Tui sued for £200k after 23 holidaymakers endured sewage in pool and maggot-infested salads at five-star £7k resort
Twenty-three British holidaymakers are suing travel company Tui for £200,000 after experiencing severe hygiene issues at a five-star resort in Cancun, Mexico.
The group, who paid up to £7,700 for all-inclusive family holidays at the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa, claim they encountered serious health and safety breaches during their stays.
The legal action has been filed at the High Court as a class action lawsuit against the tour operator.
Guests reported finding sewage-contaminated pools, with overflowing toilets forcing visitors to wade through waste to reach swimming areas.
The holidaymakers allege that they encountered unwashed salads and undercooked meat at the resort’s supposedly gourmet restaurant.
Food hygiene standards were reportedly poor, with meals left exposed for hours attracting flies.
The group claims milk and sushi were left unrefrigerated, while the dining areas were frequented by various animals including cats, birds and raccoons.
Katie Richards, 36, and her husband Ashley, 27, were among those affected, with both losing nearly a stone in weight during their stay.
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“We spent our honeymoon in the Riviera Maya area and had an amazing time so we were excited to be coming back,” Katie told The Sun.
“But this time around was very different and we spent half of our holiday ill,” she added.
“There were flies, cats, birds and even raccoons hanging around, and we found a maggot in the salad one evening.”
Visitors to the resort suffered a range of serious illnesses between July and October 2022.
The health issues included diarrhoea, vomiting, salmonella and parasitic infections.
“The whole experience was nothing compared to what a five-star hotel should be, and we were ill for a long time after coming home,” Katie Richards said.
The group alleges Tui failed in its legal responsibility to ensure basic hygiene standards were maintained at the resort.
Tui has said it is unable to comment.