Holiday illness in Cape Verde – Holiday Lawyers continue to be instructed by affected travellers

Holiday Lawyers • April 14, 2026

Holiday Lawyers continue to be instructed by individuals who have fallen seriously ill while staying at all-inclusive resorts in Cape Verde, and have today been contacted by a further client reporting significant gastrointestinal illness following a package holiday.


The enquiry relates to a stay at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde in Sal, booked through TUI. The client reports becoming unwell on day two of the holiday with severe diarrhoea, requiring them to stop eating at the hotel for the remainder of the trip due to concerns about food safety. The illness continued for approximately one week after returning to the UK.


Importantly, another member of the same travelling party, staying at the same hotel, also became seriously unwell,

experiencing persistent vomiting throughout the holiday and remaining symptomatic for several weeks after returning home. A stool sample was provided in that case, and the illness was reported to the tour operator at the time.


This pattern — early onset illness, multiple individuals affected within the same accommodation, and symptoms continuing after return to the UK — is consistent with a growing number of cases we are currently investigating.


A developing pattern of illness in Cape Verde resorts


Holiday Lawyers are presently acting for a number of clients who have reported illness at resorts across Cape Verde, particularly on the island of Sal. The reports share common features:


Illness developing within the first few days of arrival; symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps; more than one person affected within the same hotel or travelling group; illness persisting after return to the UK.


These are not isolated complaints. Taken together, they point towards potential systemic issues relating to food hygiene and safety standards within certain resort environments.


First-hand investigations into food hygiene standards


Holiday Lawyers have taken the additional step of travelling to Cape Verde with independent food hygiene experts to assess conditions on the ground.


These inspections have identified a number of concerns consistent with the types of illness being reported by returning holidaymakers. While each case must be assessed on its own facts, the findings from these visits provide important context when considering whether reasonable hygiene standards are being maintained.


Where food is prepared, stored or served in conditions that fall below acceptable standards, there is a clear risk of contamination and subsequent illness.


Your legal position following illness abroad


Where a package holiday has been booked through a UK tour operator such as TUI, consumers benefit from protection under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.


In practical terms, this means that if illness is caused by failures in food hygiene or sanitation at the hotel, liability may rest with the tour operator, rather than requiring the consumer to pursue a claim overseas.


Key factors that are typically relevant include the timing of the illness, whether others in the same accommodation were affected, medical evidence including GP attendance or stool samples, and whether the illness was reported to the hotel or tour operator.


Even where a stool sample has not been provided, claims can still proceed where there is sufficient supporting evidence.


What to do if you have been affected


If you have experienced illness during a holiday in Cape Verde, it is important to seek legal advice at an early stage.

Holiday Lawyers offer specialist expertise in international illness claims and have acted in a significant number of cases involving major tour operators. Our team understands both the evidential and strategic issues involved in pursuing these claims successfully.


Contact Holiday Lawyers


If you have been affected by illness during a holiday in Cape Verde, you can contact Holiday Lawyers for a confidential assessment of your case.


We continue to be instructed in relation to these matters and are actively investigating claims arising from resorts across the region.


Frequently asked questions – holiday illness in Cape Verde


Can I claim compensation for illness in Cape Verde?

Yes. If your illness was caused by poor food hygiene or contamination at a hotel booked as part of a package holiday, you may be entitled to bring a claim against the UK tour operator under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.


Do I need a stool sample to make a holiday illness claim?

No. While a stool sample can assist in identifying the cause of illness, claims can and do succeed without one. The timing of symptoms, medical records, and evidence that others were affected can be sufficient.


Why are multiple people getting ill in Cape Verde resorts?

Where more than one guest becomes unwell within the same hotel, it may indicate wider issues such as poor food handling, cross-contamination, or failures in hygiene standards.


How long do symptoms of holiday food poisoning last?

Symptoms can vary. In some cases, they resolve within a few days. In others, particularly where infection is more severe, symptoms can persist for several weeks after returning to the UK.



Who is responsible for illness on a package holiday?

Where the holiday was booked as part of a package, responsibility typically rests with the tour operator. They are legally accountable for failures at the hotel or resort, including issues relating to food hygiene and sanitation.

