Holiday Sickness Claims — No Win, No Fee
Last reviewed: September 2026 · EA Personal Injury Solicitors
If poor food hygiene at your package holiday accommodation caused you genuine illness, you may be entitled to compensation from your UK tour operator under the Package Travel Regulations. EA Personal Injury Solicitors only pursues properly evidenced, genuine holiday sickness claims on a no win, no fee basis.
TL;DR — Quick Summary
Key Points
- Covers genuine illness caused by poor hygiene standards at package holiday accommodation
- Claims are generally brought against the UK tour operator under the Package Travel Regulations
- Medical evidence and prompt reporting significantly strengthen a claim
- Dishonest holiday sickness claims are taken seriously by the courts and can be dismissed entirely
- No win, no fee — if the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation
Claiming for Illness Caused by Poor Hygiene Standards
Where your package holiday accommodation failed to maintain reasonable standards of food hygiene, and this caused you to become genuinely ill, you may be entitled to compensation from your UK tour operator under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (or the 1992 Regulations for older bookings). This allows a claim to be brought in England and Wales against the UK company that sold you the package, rather than requiring you to pursue the hotel abroad directly.
A Note on Genuine Claims
Holiday sickness claims attracted well-publicised abuse in the mid-2010s, with a small number of claimants and unscrupulous claims companies submitting exaggerated or fabricated illness claims. This led to significant scrutiny from the courts and insurers, including the ability to dismiss an entire claim — even a genuine underlying injury — where any part of it is found to be fundamentally dishonest. We take a careful, evidence-led approach and only pursue claims that are properly supported and genuine.
Building a Well-Evidenced Claim
- Report your illness promptly — to your holiday representative or hotel while still on holiday, and keep a copy of any written report
- Seek medical attention — a doctor seen abroad, or your GP promptly on your return, creates an important contemporaneous medical record
- Consider a stool sample test — identifying the specific organism responsible provides strong supporting evidence, and can help establish that food or water hygiene, rather than something unrelated, was the likely cause
- Keep records — photographs, receipts, correspondence with your tour operator, and details of your symptoms and their duration
- Note if others were affected — evidence that other guests at the same hotel suffered similar symptoms in the same period can support your claim
What Compensation Can Cover
Compensation reflects the severity and duration of your illness and its ongoing effects, together with the proportion of your holiday spoiled by illness, any medical treatment costs, and lost earnings if you were unwell on your return to work.
Typical Compensation Amounts
The figures below are indicative brackets for the injury itself (general damages), based on the Judicial College Guidelines used by courts and insurers in England and Wales. Financial losses such as lost earnings, treatment costs and care (special damages) are claimed in addition, and in serious cases often exceed the injury award.
| Injury | Guideline bracket |
|---|---|
| Moderate gastric illness with ongoing effects for up to c. 2 years | c. £3,700–£8,100 |
| Serious, prolonged gastric illness with significant ongoing effects | c. £8,100–£19,000 |
These brackets are a guide only — the value of your claim depends on the severity of your injury, your prognosis and your financial losses. We cannot promise or predict a specific outcome. See our full guide to compensation amounts or contact us for a free assessment of your claim.
No Win, No Fee Holiday Sickness Claims
We act under a Conditional Fee Agreement, following a careful assessment of the evidence available. If the claim fails, you pay nothing. If the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation.