0:00:02 > 0:00:06MUSIC: "Peaches" by The Stranglers
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Millions of you are already banishing the winter blues
0:00:12 > 0:00:14by flicking through holiday brochures
0:00:14 > 0:00:17and deciding where you're going to spend your two weeks in the sun.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19We all put our trust
0:00:19 > 0:00:22and our hard-earned cash into the hands of the holiday industry,
0:00:22 > 0:00:25hoping it delivers on its promise.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27But, as many of us know to our cost,
0:00:27 > 0:00:30even the best-planned holidays can end in disaster.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36Flames rushed out of this bottle straight in Kirsty's face.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39It's what you'd call a holiday from hell.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40I'm just appalled.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42We didn't want to go out of the bedroom.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46We are the Holiday Hit Squad and our mission
0:00:46 > 0:00:49is to share with you some of the tricks of the trade
0:00:49 > 0:00:52so that you can avoid those holiday hitches
0:00:52 > 0:00:55and really get the very best out of your dream break.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00We'll be delving into the most dodgy and downright dangerous hotels
0:01:00 > 0:01:02on a mission to put things right.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- I can't even see a smoke alarm. - Where is it?
0:01:06 > 0:01:09this bed has cockroaches crawling over it.
0:01:09 > 0:01:15We'll be access all areas in some of the favourite holiday hotspots for Britons,
0:01:15 > 0:01:19where we'll get an insider's view of the perils and pitfalls that face us all.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22It's really frightened you, hasn't it?
0:01:22 > 0:01:24You just want to go home.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28And I'll be turning disasters into dreams come true
0:01:28 > 0:01:32for some unlucky victims of holidays from hell.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34That is amazing!
0:01:38 > 0:01:41So, coming up on the programme...
0:01:41 > 0:01:46The Portuguese three-star where packing a parachute might be a good idea.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50- You're not going to survive that, are you?- No.
0:01:50 > 0:01:51Enjoy your trip?
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Not if you're this ill-fated fitness fan.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57I went down on the kerb and just felt it snap.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04And an Egyptian dream is shattered.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07And I heard the bones of my legs break.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Can we help pick up the pieces?
0:02:10 > 0:02:14I was really so tense, I just didn't want to face it.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18But first I'm on call with the professionals
0:02:18 > 0:02:21in one of the Brits' favourite holiday playgrounds.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Each year, 2½ million of us
0:02:32 > 0:02:35visit the Spanish island of Mallorca,
0:02:35 > 0:02:40seduced by its rugged good looks, sandy beaches, and warm Mediterranean waters.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53But, while the Great British holidaymaker is letting it all hang out,
0:02:53 > 0:03:00behind the scenes there's an army dedicated to dealing with our holiday disasters.
0:03:00 > 0:03:01And I've got a back stage pass,
0:03:01 > 0:03:05so I can find out just what happens if, amongst other things,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09you're one of the 28,000 Brits every year who lose their passport...
0:03:11 > 0:03:14..the quarter of a million that need medical help...
0:03:14 > 0:03:19- How do you feel about being in hospital overnight now? - Not very happy.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24..Or the estimated one in ten that end up victims of crime.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27It's really sad, these young boys and girls
0:03:27 > 0:03:30so often get robbed, as well as raped, it's really nasty.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Tonight, I investigate how holiday boozing
0:03:33 > 0:03:37can get us into a whole heap of trouble.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52Every summer British revellers flood to Mallorca's legendary nightlife.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58But, by partying hard, are we risking more than just a hangover?
0:03:58 > 0:04:00I'm about to find out for myself from the guys
0:04:00 > 0:04:02who have to deal with the consequences every day.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Well, as you can see I am dressed for action
0:04:07 > 0:04:10because I'm about to meet the professionals with whom I'm going to spend the night.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15These are the officers of the night shift
0:04:15 > 0:04:17and they're just getting their orders
0:04:17 > 0:04:21before they set out to patrol the streets of the resort of Magaluf.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28Magaluf's answer to Bodie and Doyle are the two Franciscos,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31and tonight they're letting me ride shotgun.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38With 16 years' experience patrolling their Mallorcan manor,
0:04:38 > 0:04:40they're my perfect guides.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- Just orange juice!- I'm sure(!)
0:04:45 > 0:04:48You must see a lot of very funny things!
0:04:48 > 0:04:53Yes, people with dresses, men in dresses.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54Stag parties!
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Yes!
0:04:56 > 0:04:59'And right on cue...'
0:04:59 > 0:05:04- Tell me you're on a stag night!- Yes. - Are you?- Yeah, I am.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- Are you the groom? You're the groom? - Yeah, I am.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19But it's not all fun and games for Francisco.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23What sort of things do you have to deal with with the British?
0:05:23 > 0:05:27I think the more important problem is too much drunk
0:05:27 > 0:05:32with few control, drugs and a lot of people.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39There are 5,000 people drunk in the same road in this street.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42We all like to let our hair down on holiday,
0:05:42 > 0:05:47but the Brits here in Magaluf are taking things to a whole new level
0:05:47 > 0:05:51and in the process they're leaving themselves extremely vulnerable.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56- This looks like somebody's drunk. - Yes, very drunk.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04Hi, mister.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05Are you OK?
0:06:05 > 0:06:09Do you remember your hotel name?
0:06:09 > 0:06:11- No.- You don't remember?
0:06:11 > 0:06:13How much would it be to Stirling?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15- Got to go home to Stirling tonight? - Stirling, yep.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20- Were you supposed to be catching a plane?- I was meant to.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23- And you've missed your plane? - I've missed everything.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- You've missed your plane? - Everything away.- They've all gone?
0:06:26 > 0:06:29We've got a young Scottish guy here on the beach,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33clearly absolutely boozed out of his mind.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35How did you get left behind?
0:06:35 > 0:06:38I don't know. I honestly don't know.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Have you got any money? Where's your money?
0:06:42 > 0:06:46No, you've got nothing there? And nothing there?
0:06:46 > 0:06:50- So what are you going to do? - Youse could take me to my house.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- But you're in Mallorca, you're not in Scotland.- Exactly.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55So how are we going to get you back to Scotland?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00'Jack is 19, far from home
0:07:00 > 0:07:03'and frankly incapable of looking after himself.'
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Do you wish you hadn't drunk so much now?
0:07:07 > 0:07:09I just want to go home.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13You just want to go home.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18'Fortunately, it's all in a day's work for the two Franciscos.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20'They discover the name of Jack's hotel
0:07:20 > 0:07:25'and call to find out that his friends are still there after all.'
0:07:25 > 0:07:28You wait here and your friends will come in a short time, OK?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31You'll be all right. Your friends will come and find you, OK?
