Sponsored by
Holiday hell in Cuba
A FAMILY are suing Thomas Cook after their dream trip to Cuba became the holiday from hell.
Elaine Old, 44, claims their luxury hotel made the family sick.
She arrived at the resort only to find dirty beds, her toilet overflowing with human waste and food covered in flies.
Just three days into the four-star luxury break at the Brisas Guardalavaca Hotel, Holguin, Elaine and her family were left ill with a serious stomach bug.
But things turned from bad to worse when their elderly mother, Dorothy, 76, was left needing emergency hospital treatment after she slipped on the wet hotel floor and broke her leg.
Mrs Old, of Ryhope, said: "I've never seen anything like it. The minute we walked into our rooms, the smell just hit us in the face.
"We spent 13 days eating chips, egg and toast because they were the only things cooked in front of us.
"Just before we left mum fell in the room because the floor was flooded.
"She had a hairline fracture to her knee and was taken to hospital in a mini bus."
Mrs Old, of Wraith Terrace, flew off to Cuba on from Manchester Airport on August 29 last year.
Her family, including husband, Robert, 47, sister Isabelle, 53, brother-in-law Derek, 53, nephew Grant, 12, and mother Dorothy, had each paid almost 1,000 to make the trip.
Mrs Old said: "The first problem came when we discovered we were on the third floor. My mother is quite old and there wasn't a lift.
"But they did move us to the ground floor straight away.
Then, when we walked through the door, we couldn't believe the state of the place."
Despite being offered a number of different apartments, the family say none were acceptable.
Mrs Old added: "The whole hotel needed refurbishing. It was supposed to be four-star but I wouldn't even class it as a one-star hotel.
"The bed sheets had dirt on them, the toilets in our rooms were flooded and there was excrement all over the floors.
"By day three, I had my bags packed and wanted to go. That was when we all started feeling sick."
The family claim other holidaymakers were also feeling worse for wear.
Mrs Old added: "There were so many flies in the restaurant, all over the food. There were even birds coming in and eating the bread.
"During our stay the dining room was fumigated after every meal due to the amount of flies."
The family flew out to Cuba with holiday firm Thomas Cook on an all inclusive deal.
Lawyers from Irwin Mitchell solicitors are now seeking compensation for eight holidaymakers who visited the hotel and claim to have been affected by the conditions.
Tour operator Thomas Cook said it was unable to comment due to the fact legal proceedings were now under way.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Heavy sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
