Holiday from hell

An idyllic Greek island destination has turned into a holiday from hell for more than 50 British holidaymakers. Guests staying at the Sunflower Hotel in Kremasti, Rhodes have been struck down with severe stomach complaints and symptoms of sickness, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

Greek holiday complaint

Many guests have complained that the hotel was of a poor standard and the food in the hotel's restaurant was undercooked and often covered in insects and flies. The list of complaints also includes finding a bird's nest in a bedroom, the smell of raw sewage in the rooms and discovering fleas in the bedding."

19 year old Mr Jai Street from Yoxall in Staffordshire who had booked a week long all-inclusive break at the hotel with his 20 year old fiancé, Rebecca Baker, said: "I have so many complaints about the food, the hygiene and the general standards of safety at this hotel. The whole place is a health hazard and needs to be addressed immediately." The couple, who both work at Hoar Cross Hall Health Spa, had been looking forward to their first holiday abroad together.

All inclusive holiday complaint

But as Jai explains: "We quickly realised the hotel was not the dream destination we had been led to believe. The food was inedible and we were served exactly the same meal throughout the day. By the third day Rebecca had come down with a stomach upset and was feeling dreadful.

"Even though we had paid for an all inclusive holiday after the illness began we ended up using all our spending money on meals out."

Claim for holiday compensation

The couple travelled to the Sunflower Hotel in July with tour Med Hotels based in Surrey. Now their claim for compensation is being investigated by the Birmingham office of national law firm, Irwin Mitchell solicitors.

Suki Chhokar, partner with Irwin Mitchell, specialises in legal cases involving overseas accidents and illness. He says: "We have been contacted by more than 50 holidaymakers, all of whom stayed at the Sunflower Hotel in Rhodes, who travelled with tour operator Med Hotels. We are expecting enquiries from others, as it seems there has been a widespread problem with the hotel in recent months. It is a great shame when so many people have had their holidays ruined by illness due to tour operators neglecting to ensure that hotels where they are sending customers are kept to a satisfactory standard. Every year we act for people who have been on holiday and who have suffered illness. Often these illnesses can have a long term and serious impact on health."