0:07:31 > 0:07:36I'm afraid the police are just not allowed to put him in the car and take him back.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40Magaluf might be an extreme example
0:07:40 > 0:07:43but wherever we're on holiday, we Brits frequently get ourselves
0:07:43 > 0:07:47in a mess by over-indulging.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52And later I'll see for myself just how out of control we can get
0:07:52 > 0:07:56when we've had rather more than a few too many.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00That British girl just leapt across the street like a tigress.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16It's a familiar story, the brochure promises it all,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19style, comfort, gourmet dining,
0:08:19 > 0:08:20herds of wildebeest majestically...
0:08:20 > 0:08:26Well, you know the rest, but sadly the reality doesn't always live up to the hype.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36Frankly we're fed up with being short-changed,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39so we're banging on the doors of some those heartbreak hotels,
0:08:39 > 0:08:44on a quest to bring them up to scratch.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I'm here in Portugal, I've just arrived on the sunny Algarve.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I'm just about to check into the Hotel da Aldeia.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Now, this place has had some terrible reviews.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03It really has been torn apart online, so can it really be that bad?
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Only one way to find out.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12The three-star Hotel da Aldeia
0:09:12 > 0:09:15is just minutes from the beaches of Albufeira.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20It's blessed with two pools and it's close to all the action.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23What's not to like?
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Well, according to online reviews, quite a lot.
0:09:28 > 0:09:34The Aldeia has been lambasted as "disgusting", "appalling"
0:09:34 > 0:09:37and "Portugal's answer to Fawlty Towers".
0:09:39 > 0:09:42So, can it really be as awful as it sounds?
0:09:42 > 0:09:45To find out, just for you, dear viewer,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47I'm going to spend the night.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52The thing I notice immediately even before going into the room
0:09:52 > 0:09:55is from the reviews there's clearly two sides of rooms here.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58There's rooms that face out on to the strip and are therefore very, very noisy,
0:09:58 > 0:10:00and rooms that face the pool.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04And it seems I've been given one of the nice rooms facing the pool.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13A pool view twin costs around £100 per night, peak season.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16So, will it be sweet dreams for me?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Right, it's now quite late at night
0:10:19 > 0:10:21and I'm thinking about getting some sleep
0:10:21 > 0:10:23and I just thought before I hop in it,
0:10:23 > 0:10:24I'll have a quick look at the bed.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31Look at that mattress, isn't that horrible?
0:10:31 > 0:10:34They're all stains, everyone who's ever slept on this bed,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36any sweat or God knows what else,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38it's just gone straight on to the mattress,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40it has no mattress protector.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44It's absolutely grim, but it is what I'm sleeping on tonight.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48In a busy hotel, your mattress could contain the dead skin cells,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50bacteria, viruses
0:10:50 > 0:10:55and any other bodily fluids of more than 2,000 people.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56Nighty night!
0:11:01 > 0:11:04The next morning I've called in reinforcements.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Health and safety bloodhound Lisa Ackerley
0:11:08 > 0:11:10has over 20 years in the business.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13She can sniff out danger a mile off.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15This is just horrible.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20And we've convinced the Aldeia's management to let Lisa off her leash.
0:11:21 > 0:11:27It's not long before she hones in on hazard number one, and it's serious.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Well, this is absolutely shocking, to be honest.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37It actually fails on nearly every count for a balcony.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41You can actually see that it's just nailed, so that's not sufficient.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43We've got this rotting, we've got the nailing,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46we've got the wobbling, we've got some splinters.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48And then the height isn't enough.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50It's only about 90 centimetres.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52It should be a metre.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56And then we've got gaps in between, which are 14, and they should be 10.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59And also we've got this step allurement.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03That means the height of the balcony is reduced now from here to here.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Or even from there because you can step on that as well.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Actually, what we've got here is a climbing frame. Not a balcony.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13A climbing frame at a severe height. Really, really frightening.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18If I were an enforcement officer and this was in the UK I'd be taking action about this,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20because I am really concerned that someone would come out on here,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23having had a few drinks, lean on it and be straight over.
0:12:23 > 0:12:24It doesn't bear thinking about.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26I'm not going to put any weight on it but if you look over,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28that's a long way down.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31- That is a long way down.- You are not going to survive that are you?- No.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36It's no wonder Lisa's so concerned.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41Last summer 13 British holidaymakers fell from hotel balconies
0:12:41 > 0:12:45and three of them died from their injuries.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50But you'd think you'd be safe inside the rooms though, right?
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Right, well, this room looks really nice,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56but while you're looking up there you could trip over this rug.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58And it looks as if many people have.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00But the other worrying thing is, as they trip,
0:13:00 > 0:13:04say a toddler could hit themselves on this sharp table.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05That's really dangerous.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06That's really sharp.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- Yeah, that's right. - It's a horrible thought, isn't it?
0:13:09 > 0:13:12How many toddler temples have hit that.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13Yes, it could easily happen.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18And I've bumped into Norman, a fellow guest,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21whose room is also potentially lethal.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Look at this the bedside light.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Would you like your children in here?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30- So you're a bit worried. - You can see the cables.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34If you want to try this plug in there. Just see if anything happens.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37OK, slightly nervous about this, Norman. Just give it a go.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- Oh, yeah! - That's dangerous. Very dangerous.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44To get the spark, and not just the spark, a spark within reach.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48It suggests that it's not properly wired and it's also dangerous.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50And it's not fixed to the wall properly.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52I appreciate the feedback.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54- Cheers, mate, take care.- Bye.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Exposed wires pose risks of electrocution and fire.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02So what should we do in the event of an emergency?
0:14:03 > 0:14:06The first thing, really, you should do when you get into a hotel room
0:14:06 > 0:14:11is actually work out how you're going to leave if there's a fire.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13And so, by law, they always have to have a notice on the door.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18- Look at that, and tell me where you think you'd get out?- It's a long way.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20We've got to go past one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
0:14:20 > 0:14:228, 9, 10, 11 rooms,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and then down four flights of stairs. It's quite a journey.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27It is, isn't it? Shall we just go and walk the route?
0:14:27 > 0:14:29OK, let's walk the route.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32It may seem obsessive,
0:14:32 > 0:14:36but it's always worth walking the escape route in a hotel
0:14:36 > 0:14:37as soon as you arrive.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39For the sake of a couple of minutes,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42it could save your life.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46According to that plan, we were going to have to go all the way down here,
0:14:46 > 0:14:47but...
0:14:47 > 0:14:48HE LAUGHS
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Look what's there.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51- Fire escape.- Yep.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53- Why wouldn't that be on their map? - I don't know.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56You might think, how do I get out? Read the plan
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- and just run that way. - Possibly into danger.- Yeah!
