the bug out. Immodiun is for " functional " diarrhoea caused by nerves or neurological conditions.
Take antiseptic wipes and wipe flush on toilet, taps and bathroom door handle.

Don't share cups, spoons or forks.

Separate hand towel for ill person .

I do this when one of us catches d&v, and it always confines it to just that person. I realise you have the pool as an added source of infection.

Camomile tea is really effective for cramps

Or just chill out and let it all happen or not!
Well done on doing a family holiday abroad, it's a milestone! Hope you have the best time

Thanks all I will definitely be taking on lots of your tips. As for checking reviews I did that thoroughly. This place has mainly amazing reviews and I never saw anything about sickness. It's not like I picked a dirty shit hole! This is the best of the holiday villages with a price tag to match which is why we picked Oct. Temps are still forecast in the mid twenties and I bought wetsuits so the kids to swim in comfort.

I am also an emetophobe, interesting reading about probiotics.

brokenbone do probiotics just treat the symptoms or do they stop you getting a bug in the first place?

Another vote for probiotics - we take them daily - but for 3 weeks in India I got travel ones for whole family - no Delhi belly at all - ate everywhere (though only the teenagers ate at the train station in the middle of the Mumbai slum area) to no ill effect!
Have a great holiday!

I always take optibac before going abroad now, after having D&V in Lanzarote that was so severe I had to have antiemetic injections. I've not had a problem since (touch wood).

Also anti-bac light switches too, any place where others will touch and the cleaners might not wipe. Loads of alcohol gel (and moisturiser!). Better to be over prepared than under. Bottled water for teeth cleaning is easily forgotten. It's a pain, but worth it if you stay well. Ensure the kids know not to have ice and tell them what drinks they can have.

Also read the small print of your travel insurance to be totally clear what you're covered for and what you're not. Query anything you don't understand before you go and make sure you know how to make a claim (write down the number or email address needed, what proof you need from the GP/hospital/chemist). Again, might be over cautious but better to know and not need than be worrying about GP/hospital bills.

And have a lovely time.