By Holiday Lawyers • September 30, 2026
HolidayLawyers has been instructed by a family who say they were forced to flee for their lives after a wildfire reached their resort on the Croatian island of Brač. The family were staying at the Gava Waterman Milna Resort as part of a Jet2Holidays package between 8 and 15 September 2026. They say wildfires had been visible in the area for several days but guests were repeatedly reassured there was no cause for concern. On the evening of 12 September, however, the situation deteriorated dramatically. The family say power to the hotel was lost shortly after 9.30pm, ash began falling around the resort and large flames became clearly visible nearby. They allege there was no fire alarm, evacuation announcement or organised emergency procedure and that guests were left trying to work out how to escape as staff themselves began leaving the resort. Three members of the family eventually reached a wooden jetty where they say they remained for around an hour before being evacuated by boat. One member of the family says he suffered significant smoke inhalation while helping elderly holidaymakers onto rescue vessels and remained unwell for several days afterwards. The family has now instructed HolidayLawyers to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the warnings and information provided to guests, the evacuation arrangements and the assistance provided by the tour operator and hotel. Growing concerns over wildfire affected holidays HolidayLawyers has been contacted by a number of holidaymakers whose trips have been seriously disrupted by wildfires affecting resorts overseas. With extreme heat and wildfires increasingly affecting popular holiday destinations, the consequences for tourists can be severe. Where holidaymakers find themselves surrounded by smoke, flames or falling debris, or are forced to evacuate without knowing whether they and their families will escape safely, the psychological consequences can also be significant. HolidayLawyers founder and Solicitor Advocate Aman Dhillon said: “Having previously represented passengers and crew following the Costa Concordia disaster, I have seen how the psychological effects of a close escape from a major incident can continue long after the immediate danger has passed. “Wildfires will not necessarily be the fault of a tour operator. The important questions are often what was known, what guests were told, whether appropriate emergency procedures were followed and whether proper assistance was provided when people were placed in danger.” Was your holiday affected by a wildfire? If you were caught in a wildfire, evacuated from your hotel or resort, suffered injury or smoke inhalation, or believe your holiday company failed to provide appropriate assistance during an emergency, HolidayLawyers can advise you on whether you may have a claim . We have decades of experience handling serious international travel claims and have recovered millions of pounds in compensation for thousands of holidaymakers. If your holiday was ruined by a wildfire, contact HolidayLawyers to discuss what happened.
By Holiday Lawyers • September 29, 2026
HolidayLawyers has been contacted by holidaymakers following a guest falling ill during a stay at the Nour Palace Resort & Thalasso in Mahdia, Tunisia and subsequently being medically diagnosed with salmonella . The guest stayed at the resort from 29 August to 8 September 2026 on an all inclusive package holiday booked through Sunshine.co.uk. Symptoms of gastrointestinal illness began while the guest was still staying at the hotel and continued after their return to the UK on 8 September. Following medical testing, salmonella was confirmed on 16 September 2026 . The illness has also resulted in the guest being unable to return to work, with a consequent loss of earnings. Previous reports of illness at the Nour Palace HolidayLawyers is investigating the circumstances surrounding the illness and has identified previous public reports from guests referring to gastrointestinal symptoms and concerns about food hygiene at the Nour Palace. Some reviews published during 2026 refer to guests suffering vomiting and diarrhoea and raise concerns about food preparation and temperature. Such reports do not establish the cause of an individual guest's illness. They can, however, be relevant when considered alongside medical evidence, the timing of symptoms and any evidence of similar illness affecting other guests. Confirmed salmonella diagnosis A laboratory confirmed diagnosis of salmonella is an important piece of evidence in a holiday illness claim. Our investigation will consider when symptoms began, the incubation period, food and drink consumed during the holiday, whether the guest ate predominantly within the hotel and whether other guests experienced similar symptoms. Where appropriate, evidence can also be sought concerning reported illness at the resort, food hygiene procedures, inspections and relevant health and safety records. Can a package holiday illness claim be made? Where a holiday was sold as a qualifying package, the package organiser may be legally responsible for the proper performance of the holiday services provided. The precise position depends upon the booking arrangements and documentation, which is why we examine documents including the booking confirmation and ATOL certificate at the outset. Where illness has caused additional financial loss, a claim can potentially include losses such as lost earnings , provided they can be supported by appropriate evidence. HolidayLawyers founder Aman Dhillon comments HolidayLawyers founder and Solicitor Advocate Aman Dhillon said: “A confirmed salmonella diagnosis following illness which began during a holiday deserves proper investigation. “We look at the medical evidence, the timing of the illness, what the client ate and drank, whether other guests were affected and the evidence surrounding conditions at the hotel during the relevant period. “The fact that somebody became ill abroad does not by itself establish liability, but where there is a confirmed bacterial infection and symptoms began during the holiday, there can be strong grounds for further investigation.” Salmonella or food poisoning after a holiday in Tunisia? HolidayLawyers specialises in serious holiday illness and accident claims. Our lawyers have decades of experience dealing with international travel litigation and gastrointestinal illness claims involving hotels and resorts overseas. If you stayed at the Nour Palace Resort & Thalasso in Mahdia , or another hotel in Tunisia, and developed salmonella, gastroenteritis or another significant gastric illness, we can assess the circumstances of your case. We act in appropriate cases under a No Win No Fee agreement , with any potential deductions explained clearly before you decide whether to proceed.  Contact HolidayLawyers for a confidential assessment of your holiday illness claim.