0:15:00 > 0:15:03The Hotel Aldeia is an accident waiting to happen.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Later, we discover more danger in the deep.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10- Oh, my goodness, look at that. - That is absolutely horrible.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14And confront the manager with our findings.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18I'm so concerned, and I'm sure you must be concerned as well.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28These days the world is our oyster when it comes to foreign holidays
0:15:28 > 0:15:32and for many of us it's the thought of our annual fortnight in the sun
0:15:32 > 0:15:36that keeps us going through those long, dreary winter months.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41But, for some unfortunate souls,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44their dreams of holiday heaven can turn into anything but.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52I'm meeting travellers who've had the holiday from hell.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55Couldn't wait to get out of there,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59there was a construction site going on next door.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03And trying my best to give them some brand-new happy holiday memories.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06It sounds like you were a bit nervous.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08My heart rate goes up.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Holidays can be a time to completely switch off,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20relaxing in the pool, lying on the beach,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23but for some people it's an opportunity to do something different,
0:16:23 > 0:16:27to take on a challenge or an excursion that's exciting and new
0:16:27 > 0:16:32but adventures are adventures because they come with an element of risk.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40Egypt, exotic, historic, magical.
0:16:40 > 0:16:46It's a country that's captured our imaginations for centuries.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50In 2010, close to a million and a half of us holidayed there.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Linda Lea of Staffordshire caught the Egypt bug early.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Since I was about eight years of age
0:17:09 > 0:17:12I developed an interest in Egypt,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15the mythology, the area, the people.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23In 2009, Linda decided to fulfil her childhood dreams
0:17:23 > 0:17:26and book the holiday of a lifetime to Luxor.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29She planned to cruise down the Nile and see the Valley of the Kings.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32But, as Linda was travelling alone,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34her daughter Debbie was a little nervous.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39My mum's always had a bit of a kind of a disaster-ridden history
0:17:39 > 0:17:43with holidays, so when she said this time she was going on holiday
0:17:43 > 0:17:45I said, "Whatever you do, just come back in one piece."
0:17:45 > 0:17:50Before the cruise began Linda palled up with some other lone travellers,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54one offered up an exciting suggestion.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06One of the ladies on the holiday had been given some money
0:18:06 > 0:18:13to have a balloon trip over the desert on the Saturday morning.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17And at the last minute on the Friday I agreed to go with her.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23Linda's new friend Caroline had booked the trip with a local balloon company.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26It's a popular way to see the Egyptian sights
0:18:26 > 0:18:29and, for many tourists, makes for unforgettable memories.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31But for Linda,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35the memories would be unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38When we got there
0:18:38 > 0:18:42and pulled into a valley which was in front of one of the temples
0:18:42 > 0:18:49it was all screaming and noise and I thought, "I don't like this very much."
0:18:49 > 0:18:55As Caroline snapped away with her camera, Linda started to become alarmed.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Then I looked up at the balloon and I was watching it
0:18:57 > 0:19:00because it was still being inflated as it went up
0:19:00 > 0:19:04and suddenly it changed shape from being round,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08to being sort of angular and it drifted sideways.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12And as I was actually watching it, it burst.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14Sorry.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21The balloon had caught on a mobile phone mast and ripped.
0:19:21 > 0:19:27It plummeted 30 feet to the ground, spilling its passengers as it fell.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29And there was just a crash
0:19:29 > 0:19:34and I heard the bones of my legs break and then I passed out.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45And when I came to, the place was just like a battlefield,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48I was trapped in the bottom of the basket and when I looked out,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50there were bodies everywhere.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Linda was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03Her friend Caroline had several broken vertebrae
0:20:03 > 0:20:07and, in total, 16 people were injured.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11It took two days for Debbie to reach her mother's side.
0:20:11 > 0:20:17And I just remember running into this room and there's your mum
0:20:17 > 0:20:21and she's got this horrible metal contraption around her head and
0:20:21 > 0:20:28there's all tubes going in and out and I think I just burst into tears.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Linda had broken 62 bones.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32Her accident led to a major
0:20:32 > 0:20:36shake-up of the industry by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39But, tragically,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43the experience has left Linda scared to go anywhere on holiday again.
0:20:45 > 0:20:51It has really affected my life in as much as there are things that
0:20:51 > 0:20:53I look at that I would love to do
0:20:53 > 0:20:56which I just know at this point in time I can't.
0:20:56 > 0:21:03'Later, I take Linda back to Egypt, but have I made a mistake?'
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- How is it going so far? - I was absolutely terrified.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10'And I get to the bottom of how to have a safe
0:21:10 > 0:21:12'and successful excursion.'
0:21:12 > 0:21:14OK, what could go wrong?
0:21:24 > 0:21:283½ million of us visit the Balearic Islands every year,
0:21:28 > 0:21:30many drawn to the world-famous nightlife.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35But sometimes the party fun can come at a heavy price.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38'Patrolling with the police on the streets of Magaluf, I've got
0:21:38 > 0:21:45'a front-row view of what can happen when we Brits booze abroad.'
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Do you understand, why they do it?
0:21:48 > 0:21:50I don't know, we don't understand.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Somebody of 18 years old comes here
0:21:53 > 0:21:55and they drink alcohol
0:21:55 > 0:21:58till they have to go to hospital. I don't understand that.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Well, I tell you this place is absolutely buzzing
0:22:03 > 0:22:07and most people are here to have a great time, but Cisco's put
0:22:07 > 0:22:11his finger on it - too much booze leads to a bucket-load of trouble.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14'As I soon witness for myself.'
0:22:18 > 0:22:22- What's happening?- We think there's a fight there.- They're fighting?
0:22:22 > 0:22:27'A young Brit has just attacked the owner of a club.'
0:22:28 > 0:22:32That British girl just leapt across the street like a tigress,
0:22:32 > 0:22:37but the police just went in, grabbed her. Already the Brits are just
0:22:37 > 0:22:42showing what happens when they've got a few too many inside them.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46'6,000 Brits were banged up in foreign jails last year,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48'nearly a third of them in Spain.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52'Here in Magaluf, most of the Brits arrested had committed
0:22:52 > 0:22:56'public-order offences, many fuelled by drink.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01'So what do you need to know if you're going for a drink abroad?
0:23:01 > 0:23:05'Well, while drinking in public might be tolerated in Mallorca,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09'if you tried the same in other top holiday spots like Dubai
0:23:09 > 0:23:13'or even America, you could end up in jail.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16'Be aware that any injuries or accidents that you suffer whilst
0:23:16 > 0:23:20'under the influence could make your insurance invalid. And recent
0:23:20 > 0:23:25'research suggests that alcohol may remove vital anti-oxidants
0:23:25 > 0:23:30'from your skin and make you more prone to sunburn the following day.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35'Back on the beat, it's not long before the two Franciscos
0:23:35 > 0:23:39'and I come across another British lad in bother.'
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Hola, What's your friend done?
0:23:41 > 0:23:42Caught his foot in glass.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Was he on the beach or in a club?
