HolidayLawyers instructed by family following illness and alleged hygiene concerns at Hotel Samira Club Spa and Aquapark, Hammamet, Tunisia

Holiday Lawyers • September 11, 2026

HolidayLawyers has been instructed by a British family following a holiday at Hotel Samira Club Spa and Aquapark in Hammamet, Tunisia, during which members of the family became unwell and they say they experienced serious concerns regarding the condition, cleanliness and safety of the resort.


The family booked their package holiday through TUI, paying more than £6,500. They say that by the end of the trip their overall expenditure had risen to approximately £11,000, after they incurred significant additional costs including alternative accommodation, meals outside the hotel, taxis and medication.


The family eventually moved out of the resort and into a privately rented villa for the final four to five days of their holiday, at a further cost of approximately £800.


Family reports illness during Tunisia holiday


The family has told HolidayLawyers that several members became ill during their stay.


Their young son developed a high temperature and tonsillitis and required medical treatment and antibiotics. The family says that when he became particularly unwell overnight, the hotel doctor was not available until the following morning.


Their 18 year old daughter is also reported to have developed significant gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea severe enough that she was unable to leave the toilet and missed a planned excursion.


Other family members developed chesty coughs during the holiday.


The family says that once illness developed they no longer felt comfortable eating at the hotel and instead relied partly upon crisps and biscuits and ate meals at restaurants away from the resort.


HolidayLawyers is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the illnesses, including the family’s concerns about food hygiene and the general conditions they say they encountered at the hotel.


Concerns over food and hygiene


The family has reported a number of alleged hygiene issues at Hotel Samira Club Spa and Aquapark.


They say flies were regularly present around food service areas and that they became sufficiently concerned about the food that they stopped eating at the resort.


The mother, who is vegetarian, also says there was inadequate information identifying the contents of dishes, leaving her to check food herself to establish whether it contained meat.


She has further reported concerns regarding cleaning practices within the accommodation, including an allegation that the same microfibre cloth appeared to be used to clean different areas.


The family says their room was in such poor condition on arrival that the mother felt compelled to clean it herself before the family could sleep there.


They have also reported mould above a wardrobe, concerns regarding the cleanliness of mattresses and bedding, old and poorly maintained air conditioning and gaps underneath external bungalow doors which allowed insects and ants to enter.


Accommodation allegedly very different from advertised photographs


The family describes the accommodation as old, dirty and in poor condition and says it was significantly different from the impression given by photographs seen before travelling.


Further problems allegedly included poor water pressure, electrical sockets which did not operate properly, Wi-Fi problems and power cuts.


One power cut was particularly concerning for the family because it occurred while their young son was suffering from a high temperature and they were unable to use the air conditioning to help keep the room cool.


Safety and welfare concerns


The family has also raised concerns regarding safety around the resort.


They report that a swimming pool area was at one stage taped off using red and white tape which they considered inadequate, while a water slide was allegedly blocked with tables when not in operation.


They have also raised concerns regarding lifeguard supervision.


In addition, the family says they felt uncomfortable about the conduct of some male members of staff towards female members of the family, including their daughter.


The mother says she complained to TUI while still at the resort and was concerned when the substance of her complaint was then raised directly with the hotel. She says this left her feeling particularly uncomfortable because her complaints included concerns about the behaviour of hotel staff and the family still had to remain at the resort.


These matters form part of the allegations the family has asked HolidayLawyers to investigate.


Family incurred thousands of pounds in additional expenditure


Although the original holiday cost a little over £6,500, the family estimates that their overall expenditure connected with the trip reached approximately £11,000.


The additional expenditure is said to include approximately £800 for a private villa, restaurant meals after the family stopped eating at the hotel, medication and additional taxi costs.


They also say they were required to pay hotel tax separately.


HolidayLawyers will consider these financial losses alongside any potential claim arising from illness, loss of enjoyment and the alleged failure to provide the holiday which the family says it had been promised.


“A family holiday should not end with people becoming ill and having to pay to move elsewhere”


Aman Dhillon, Founder and Solicitor Advocate at HolidayLawyers, said:

“We have now been instructed by this family and will be investigating carefully what happened during their stay at Hotel Samira Club Spa and Aquapark in Hammamet.
“What is particularly concerning is the combination of issues being reported. This is not simply an allegation that the family did not like their hotel room. We have reports of illness affecting several members of the family, concerns regarding food and cleaning standards, mould and insects within the accommodation, problems with basic facilities and ultimately a decision to leave the resort and pay for alternative accommodation.
“A family spending more than £6,500 on a package holiday is entitled to expect proper standards of accommodation, hygiene and safety. A holiday should not end with family members becoming ill and having to spend hundreds or potentially thousands of pounds simply to move somewhere they feel comfortable staying.
“We will now obtain and review the available medical evidence, photographs, videos, booking documentation, complaints and evidence of the family’s additional expenditure before advising them upon the claim.”

Illness and hotel claims in Tunisia


HolidayLawyers acts for holidaymakers who suffer serious illness, injury or other significant problems during package holidays abroad.


Our lawyers have decades of experience representing thousands of holidaymakers and recovering millions of pounds in compensation, including claims arising from outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, salmonella and other infectious diseases at hotels and resorts overseas.


Particular care needs to be taken where an illness continues after a holiday. Gastrointestinal infections can in some cases lead to longer term symptoms including post infectious IBS, altered bowel habits and fatigue.


It is therefore important that holidaymakers experiencing continuing symptoms seek appropriate medical attention and preserve evidence relating to both the illness and the circumstances at the hotel.


Useful evidence can include:


  • photographs and videos of the hotel, accommodation and food areas;
  • medical records and details of medication;
  • receipts for additional accommodation, meals, transport and treatment;
  • correspondence with the tour operator or hotel;
  • details of other guests who became ill; and
  • copies of the original booking information and advertisements.


Were you ill at Hotel Samira Club Spa and Aquapark in Hammamet?


HolidayLawyers would like to hear from any other guests who stayed at Hotel Samira Club Spa and Aquapark, Hammamet, Tunisia, and experienced significant gastrointestinal illness or similar concerns.


Evidence from other holidaymakers staying at the same resort at or around the same time can be important when investigating how an illness occurred.


If you or a member of your family became seriously ill during a package holiday in Tunisia, Turkey, Cape Verde, the Caribbean or elsewhere overseas, our specialist holiday illness lawyers can advise you on whether you may have a claim.


HolidayLawyers can act in appropriate cases on a No Win, No Fee basis, with our deduction from compensation capped at a maximum of 25%.


Contact HolidayLawyers to speak to a specialist member of our team.

HolidayLawyers instructed by family caught in terrifying Croatia wildfire

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.

HolidayLawyers Contacted Following Salmonella Illness at Nour Palace Resort, Tunisia

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.