Rising health and hygiene concerns in Cape Verde hotels

Holiday Lawyers • February 2, 2026

Cape Verde has long been a popular destination for British holidaymakers seeking year‑round sunshine. However, in recent years there has been a growing number of reports of serious illness linked to hotels and resorts across the islands.

 

At Holidaylawyers, we have personally visited and inspected a number of hotels in Cape Verde and observed several health and hygiene issues that raise genuine concerns about guest safety.

Reports of illness among UK holidaymakers
 

Numerous travellers have reported gastric illness, infections and hospitalisation following stays in Cape Verde resorts. In some cases, illnesses have been linked to poor food hygiene, sanitation concerns and unsafe food preparation practices.

 

Large group claims are now being pursued by British tourists who suffered illness after staying in several well‑known hotels, highlighting the scale of the issue.

What Holidaylawyers observed on inspection
 

During on‑site inspections, Holidaylawyers identified a number of potential hygiene failings including:

 

• Poor food handling and temperature control

• Risks of cross‑contamination in kitchen areas

• Inconsistent cleaning of communal facilities

• Sanitation issues in guest areas

 

These observations mirror many of the complaints made by holidaymakers who became unwell after their stay.

Your legal rights after illness abroad
 

If you suffered food poisoning or illness while staying in a Cape Verde hotel booked through a UK tour operator, you may be entitled to bring a compensation claim.

 

Tour operators have a legal duty to ensure accommodation meets reasonable health and safety standards. Where failures occur, affected travellers can seek damages for pain, suffering, medical costs and loss of enjoyment.

Speak to Holidaylawyers
 

Holidaylawyers specialises in holiday illness and hotel hygiene claims. Our team has first‑hand experience inspecting overseas hotels and holding tour operators accountable for unsafe conditions.

 

If you or a family member fell ill after a holiday in Cape Verde, contact Holidaylawyers for expert advice.

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.