0:23:46 > 0:23:49I don't know how many clubs.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53But he's got blood everywhere on his feet there.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00By the sound of it, they were at a party and somehow he's
0:24:00 > 0:24:03put his foot on glass and he's just split the bottom of his foot wide
0:24:03 > 0:24:08open and the paramedics have bound his foot up but it looks as if he's
0:24:08 > 0:24:12going to be a hospital case, there is blood absolutely everywhere.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16And, sad to say, he's a bit the worse for drink, as well.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21'Over a quarter of a million of us
0:24:21 > 0:24:25'needed medical attention whilst on our holidays last year.'
0:24:25 > 0:24:27MUSIC: "Save Me" by Aretha Franklin
0:24:30 > 0:24:34'And more Brits were hospitalised in Spain than in any other country.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37'Here in this Mallorcan medical centre,
0:24:37 > 0:24:42'they deal with a daily deluge of unlucky Brits.'
0:24:45 > 0:24:50- I got bitten by a mosquito. - Caught my chin on the work surface of the kitchen.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Stood on a sea urchin and something else.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54SHE GROANS
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Today, 55-year-old Bristolian Bernie Williams has limped in with
0:24:58 > 0:25:00a mystery illness.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03He thinks he may have been stung by a Mallorcan jellyfish.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08Went swimming, got out went back to the hotel for a shower,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10and all I ended up with...
0:25:10 > 0:25:14It's spreading up, don't know what it is, it's so painful.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Now you can come in. With a smiling face now.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Bernie is one of 3,000 holidaymakers to visit
0:25:21 > 0:25:26this clinic every summer, even if he WAS reluctant to do so.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30I didn't want to come in to see a doctor, my sister made me.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34- Because she has a brain.- It's always best to check things out.
0:25:34 > 0:25:40Never happened before, first time it happened to you? It just hurt all around?
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Just the foot.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46It seems the problem is not quite as exotic as a jellyfish.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50The hot holiday weather has encouraged an infection.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52It's an infection of the vessels,
0:25:52 > 0:25:57Because of the heat, the pores open easier and some germs go inside.
0:25:57 > 0:26:04Luckily, Dr Angel Avila is an expert in saving folks' holidays.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Two injections now to stop the reaction and inflammation,
0:26:07 > 0:26:11and afterwards, the medication - antibiotics and anti-inflammatory.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13You'll be better in 15 minutes.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15- You sure?- Absolutely.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16Will it stop me drinking?
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- Absolutely not. - That's all right then.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Don't worry about your holidays, it will be the same.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25All right, here we go, with all my love.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29The injections will take almost immediate effect, allowing
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Bernie and his family to get straight back to their holiday fun.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38- Behave, but if you don't behave, invite me.- Cheers, Doc.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43Next to throw himself on the mercy of the good doctor
0:26:43 > 0:26:45is 23-year-old Chris Cyrus.
0:26:45 > 0:26:50He and his twin brother Dave are fitness fanatics, but this morning
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Chris is fit for nothing - he's picked up a painful ankle injury.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59I felt it snap, felt like someone had just kicked me
0:26:59 > 0:27:02with footie boots or something, pretty much ended up
0:27:02 > 0:27:07on the floor, crawling around trying to get to a seat.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10You might think sporty Chris hurt himself doing something
0:27:10 > 0:27:13extreme or heroic.
0:27:13 > 0:27:14Think again.
0:27:14 > 0:27:20- How was it done?- Went down on a kerb and felt it snap.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Were you drunk at this moment?
0:27:22 > 0:27:24No, nothing at all.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25No alcohol, nothing else?
0:27:25 > 0:27:27BOTH: No.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30- Please can I check you out? - Yes, of course you can.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33But, as trivial as the accident seems,
0:27:33 > 0:27:37it could have serious repercussions for Chris.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Dr Avila is worried it's a problem with his Achilles tendon.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45if it's seriously damaged, it could permanently affect Chris's walking.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47So I'm going to prepare the injection for you now
0:27:47 > 0:27:50and afterwards, we'll send you to the clinic.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Just turn over, please.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56After an initial examination, Dr Avila decides to rush Chris
0:27:56 > 0:27:59to a specialist for further investigation and a scan.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02As soon as you go to the clinic, it will be solved, the problem,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04we'll know exactly what's going on, right?
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Take care, man. I'll write the papers.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Scans, medication, and examination costs could
0:28:10 > 0:28:15run into the hundreds of pounds, and any surgery, potentially thousands.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20- Good thing you've got insurance. - Yeah, I know!
0:28:25 > 0:28:31Fortunately, the lads have good travel insurance and an EHIC.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35The European Health Insurance Card lets you get state healthcare
0:28:35 > 0:28:39anywhere in the EU for free or at a reduced cost.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42But you must apply for it before your journey.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47And, remember, it's not a substitute for private travel insurance.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49I didn't want to scare him, of course.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52If it's broken and we don't join it again,
0:28:52 > 0:28:54he can't walk properly any more.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59- That hurts, yeah. - I need you to turn around.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02- It's painful here?- Yep.
0:29:02 > 0:29:08The scan will confirm the problem but orthopaedic surgeon Dr Garcia is pessimistic.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Your Achilles tendon, is broken.
0:29:10 > 0:29:11Argh!
0:29:14 > 0:29:18OK, we're going to make the coffee and after that, we talk again.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25I can't believe that. Please don't be broken.
0:29:30 > 0:29:35Later we'll find out just how serious Chris' condition really is.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49Around two million of us visit Portugal every year,
0:29:49 > 0:29:53most drawn to the glorious weather and sandy beaches of the Algarve.
0:29:53 > 0:29:58But not all of us return home with a sunny disposition.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00FAWLTY TOWERS THEME TUNE PLAYS
0:30:03 > 0:30:08The Hotel da Aldeia in Albufeira has been winding up British tourists
0:30:08 > 0:30:12no end. So as part of our mission to bring holiday accommodation up to
0:30:12 > 0:30:17scratch, health and safety expert Lisa and I are inspecting it.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21So far, we've discovered it to be a veritable duke of hazards,
0:30:21 > 0:30:26with balconies, electrics, and furnishings all posing a risk.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31'Our next stop, the Aldeia's impressive pool.'
0:30:31 > 0:30:35So here we are at the pool area. It's a magnificent-size pool, isn't it?
0:30:35 > 0:30:38It is lovely, It's actually really beautiful.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42'But appearances can be deceptive. Eagle-eyed Lisa has spotted
0:30:42 > 0:30:46'something nasty lurking beneath the surface.'
0:30:53 > 0:30:55I don't know what's been going on here,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58but it's as if they were cleaning and ran out of steam.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02If you just go into the pool and have a little scrape...
0:31:02 > 0:31:03you can actually see...
0:31:03 > 0:31:05Oh, my goodness, look at that.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07That is absolutely horrible!
0:31:07 > 0:31:10Even apart from those really dirty tiles,
0:31:10 > 0:31:12there's scum around the edge.
