Is it worth complaining after becoming ill on holiday?

[ButtonNoseBunny]

We’ve been home for over a week so I’m not sure if it’s too late anyway?

It was a package holiday with Tui (but booked through Co-op Travel). The hygiene standards throughout the hotel were certainly not great! But I didn’t take any photos🤦‍♀️ because I was too busy trying to make the best of it and not ruin the holiday for everyone else. I got a severe stomach bug and also an upper respiratory virus whilst we were away which is taking a long time to get over.

Would you bother? Is there any point? I was very disappointed and hygiene practices definitely left a lot to be desired! I haven’t actually even had the energy to do anything about it until now because I’ve been too unwell and then focussed on getting the kids back to School.

I guess you may as well try. If you were unwell during the holiday they might question why you didn't seek medical help at the time? It would probably work against you along with the fact you didn't complain at the time either and there is no photo evidence.

Maybe you do need to contact the tour operator, because you might not be the only one affected by the stomach bug. You also need to inform them of the poor cleanliness of the place.

Was the holiday rep made aware of your illness while you were actually there?

I went to the GP as soon as I got home so it is documented that I saw a HCP and the presenting problems- would this make a difference?

I was ill on my recent holiday (also a Tui location, in Kos?) and have seen that it's a common issue in the resort. I have made it part of my current complaint. I would also look at trip advisor reviews etc and have a google to see if other guests have also been ill? In the place I stayed, it seems to be a running theme. I really feel for you as it was so awful to be so sick on a holiday you have been really looking forward to. Good luck.

Thanks so much. I’m really sorry that you became ill too. It really was a bummer and felt like such bad luck because I was being so damn careful with the food/water/ice!

It wasn’t Kos in our case.

They won't be interested in a virus as you could have contracted that before your holiday (incubation periods vary) or on the plane. Do you think the food was responsible for your stomach 'bug' or poor staff hygiene when handling food. Did you drink unsafe water (or use it to clean your teeth) or have ice in drinks? They will expect you to be able to link your illness with something specific.

I doubt you'd get any kind of refund but it would certainly be worth complaining about the standards of hygiene and your stomach upset anyway, just to make the companies involved aware that it's a possible issue for them to check on.

The respiratory virus is neither here nor there. Anyone can get a virus like that at any time; they're most airborne and the incubation period can be quite long. But it would be worth telling them about the hygiene issues you observed and explaining that you became unwell.

I only ever drank bottled water and we also specifically used bottled water to clean our teeth/wash our faces etc.

It’s definitely worth giving feedback that you felt the hygiene (perhaps cleanliness?) standards were not up to standard and give specific examples.

That you have been unwell is not worth mentioning imo, as you can’t link it to anything specific.

I'd been on a TUI cruise, then on a TUI flight when I was violently sick on the plane.
Despite the fact that ALL food and drink I consumed was provided by TUI, they couldn't give a damn. They argued that I had eaten something at the airport.

One of many reasons I'd never use them again.

We only ate and drank in the hotel all holiday (there was only one restaurant). I got food poisoning whilst there so it could only have been from something I caught there.

You may as well - you lose nothing by trying

Extremely sorry to hear this! I will never travel with them again either.