Husband's Holiday Food Poisoning

[Sisterwinter1969]

Can I please consult the collective brain?
My DH and I recently had a 2 week all-inclusive holiday at a high-end resort in the Caribbean. Six days into the holiday, DH developed severe food poisoning, which had to be from the resort as we did not eat out at all.
He needed medical assistance (IV drips etc).
For the rest of the 2 weeks he was essentially recovering, and I was looking after him for that time.

The resort admitted they must have been the source of the infection and measures were introduced afterwards to reduce incidences (we were not the only ones to suffer)
Our insurance will cover the medical costs, but I am not sure what proportion/degree of compensation is considered to be appropriate in this case.
We booked through the resort’s UK arm and they have already been speaking to each other, so presumably accept that some form of repayment is justified.

We’re not wanting to rinse them, just get a suitable amount back for what was a ruined expensive holiday, and your views also on how such claim should be framed, as I imagine the UK provider won’t do anything without being bullied into action, notwithstanding how sympathetic they appear on the surface.
Many thanks for advice and suggestions.

If the resort have admitted responsibility then I would be seeking a full refund of the hotel costs, your poor DH, how miserable for him.

A full refund of everything it cost you to go. Including travel expenses to and from UK airport etc and then extra for inconvenience etc.
Hope your husband recovers quickly and when you do get the compensation you can rebook somewhere else to make up for it.

Yes, I think the cost of the holiday would be reasonable. Maybe a bit extra for the distress caused, wasted annual leave etc.

I would look for hotel costs and compensation for loss of holiday from work (being on a drip isn’t a holiday). The rational is that he didn’t get the benefit of his booked leave. I would work out what his daily rate of pay is and multiply that by the number of days he was unwell. You could do the same for yourself as you didn’t get to enjoy your holiday either.

I would be looking for costs to return you to the place you were in had the incident not have happened.
So I would be expecting:
Full costs of all additional bills - medical etc
Full replacement costs of time missed on holiday - so holiday costs, and something in respect of your annual leave (so that you could effectively get back on the plane tomorrow and rerun the holiday at no additional costs to you)
If he is fully recovered and can go back to work etc as planned then I'd leave it there if he is still recovering when you returned tot he UK I would expect some compensation there too - loss of earnings etc.

You'd be best speaking to your insurance - and asking them to provide you with a solicitor to handle the holiday company I suspect.

I would also check how much it would cost to book an equivalent holiday at the same time next year, and ask for the difference to be paid to you. You shouldn’t be out of pocket when booking a replacement trip.

Thank-you for all your valued advice. I hadn't really thought of some of the options you mention.
DH was very ill, and to compound it, caught Covid on the flight/journey back home (despite wearing a mask) presumably because his immunity has been so compromised. And he has now been very ill at home with chronic fatigue, again I assess, associated with Covid.
He does not work (having taken early retirement) and I am self-employed.

It does seem that obtaining formal legal assistance will be the best route.
Thanks again.

How dreadful! And what a huge disappointment on what was no doubt a much anticipated holiday. I hope your husband recovers soon.

Thank-you. He's usually an active and very healthy man.
This has really knocked him about, and he's feeling a bit low now too - again which is unlike him for he is mostly a positive sort of chap.