0:31:12 > 0:31:13The clarity isn't perfect.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17I've seen much worse but it's not crystal-clear.
0:31:17 > 0:31:22'Parasites from unclean pools can cause stomach pains,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24'vomiting, nausea and fever.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29'Lisa takes a water sample to check for chlorine levels.'
0:31:29 > 0:31:34Why is chlorine so important, in basic terms?
0:31:34 > 0:31:39We have chlorine in there for disinfection purposes.
0:31:39 > 0:31:46It's one of the ways of disinfecting a pool and basically, it kills the bacteria.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50You don't want too much, because otherwise people can get skin rashes
0:31:50 > 0:31:56and you don't want too little, because otherwise, it's not doing its job.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00'The readings are way too low.'
0:32:00 > 0:32:03You'd like to see 150 and you've got 7?
0:32:03 > 0:32:05Yeah, that's not good, is it?
0:32:05 > 0:32:09'It's time to confront the hotel with our findings.
0:32:09 > 0:32:14'Manager Roberto has only been at the Aldeia for a few weeks.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18'But he's got his work cut out to turn this hotel around.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22'Lisa's urgent priority is to sort out the potentially
0:32:22 > 0:32:24'life-threatening escape routes.'
0:32:24 > 0:32:28The fire arrangements on the back of the door, it doesn't actually
0:32:28 > 0:32:31tell you where the nearest fire exit is. It points you in the direction
0:32:31 > 0:32:33of the furthest one.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Somebody needs to have a look at those notices
0:32:35 > 0:32:38and make sure that they're accurate, so if there is
0:32:38 > 0:32:42a fire, people can get out of the nearest exit very quickly.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46'Then there's the nasty stains that I had to sleep on.'
0:32:46 > 0:32:50The mattresses are obviously quite old in some situations.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52The one I stayed on was a bit grotty.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54Some of the mattresses have gone too far,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57but if you had really good mattress covers, mattress protectors
0:32:57 > 0:33:01that fit all the way round, and also pillow protectors,
0:33:01 > 0:33:02you'll save money in the long run.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05You can't launder a mattress once it's got really dirty.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09Next, that Petri dish of a swimming pool.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11The chlorine level isn't good enough.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15You need a member of staff taking responsibility for that,
0:33:15 > 0:33:17measuring it twice a day,
0:33:17 > 0:33:19and you could have a blackboard.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21Some hotels actually put down
0:33:21 > 0:33:26the temperature of the water and the pH and the free chlorine
0:33:26 > 0:33:27as a sort of selling point
0:33:27 > 0:33:30to the guests so that they know that the pool is safe to swim in.
0:33:30 > 0:33:36'These problems are bad enough but by far the biggest worry
0:33:36 > 0:33:39'is the decrepit balconies - an accident waiting to happen.'
0:33:39 > 0:33:41There was a big concern there for you, wasn't there?
0:33:41 > 0:33:45This is the biggest concern. They're not tall enough, they're wobbly,
0:33:45 > 0:33:47they have big gaps in them.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50I'm very concerned that somebody could go in there. Little children
0:33:50 > 0:33:54could put their feet on there and go over the edge.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58Yes, in fact, we have a project for refurbishing of this hotel.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02Of course, we won't do this in one, but step-by-step.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06That's got to be the highest priority. I'm so concerned
0:34:06 > 0:34:09that someone could actually die from falling off the balcony.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12If there's anything that can be done to hurry up
0:34:12 > 0:34:15the process of refurbishment, that would make me very happy.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20'It's vital that Roberto acts on these recommendations immediately.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24'Right now, he seems to be making the right noises.'
0:34:24 > 0:34:27This is the biggest challenge that I've had so far.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29And I love challenge.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32I want to put this hotel in a high standard.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36Our guests need to be secure in a secure place.
0:34:36 > 0:34:41But talk is one thing. Will he be true to his promise?
0:34:44 > 0:34:46Coming up on the programme...
0:34:46 > 0:34:51'We send health and safety inspector Simon Gregory to a Cretan hotel
0:34:51 > 0:34:53'that doesn't scrub up well.'
0:34:53 > 0:34:56It is an area a pest would absolutely love.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59'And I try to conjure up some magic memories for our victim
0:34:59 > 0:35:02'of the holiday from hell.'
0:35:02 > 0:35:05My lasting memory of Luxor was horror.
0:35:05 > 0:35:11But first, I'm donning my lab coat for a holiday science lesson.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17'From tummy trouble...' A kind of liquid, isn't it?
0:35:17 > 0:35:20Yes, I'm afraid this is what it looks like. It's liquid poo.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22..to the holiday sneezes...
0:35:22 > 0:35:24HE SNEEZES
0:35:24 > 0:35:28..all too often, an avoidable illness can take
0:35:28 > 0:35:30the sheen off our holiday dream.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33A burn like this, I mean, aside
0:35:33 > 0:35:36from the fact it would have ruined the holiday, it's very dangerous.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39'So, I've been finding out how to combat those irksome
0:35:39 > 0:35:42'ailments in our very own Holiday Hit Squad lab.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46'This week, we're looking at the scourge of many a sunshine break.'
0:35:46 > 0:35:51There's no getting away from it, mosquitoes can ruin a holiday.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54They can keep you awake at night with that irritating whine,
0:35:54 > 0:35:58which, when it stops, means... you know you've probably been bitten.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02And you then spend days scratching at the offending lump.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05But apart from causing us misery,
0:36:05 > 0:36:09mosquitoes CAN make you very ill indeed.
0:36:09 > 0:36:16'Dr Chris van Tulleken has promised to teach me how these nasty little
0:36:16 > 0:36:21'pests spread disease and how to stop them from ruining our holidays.'
0:36:21 > 0:36:25First of all, just explain to me why should we be worried
0:36:25 > 0:36:28about mozzies. I mean, what is it that they do that makes us ill?
0:36:28 > 0:36:31Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animal on the planet.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34It's not tigers or sharks, it's mosquitoes.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36That's because they transmit diseases.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38Malaria's the most obvious one,
0:36:38 > 0:36:42but they transmit very nasty viruses that can kill you and parasites.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44The filarial worms that give you
0:36:44 > 0:36:47conditions like elephantiasis can be transmitted by mosquito.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52'Mozzies are carriers for a whole smorgasbord of diseases
0:36:52 > 0:36:54'from dengue fever to malaria,
0:36:54 > 0:36:59'which is estimated to kill over one million people worldwide every year.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03'Brave Dr Chris has volunteered to show me how it happens.
0:37:03 > 0:37:09'Apparently, it's only the female that bites, using blood for energy to lay eggs.'
0:37:09 > 0:37:15# The female of the species is more deadlier than the male... #
0:37:15 > 0:37:19You can see the body swelling with your blood.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23Is that the point that if she is infected in some way,
0:37:23 > 0:37:26putting some kind of virus into your skin?
