Newlywed spends her £2,000 honeymoon on the LOO after a horror sickness outbreak at a luxury holiday resort

  • Michelle Smith, from Flintshire, claims holidaymakers were 'dropping like flies' 
  • The outbreak occurred at Hotel Riu Touareg in Boa Vista, Cape Verde 
  • Tui said it was made aware of the bug and took steps to improve hygiene 

A newlywed says her £2,000 dream honeymoon became a 'nightmare' after a horror sickness outbreak at the luxury holiday resort she was staying at left her loo-bound for the duration of the stay.

Michelle and Dave Smith, from Holywell, Flintshire, claim holidaymakers were 'dropping like flies' at Hotel Riu Touareg, Boa Vista, Cape Verde, while on their week-long vacation.

And after just 48 hours, Michelle says she was struck down with the worst sickness bug she'd ever experienced.

Michelle and Dave Smith, from Holywell, Flintshire, claim holidaymakers were 'dropping like flies' at Hotel Riu Touareg (pictured), Cape Verde, while on their week-long vacation

Michelle and Dave Smith, from Holywell, Flintshire, claim holidaymakers were 'dropping like flies' at Hotel Riu Touareg (pictured), Cape Verde, while on their week-long vacation

One of the walls at the Hotel Riu Touareg
Discoloured tiles in the hotel's swimming pool

The picture on the left is of one of the walls at Hotel Riu Touareg, and the image on the right shows discoloured tiles in the hotel's swimming pool

She claims to have spent the remainder of her holiday on the toilet as crippling stomach cramps, sickness and diarrhoea swept across the hotel.

Michelle and Dave's honeymoon was ruined and on the day they were due to fly home, Dave then fell ill as well.

It took Michelle four weeks to recover from her sickness bug at home and the couple are now claiming compensation through Hudgell Solicitors from travel group Tui.

They've claimed Tui was slow to respond to the outbreak, which also affected other hotels nearby, and that no after support was offered when they returned home.

Michelle, 48, said: 'The sickness bug was the talk of the entire hotel, people were dropping like flies.

'It took just one day before I fell ill and it wiped me out for the entire week. The stomach cramps were so severe it felt like I was giving birth.

'The hotel didn't mention a thing about the outbreak that had started a few weeks before we arrived. We were walking into a real life nightmare.

It took Michelle, pictured in Boa Vista, four weeks to recover from her sickness bug at home and the couple are now claiming compensation through Hudgell Solicitors from travel group Tui

It took Michelle, pictured in Boa Vista, four weeks to recover from her sickness bug at home and the couple are now claiming compensation through Hudgell Solicitors from travel group Tui

'We'd spent £2,000 on our dream honeymoon but it was completely ruined.

'The sickness outbreak first started before we arrived on September 25, we had no idea what was about to unfold.

'There were flies everywhere, it was like there was an infestation.

'There was uncovered food left out for long periods and chefs not using gloves when handling food.

'Tui were slow to act upon the outbreak and only introducing new measures such as insisting people used hand gels, and carrying out deep cleans, after the illness has reached epidemic stages.

'I spent the entire week on the toilet, and on the last day, October 2, Dave fell ill as well.

'Our plane journey home was horrendous, the toilet was constantly in use and the front toilet was blocked up completely.

'It took a few weeks after we'd arrived home that I've started to feel better.'

Paul McClorry, a specialist in handling claims relating to holiday illness at Hudgell Solicitors, says the firm has taken more than a dozen enquiries from guests who say they were taken ill at the Clubhotel Riu Karamboa, Hotel Riu Touareg, and the Sol Dunas Beach Resort, in Cape Verde, with the majority having travelled with tour operator Thomson, now known as Tui.

He said: 'What cannot be disputed in this case is the fact that there have clearly been a great number of people taken seriously ill at these hotels. They have suffered from violent sickness and many have remained ill for some time after returning home.

'If it is established that poor hygiene standards played its part in these illnesses then it is only right that the hotelier and tour operator be held accountable. We're told by people who have turned to us that new guests were still arriving, without any notice of the wide-spread illness, when they were there.'

Michelle, who is a hypnotherapist, said: 'It was certainly no honeymoon and was a complete disaster, a nightmare.

'We'd chosen this hotel for our honeymoon as we'd stayed there four years ago and it was the perfect holiday, ideal for a couple as it is so quiet with unspoilt beaches. And we also took the option of paying more for an adult-only break.

Pictured is the beach at Boa Vista. Michelle says she chose the Tui-operated hotel there because of a previously happy experience at it

Pictured is the beach at Boa Vista. Michelle says she chose the Tui-operated hotel there because of a previously happy experience at it

'Two days into the holiday, though, it was over for me, after the cramps, the sickness and diarrhoea started and that was constant.

'I told Dave not to be in the bedroom because I didn't want him catching it, but also for some privacy given the state I was in.

'They made it seem as though it was the guests who had not been maintaining hygiene standards, putting up signs about hand-washing, but to me, the standards of cleanliness and hygiene had dropped significantly since we were there four years ago.'

A spokesperson on behalf of Tui, the travel operator, said: 'We are sorry to hear of Mr and Mrs Smith's experience.

'At the time of the customers' holiday at the Riu Touareg, we were made aware of some cases of sickness with symptoms similar to the common condition gastroenteritis.

'As soon as we were notified we immediately worked with our hotel partner to implement superior procedures to prevent the spread of infection and we can confirm that we haven't received any further reported cases.

'We understand that Mr and Mrs Smith have contacted their solicitors and we are currently waiting to hear from them to investigate the matter further.

'We'd like to reassure customers that we regularly audit all accommodations we feature in respect of health and safety, including hygiene.'

The hotel has an average rating of four out of five on TripAdvisor, from over 8,000 reviews.

Riu Hotels & Resorts said in a statement: 'The wellbeing of our guests is always the number one priority whilst in the hotel and at any time subsequently.

'With respect to the issue of flies, it is true that after the rainy season the number of flies and mosquitoes throughout the island increases. While it does not constitute an infestation, it can be bothersome to some customers. 

'The hotel in particular intensively fumigates its gardens and the grounds of the hotel using its own resources (gardeners) and external contractors (Biocontrol). The hotel also cleans the buffets and tables with special fly-repellent products. After the rainy season, when puddles and small lagoons on the island dry up, the insects disappear naturally.

'Unfortunately by the end of September, there has been an increase of cases of intestinal disease from an apparent airborne virus in the destination. Some of the guests were affected with a process that lasted between 24 to 48 hours.

'Fortunately, after strengthening the safety and hygiene protocols, not only in kitchens and dining rooms, but in all areas of the hotel, the situation was rapidly controlled.'

The operators of Sol Dunas Beach Resort, Melia Hotels International, said: 'We consider the wellbeing of guests to be the main priority. We have taken all necessary steps to guarantee that our high standards of health and safety are maintained at the property. 

'We continue to ensure that our customers are safe, comfortable and happy when staying with us and have taken all necessary steps to ensure our high standards of health and safety are maintained at the property.'  

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