A holiday meant to celebrate a milestone turned into a distressing ordeal for Tony Wallace and his wife, Alison, after a trip to Jamaica with travel firm TUI resulted in a serious bacterial infection. The couple, hailing from Portsmouth, had invested £6,000 in what they anticipated would be a luxurious getaway at the five-star Sunset at the Palms resort. Instead, they faced a nightmare, culminating in Tony’s diagnosis of salmonella.
The holiday commenced on June 20, 2022, as the couple aimed to mark their 38th wedding anniversary. Their excitement quickly dwindled when Tony fell ill on July 1, suffering from severe symptoms that included intense stomach pain and debilitating diarrhoea. “It was just horrendous. It ruined the whole holiday,” he recounted.
Tony described the food served at the resort as “awful” and “disgusting.” He expressed particular outrage over how meals were presented, claiming they were served in “silver troughs” and often consisted of reheated leftovers. Adding to his dismay, he discovered a dead cockroach in their accommodation.
After a day at the beach, Tony’s condition deteriorated rapidly. “My wife looked at me and said, ‘you look grey,’ and I said I’ve got to go back to the room,” he said. With no medical facilities available at the hotel, he sought assistance from the staff, who offered only limited advice and Pepto-Bismol. They discouraged him from taking a taxi to a nearby hospital, citing safety concerns.
Despite his illness, the couple completed their holiday before returning home. Tony faced discomfort during the flight, needing to inform the crew about his frequent trips to the restroom. Once back in the UK, he headed straight to the Accident and Emergency department, where he provided a stool sample.
A few days later, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) contacted him, confirming he had contracted salmonella while at the resort. This bacterial infection is typically linked to consuming contaminated food or water, leading to painful and debilitating symptoms. “I got an email from the UKHSA to say that I’ve contracted salmonella on July 1 after eating in one of the hotel restaurants,” he explained.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Tony expressed frustration with TUI’s response. The holiday provider reportedly denied his request for a refund and suggested he take legal action if he wished to pursue the matter further. TUI allegedly claimed that he could have contracted the infection from anywhere, despite the UKHSA pinpointing the hotel as the source.
As he shared his ordeal, Tony expressed his disillusionment with TUI, stating, “I am absolutely disgusted with TUI. We’ve holidayed with them for years, but I’ve said now, take me off your records. I want nothing to do with this company whatsoever.”
In the wake of this incident, concerns about food safety and hygiene standards in holiday resorts have been brought to the forefront. Tony’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for travelers and raises questions about the accountability of travel companies regarding the health and safety of their guests.
TUI has been approached for comment regarding this incident, but as of now, they have not provided a response.