0:37:26 > 0:37:28It's as she sticks in the proboscis,
0:37:28 > 0:37:31which is a long, toothed tube,
0:37:31 > 0:37:32she injects saliva
0:37:32 > 0:37:35and the saliva usually contains the parasites
0:37:35 > 0:37:39or the viruses to be transmitted.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43She's laying little droplets of liquid from my blood
0:37:43 > 0:37:44out the back passage there.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47That means she can take in more protein from the blood.
0:37:47 > 0:37:48She gets rid of the waste.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50You can see the stuff come out the other end.
0:37:52 > 0:37:57Why is it that mosquitoes like some people and not others?
0:37:57 > 0:38:03The worse you smell, the more likely you are to get bitten.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05In body odour, there's a chemical called oxynol.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Mosquitoes will follow our carbon dioxide
0:38:08 > 0:38:10toward us.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14When they get close, they'll decide which body odour they prefer.
0:38:14 > 0:38:19'You don't even have to have your blood sucked to become ill.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22'The moment a mosquito breaks through your skin,
0:38:22 > 0:38:27'you are vulnerable to catching any disease that it may carry.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30'Which is why prevention is so important.'
0:38:30 > 0:38:32What is the best insect repellent?
0:38:32 > 0:38:37It's quite nasty stuff developed by the US military called Diethyl-toluamide.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42It dissolves plastic, it's a powerful solvent, but very un-reactive for skin.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Very few people are allergic and it's relatively non-toxic if you don't drink it.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48But we don't call it that, we call it DEET?
0:38:48 > 0:38:50We call it DEET, exactly.
0:38:50 > 0:38:55'There are plenty of myths about what repels mosquitoes, but the reality
0:38:55 > 0:39:00'is that each year around 2,000 people bring malaria back to the UK.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02'So, we're doing an experiment.
0:39:02 > 0:39:08'I'm wearing DEET, and last night, Dr Chris ate a feast of all
0:39:08 > 0:39:12'the folk remedies - garlic, Marmite, and vitamin B,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15'all washed down with beer to see if that'll put them off.
0:39:15 > 0:39:21'We'll each put our hands in a box teeming with mosquitoes.'
0:39:21 > 0:39:25These are young females. They've never eaten in their lives,
0:39:25 > 0:39:28so they are absolutely ravenous...
0:39:28 > 0:39:31- You're fresh meat!- I am fresh meat. - They're avoiding me like the plague.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34It's good. They have no interest in landing on you whatsoever.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36I mean, they really, really don't like it.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40- OK. So now look at my hand. - Gosh, you're covered in them!
0:39:40 > 0:39:44Look at that. And not one on me.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48I think we've made our point, can we just come out? There we go.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51- So you can see here. - Wow, look at that!
0:39:51 > 0:39:54What do we do afterwards to mitigate the misery?
0:39:54 > 0:39:57Well, a few really simple things. What I want to do right now
0:39:57 > 0:39:58is put my hand in some cool water.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01So get cool, take an antihistamine tablet - non-drowsy in the morning,
0:40:01 > 0:40:04drowsy in the evening, that'll help you sleep. Put some cream on it,
0:40:04 > 0:40:07a mild steroid cream or some antihistamine cream.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13So what can we do to ensure that those pesky mozzies
0:40:13 > 0:40:15don't ruin our holiday?
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Use a DEET-based mosquito repellent.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22Unlike other so-called remedies, this one actually works.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24If you do get attacked,
0:40:24 > 0:40:29then place the bitten area in cold water as soon as you can.
0:40:29 > 0:40:34And take an anti-histamine pill to alleviate the pain from the bites.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37# Another one bites the dust! #
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Ah, Crete.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Just a four-hour flight away
0:40:49 > 0:40:52and the largest of Greece's 1,400 islands,
0:40:52 > 0:40:55it's no wonder that so many of us flock here every year.
0:40:55 > 0:41:00# ..Down to Greece on holiday
0:41:00 > 0:41:01# Oh, oh, oh... #
0:41:01 > 0:41:04But those of you who visited the Neon Hotel
0:41:04 > 0:41:06have been distinctly unimpressed,
0:41:06 > 0:41:10with online complaints ranging from dirty rooms
0:41:10 > 0:41:14and uncomfortable beds to poor breakfasts and unfriendly staff.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20A double room here costs up to £42 per night.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25Keen to put things right, manager Aristea has sent us an SOS.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37We've dispatched our very own health and safety superhero to the island.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42# When there's a problem in your town... #
0:41:42 > 0:41:44White coat, got a probe thermometer,
0:41:44 > 0:41:47that will come with me everywhere I go.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50With six years' experience in the inspection business,
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Simon has all the tools of the trade.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57UV torch - this is mainly used for checking for pests.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02To be true, I'm a little bit scared,
0:42:02 > 0:42:05because you don't really know what to expect,
0:42:05 > 0:42:08because you can see all the problems at your hotel.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10Voila!
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Aristea's nerves may be justified,
0:42:13 > 0:42:16as Simon soon spies danger in the bedrooms.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21There's no protection for fire, there's no fire alarm.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24In the corridors, there's fire alarm systems in the corridors,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26they just don't extend to the bedrooms,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28no smoke alarm or anything like that,
0:42:28 > 0:42:31so it's obviously quite a high risk that there's no smoke alarm in here.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35It doesn't get any better in the stairwell.
0:42:35 > 0:42:40Me and you, it's not a problem, but for a child...
0:42:40 > 0:42:43You could be in big trouble down there.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47Simon thinks kids are also at risk in the guest lounge.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Again, we're talking about children,
0:42:49 > 0:42:51one thing they're going to possibly run into.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Start fiddling with wires.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56Hopefully they wouldn't, but there is always the possibility.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58So Mr Maintenance Man, he's going to have to sort this out
0:42:58 > 0:43:00because we need to make sure that
0:43:00 > 0:43:05these are all joined, tied and kept out of reach.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09Next, Simon wants to go all CSI in the kitchen.
0:43:09 > 0:43:13- We'll go through to the kitchen now?- Yes.- Excellent.
0:43:13 > 0:43:17He's using a swab-testing machine to check levels of cleanliness.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20We're going to check your preparation surface
0:43:20 > 0:43:22to see if it's been properly and correctly cleaned.
0:43:22 > 0:43:26What we're looking at, anything over 30 will be dirty.
0:43:28 > 0:43:313-0-2. OK? So we've scored quite high.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34That basically means that the preparation surface
0:43:34 > 0:43:38wasn't cleaned properly after the actual service.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42Which I'm not surprised, because there are a few bits and pieces
0:43:42 > 0:43:44and bits of food remains on there.
0:43:44 > 0:43:46So it is a high score, it's not terrible,
0:43:46 > 0:43:49but it does show that there's need and room for improvement.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52High-risk foods such as meat, eggs or fish
0:43:52 > 0:43:55should be stored below five degrees Centigrade
0:43:55 > 0:43:58to prevent the growth of harmful organisms.
