Poor Hygiene Standards at Egyptian Hotel Ruin Family Holiday
02/11/2009
A Blackpool family are calling for stricter hygiene standards in foreign hotels after suffering from a gastric illness whilst on holiday in Egypt.
The Darlow family, Leslie and Karen along with their children Michael and Lewis, all suffered from severe gastric illness within the first few days of arriving at the four-star Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort. The family later suffered from frequent diarrhoea and vomiting as well as all being lethargic and constantly nauseous.
At one point, 46 year old Karen, was suffering so much that she needed to be placed on a drip after a visit to a the doctor at the hotel. Leslie, 48, almost fainted on one occasion due to loss of fluids and exhaustion.
The family are now working with law firm Irwin Mitchell who are looking into the holiday complaints in order to take legal action against tour operator First Choice.
Dad, Leslie, said: “We’ve never had an experience like it, it was horrific. We weren’t the only ones who got ill, people were dropping like flies and I don’t think it is right that people should be sent to these places if they are not suitable."
“The food was frequently undercooked, I saw cross-contamination when the same tongs were used on raw chicken and then cooked chicken. The kitchen staff would only rinse glasses with water, they didn’t use any detergent and would give them straight back to guests.
“It makes me so angry that basic hygiene procedures were not in place at this hotel. We know of at least ten more families that were affected, just while we were staying there, so there must be countless more over the whole summer season. There should be tougher rules on standards of cleanliness and hygiene at hotels and they should be carefully monitored.”
Leslie added: “Our holiday was completely spoilt. We save up all year to have a relaxing two weeks and spend some quality time as a family and we’ve all come back feeling worse than when we went away and feeling anything but relaxed.”
A representative from Irwin Mitchell’s International Travel Litigation Team, Harpal Johal, who is representing the couple, said: “Failures at the hotel ruined what should have been an enjoyable family summer holiday.
“No holidaymaker should have to suffer as a result of poor standards of health and hygiene, and First Choice was responsible for ensuring that the Three Corners was safe and suitable for holidaymakers to stay there. If they cannot ensure holidaymakers’ safety then they shouldn’t send them there. We hope that First Choice will now work with us to provide swift and fair compensation for our clients.”
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