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.

HolidayLawyers Continues to Be Instructed by Holidaymakers Following Reports of Gastrointestinal Illness at Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun

By Holiday Lawyers • June 26, 2026
HolidayLawyers continues to be instructed by holidaymakers who report suffering serious gastrointestinal illness during stays at the Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun in early 2026. We have now received a number of enquiries from guests describing strikingly similar symptoms, with some requiring hospital treatment in Mexico and others becoming seriously unwell after returning home. As further enquiries continue to be received, we are investigating whether these illnesses formed part of a wider outbreak. Holidaymakers Report Serious Illness During Their Stay One of the latest clients to instruct HolidayLawyers stayed at the Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun between 31 January and 7 February 2026. During the holiday, the client became so seriously unwell that, after being examined by the hotel's doctor, an ambulance was called to transport them to Hospiten Cancun. They were diagnosed with gastroenteritis and received treatment before being discharged. The client reports that numerous other guests at the hotel were also suffering from similar symptoms during the same period, with several allegedly requiring hospital treatment. Illness Continued After Returning Home The same client also reports that their partner became seriously unwell during the return flight to the United Kingdom. Cabin crew sought assistance from a doctor travelling onboard the aircraft and, upon landing, the passenger was taken directly to East Surrey Hospital. The partner was subsequently diagnosed with gastroenteritis. HolidayLawyers has been provided with medical records, hospital documentation and photographs in support of the claim. Reports Suggest a Wider Outbreak HolidayLawyers has now received multiple enquiries from guests who report becoming unwell during stays at the Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun over the same period. Clients have also referred us to social media groups in which numerous guests describe experiencing similar symptoms. We have further been informed that a flight returning to Canada carrying guests from the hotel was reportedly met by ambulances after a number of passengers became seriously ill. These reports are currently being investigated. At this stage, they remain allegations and no findings have been made as to the cause of the illnesses. Hotel Offered Marriott Bonvoy Points The latest client has informed HolidayLawyers that, after complaining directly to the hotel, they were offered 90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points as compensation. The offer was declined. If you have received vouchers, loyalty points or another form of goodwill gesture following illness during your holiday, it is sensible to obtain independent legal advice before accepting any offer, as doing so could affect your legal position. What Should You Do If You Became Ill? If you experienced sickness, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps or other gastrointestinal symptoms during your stay at the Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, or shortly after returning home, you should: Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Keep copies of all medical records and prescriptions. Retain photographs of your symptoms where appropriate. Keep your booking confirmation and travel documents. Save receipts for any expenses incurred. Retain correspondence with the hotel or tour operator. If possible, obtain and retain the results of any stool sample or laboratory testing. Could You Be Entitled to Compensation? Where illness has been caused by contaminated food, contaminated water or inadequate hygiene standards at a hotel, holidaymakers may be entitled to claim compensation for: Pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Medical expenses. Loss of earnings. Care and assistance. Loss of enjoyment of the holiday. Other financial losses arising from the illness. Each claim will depend upon its own facts and the available medical and factual evidence. Contact HolidayLawyers HolidayLawyers continues to investigate reports of gastrointestinal illness affecting guests who stayed at the Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun during this period.  If you or a member of your family became unwell during your stay, or shortly after returning home, please contact our specialist holiday illness solicitors for a free, no obligation assessment of your potential claim.

Holidaymakers Instructed Following Salmonella In Caribbean

By Holiday Lawyers • June 11, 2026
Holiday Lawyers was recently instructed by the family of a holidaymaker who became seriously ill with Salmonella towards the end of a Caribbean holiday. Although he returned to the UK, he continued to suffer significant symptoms and remains affected by ongoing food intolerances and skin conditions which are likely linked to the original infection. Unfortunately, cases like this are far more common than many people realise. Whilst many people think of food poisoning as a short lived illness, the reality can be very different. Salmonella and other bacterial infections can cause severe dehydration, hospitalisation and prolonged periods of illness. In some cases, the consequences can continue for months, years or even permanently. We regularly act for clients who develop post infective IBS, food intolerances, chronic fatigue, reactive arthritis, skin conditions and other long term complications following an acute gastric illness contracted abroad. What If The Tour Operator Rejects Your Claim? One of the biggest misconceptions in holiday illness litigation is that a rejected claim means there is no claim. In our experience, many strong claims begin with a denial of liability. Tour operators frequently argue that the illness was contracted on an excursion, that it was not reported to the hotel, or that there is insufficient evidence linking the illness to the holiday accommodation. These arguments are extremely common and, in many cases, can be successfully challenged. Holiday Lawyers has recovered millions of pounds in compensation for holidaymakers whose claims were initially rejected. An early denial is often simply the starting position adopted by the tour operator rather than a reflection of the true merits of the claim. Why Experience Matters In Salmonella Claims Holiday illness cases sit at the intersection of law, medicine and microbiology. Our team has decades of experience handling Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella and other food poisoning claims throughout the world. We have extensive experience of the hotels, resorts and destinations where these claims arise and understand the practical realities behind many outbreaks. We also work closely with leading microbiologists and medical experts. Understanding incubation periods is often critical. The timing of symptoms can provide powerful evidence regarding where an infection was most likely contracted and can frequently undermine the explanations advanced by tour operators and their insurers. Where a stool sample confirms a pathogen such as Salmonella, it can be extremely difficult for a tour operator to escape liability if the wider evidence points towards the holiday as the source of infection. However, the absence of a positive stool sample does not mean there is no claim. Many people are never tested, whilst others are tested after the infection has passed through their system. In those cases, experienced microbiologists can often identify the most likely infection by analysing the symptoms, severity, duration of illness and incubation periods involved. Our founder, Aman Dhillon, has acted in some of the most significant holiday illness claims brought before the courts, including claims arising from the Grand Hotel outbreak in Italy, where holidaymakers suffered devastating illnesses and, tragically, some individuals lost their lives.  If your holiday illness claim has been rejected, or if you have suffered Salmonella, food poisoning or gastric illness whilst abroad, contact Holiday Lawyers for a free assessment. We have helped thousands of holidaymakers recover millions of pounds in compensation and would be delighted to help.