0:43:59 > 0:44:02I'll just take the temperature.
0:44:02 > 0:44:04In the UK, half of all cases of salmonella
0:44:04 > 0:44:07are likely to have been contracted abroad.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10It's around 11... 10, 11 degrees.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12This is a problem because any foods like that
0:44:12 > 0:44:16will start to build bacteria growth throughout time
0:44:16 > 0:44:18and then by the time you get to actually serve it
0:44:18 > 0:44:21the food's not in a good place and therefore
0:44:21 > 0:44:23the guest is eating bad food.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26For Simon, there are some serious issues
0:44:26 > 0:44:28that Aristea urgently needs to address.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31Cleanliness, pest-proofing
0:44:31 > 0:44:34and maintenance issues were our main three areas.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37We're not cleaning right underneath the actual food units themselves,
0:44:37 > 0:44:41so we need to get the cleaners really working on that.
0:44:41 > 0:44:42One of the big areas we spoke about
0:44:42 > 0:44:45was that the food is actually at the correct temperature.
0:44:45 > 0:44:48Now, we need our maintenance man to have a look at the fridge,
0:44:48 > 0:44:53do some tests, clear it out, and hopefully it can be fixed.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59The Neon Hotel has a lot of work to do
0:44:59 > 0:45:02before it will satisfy our health and safety man.
0:45:03 > 0:45:05To keep an area clean costs no money at all,
0:45:05 > 0:45:09barring some hard work, and then keeping those standards.
0:45:09 > 0:45:10That's not to say that
0:45:10 > 0:45:13they are not going to work hard and try and improve.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15Thanks to our feedback,
0:45:15 > 0:45:18Aristea now knows what she needs to do to put things right.
0:45:19 > 0:45:24For me, it was very good experience. We start making the changes,
0:45:24 > 0:45:29they need to be done, so everybody will be happy.
0:45:33 > 0:45:37As millions of us prepare to jet off for our summer holidays,
0:45:37 > 0:45:40the one place you don't want to visit is a hospital or clinic.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46Back at the Juaneda Medical Centre in Mallorca,
0:45:46 > 0:45:50the team continue to treat a whole parade of British walking wounded,
0:45:50 > 0:45:52patching up everything from dodgy arms...
0:45:52 > 0:45:56I just slipped on the wet floor and hurt my arm.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59I was at a foam party and fell on my wrist.
0:45:59 > 0:46:00..To dodgy eyes.
0:46:00 > 0:46:04- It's just sore, it's painful? - Yeah, really sore.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07But while most are quickly sent on their merry way...
0:46:07 > 0:46:09Take care!
0:46:09 > 0:46:11..for Scarborough lad Chris Cyrus,
0:46:11 > 0:46:14who slipped off a kerb, it's more serious.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19Please don't be broken. I'll be gutted if it is, man.
0:46:20 > 0:46:24A scan reveals he's ruptured his Achilles tendon.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28It's partially broken, needs surgery.
0:46:37 > 0:46:41The doctors need to operate immediately.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44I'm a bit nervous. Sooner it happens the sooner I can get out,
0:46:44 > 0:46:48I suppose. I just hope there's no complications,
0:46:48 > 0:46:52cos I just want to be able to walk, run, jump, everything.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56He's given an injection into his spine
0:46:56 > 0:46:59to numb the lower half of his body,
0:46:59 > 0:47:02but he's conscious while surgeon Dr Ramos operates.
0:47:02 > 0:47:06Fortunately, Chris doesn't speak Spanish.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14For twin brother Dave, it's an anxious wait.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16I don't really want to think about it too much,
0:47:16 > 0:47:19especially with me being not allowed to be in there.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21I can't say anything to cheer him up
0:47:21 > 0:47:24or tell him it's going to be all right or anything like that.
0:47:24 > 0:47:26I have no idea what's going on until I see him.
0:47:26 > 0:47:27He's told his girlfriend,
0:47:27 > 0:47:32but he didn't directly tell my mum or my grandma or anyone like that.
0:47:32 > 0:47:34They're going to be going out of their mind.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36He's just told his girlfriend to tell them.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39But it's definitely better coming from someone else,
0:47:39 > 0:47:41because if we talk we'd never get off the phone.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44But Chris is in good hands.
0:47:44 > 0:47:47Dr Ramos skilfully repairs the tendon,
0:47:47 > 0:47:50and in no time, the operation is over.
0:47:52 > 0:47:53OK, finished.
0:47:55 > 0:47:56Surgery is OK, very good.
0:47:59 > 0:48:03I believe, in the future, no problem with this case.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08If he hadn't had travel insurance or an EHIC,
0:48:08 > 0:48:12Chris's treatment would have cost thousands of pounds.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15Luckily, he was well-prepared.
0:48:15 > 0:48:17I've earned a drink.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19Chris spent the rest of his holiday relaxing,
0:48:19 > 0:48:22and is now back home in Scarborough recuperating.
0:48:33 > 0:48:36Back in Portugal, it's a month after Lisa and I
0:48:36 > 0:48:40carried out our inspection of the Hotel da Aldeia.
0:48:40 > 0:48:44So has manager Roberto been acting on Lisa's recommendations?
0:48:46 > 0:48:51Regarding trip hazards. The corners of the glass table, I took it out
0:48:51 > 0:48:56and put other tables. In some of the rooms the carpets
0:48:56 > 0:49:00are not correct fit, so we took the carpets out the room.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03The disgusting stained bedding has been replaced
0:49:03 > 0:49:07and Roberto has invested in new mattress protectors.
0:49:07 > 0:49:09The confusing fire escape maps have been redesigned
0:49:09 > 0:49:12and now direct you to the nearest exit.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16And Roberto's also followed Lisa's advice about the swimming pool.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22Now, I just put one employee in charge.
0:49:22 > 0:49:27We have a board with information about chlorine, pH and temperature,
0:49:27 > 0:49:29that we change every single day.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33But what about the lethal balcony rails?
0:49:33 > 0:49:34There's been no change here,
0:49:34 > 0:49:39but Roberto is planning a major refurbishment of the hotel -
0:49:39 > 0:49:41with the balconies his first priority.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44The safety of the guests is very important to us.
0:49:44 > 0:49:46So what I did to avoid any situation,
0:49:46 > 0:49:51I just put information on all the windows of the rooms
0:49:51 > 0:49:53informing that please avoid contact
0:49:53 > 0:49:56directly with the balconies' protection.
0:49:56 > 0:50:00So this winter we are going to refurbish all the balconies.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03At the present moment, with the refurbishment
0:50:03 > 0:50:06of all the areas I'd like to do, I'm expecting to spend
0:50:06 > 0:50:10roughly 2.5 million euros.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12This is exactly what's needed.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15If Roberto follows Lisa's advice,
0:50:15 > 0:50:19the Aldeia will be a safer and cleaner place to stay.
