Illness At Holiday Village Red Sea Hotel

More than 80 holidaymakers have launched court proceedings following ruined holidays at the Holiday Village Red Sea Hotel, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, in 2008.

The group have instructed experts at Irwin Mitchell to help them make a travel claim after they were struck down by illness at the hotel.

Tour operator First Choice has refused to take responsibility for the suffering caused, leading to lawyers at the Irwin Mitchell accusing the travel firm of ‘disregarding’ the health and safety of its customers.

Juliette Eden, an expert in travel law at Irwin Mitchell said: "First Choice has continued to deny liability for the suffering caused at this hotel. We are determined to continue to fight for our clients to ensure that justice is done. 

"They need to face up to their responsibilities and pay our clients fair compensation for the ruined holidays and illnesses they experienced. The huge catalogue of complaints our clients experienced during their stays at the hotel shows just how appalling the conditions were.”

Holidaymakers claim that the Holiday Village Red Sea hotel was dirty and unhygienic. They reported undercooked food being served and left out for long periods of time without being kept at the right temperature. They also report seeing birds in the dining area, flies on the food and food that seemed to have been reheated and recycled from leftovers from previous meals.

Juliette Eden added: "What's particularly alarming is that we have received calls from nearly 90 people who have stayed at this hotel within the last few months and, like so many people before them, have experienced similar problems. It appears that First Choice has not learnt any lessons but instead seems intent on simply disregarding the health and safety of the customers they are continuing to send there.

"Sadly, in our experience, many of those who have contracted illnesses while staying at the hotel may develop long-term and possibly permanent symptoms.  And so First Choice needs to do more to tackle the health and hygiene problems at this hotel.  The company should either sort it out, once and for all, or stop sending people there."

Court proceedings have started today for holidaymakers who stayed at the Holiday Village Red Sea between May and September 2008.