0:50:19 > 0:50:24# It's got to be-e-e-e-e
0:50:24 > 0:50:27# Perfect... #
0:50:27 > 0:50:32But what can you do if your hotel fails to live up to its promise?
0:50:32 > 0:50:35ABTA's Sean Tipton has some advice.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37If it turns out not to be up to scratch -
0:50:37 > 0:50:39it might be not as described,
0:50:39 > 0:50:42or maybe even worse, maybe it's dirty or unsafe...
0:50:42 > 0:50:44Now, there are two ways you can book this kind of holiday,
0:50:44 > 0:50:46firstly as part of a package,
0:50:46 > 0:50:48and if you've done that, go and see the rep.
0:50:48 > 0:50:49Let them know what the problem is
0:50:49 > 0:50:51and they'll do their best to rectify it there and then,
0:50:51 > 0:50:54even if it means moving you to another hotel.
0:50:54 > 0:50:56However if you've made your own arrangements,
0:50:56 > 0:50:58if you've booked independently, then it may well mean
0:50:58 > 0:51:01your contract is with the place you're staying in.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04If it's not up to scratch and they don't rectify it there and then,
0:51:04 > 0:51:07it can be very difficult to sort the problem out.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10Wherever in the world you choose to visit,
0:51:10 > 0:51:14forward planning is the key to a stress-free holiday.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16So to avoid nasty surprises,
0:51:16 > 0:51:21make sure you check online hotel reviews before you book.
0:51:21 > 0:51:26# Pe-e-e-e-e-erfect. #
0:51:29 > 0:51:33For many of us, a holiday in exotic, historic Egypt
0:51:33 > 0:51:37is the stuff of dreams - but not for everyone.
0:51:37 > 0:51:39Earlier we met Linda.
0:51:39 > 0:51:43Now, what happened to her in Egypt is the stuff of nightmares.
0:51:43 > 0:51:48Linda's life was literally turned upside down.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52The hot-air balloon that Linda was supposed to be enjoying
0:51:52 > 0:51:56an excursion in crashed, injuring 16 passengers
0:51:56 > 0:52:00and leaving Linda with more than 60 broken bones.
0:52:00 > 0:52:02The experience has traumatised her so much
0:52:02 > 0:52:05that she's now terrified to travel at all.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08What happened to Linda physically was awful,
0:52:08 > 0:52:11and she was so frightened by everything that happened in Luxor
0:52:11 > 0:52:14she said she'd never return to this country,
0:52:14 > 0:52:15which is heartbreaking,
0:52:15 > 0:52:19because she's loved Egypt since she was a little girl.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24I want so much to get Linda's confidence back,
0:52:24 > 0:52:27so I've flown her and daughter Debbie back to Egypt -
0:52:27 > 0:52:31but I'm worried that returning just three years after her accident
0:52:31 > 0:52:32might be a step too far.
0:52:35 > 0:52:37When you finally did get home,
0:52:37 > 0:52:40how did you feel about holidays in general?
0:52:40 > 0:52:42- I don't think it even crossed her mind.- No.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44It's sort of been the word that you don't mention in the house.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47- You don't mention Egypt. - When the prospect
0:52:47 > 0:52:50of coming back to Egypt came up, how did you feel then?
0:52:50 > 0:52:54I went into panic mode, I really did.
0:52:54 > 0:52:57I was absolutely terrified about the flight,
0:52:57 > 0:53:00I didn't know how I was going to feel about the people.
0:53:00 > 0:53:03I was really so tense.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07To try to give Linda the courage to travel again,
0:53:07 > 0:53:10I'm pulling out all the stops.
0:53:10 > 0:53:15I'm treating her to some five-star pampering in Sharm El Sheikh.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19It's a well-organised resort geared up for Western tourists.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22I'm hoping it's the perfect gentle reintroduction
0:53:22 > 0:53:25to Egyptian culture for a very nervous Linda.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29# Cos I-I-I-I-I
0:53:29 > 0:53:33# Need ti-i-i-i-ime... #
0:53:33 > 0:53:38- Enjoying that, Mum? - You realise this is a first.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43Sharm el Sheikh's chief attraction is its world-class marine life,
0:53:43 > 0:53:45and I've found a way for Linda
0:53:45 > 0:53:49to experience the Red Sea's spectacular underwater world safely
0:53:49 > 0:53:51and without getting her feet wet.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54That's pretty, isn't it?
0:53:56 > 0:53:59'While they enjoy the view from a glass-bottom boat...'
0:54:01 > 0:54:03OK, what could go wrong?
0:54:03 > 0:54:05'..I'm going to test the water for them.'
0:54:05 > 0:54:08You've done this before, haven't you?
0:54:08 > 0:54:12'Even on the best planned diving expeditions, accidents do happen.
0:54:12 > 0:54:17'Recently two divers, one British, went missing in these waters.
0:54:17 > 0:54:21'So how can we make sure that, whatever we decide to do,
0:54:21 > 0:54:23'our safety is top priority?'
0:54:26 > 0:54:29'As ever, forward planning is the key.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31'Even buying your activities before you leave
0:54:31 > 0:54:33'can give you extra protection.'
0:54:36 > 0:54:38If you're going to take an excursion whilst you're on holiday
0:54:38 > 0:54:40which so many of us do...
0:54:40 > 0:54:42If you book in the UK with a British tour operator
0:54:42 > 0:54:45as part of an inclusive package, then package holidays are covered
0:54:45 > 0:54:48by a law called the Package Travel Regulations.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50What they state is that a tour operator is responsible
0:54:50 > 0:54:52for all aspects of a package.
0:54:52 > 0:54:54They will check the companies they use and make sure
0:54:54 > 0:54:56that they are perfectly safe.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59Inside the boat, Linda and daughter Debbie
0:54:59 > 0:55:02can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19A well-planned excursion can give you a lifetime of happy memories,
0:55:19 > 0:55:23so remember - booking in the UK as part of your package
0:55:23 > 0:55:27can give you extra protection. If you can't do that,
0:55:27 > 0:55:30book through the local official tourist office.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33And, importantly, trust your instincts.
0:55:33 > 0:55:37If equipment looks tatty or the excursion seems disorganised,
0:55:37 > 0:55:38walk away.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42I did not imagine it to be like that.
0:55:42 > 0:55:48It's a jewellery box of colours and textures and sights - unbelievable.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52'But has Linda enjoyed the view as much as me?'
0:55:54 > 0:55:57- Hello, how was it? - Absolutely fantastic.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00- Good time?- Brilliant, yeah. - Did you see much?
0:56:00 > 0:56:02Oh, the fish were gorgeous.
0:56:02 > 0:56:06Rainbow fish and starfish, unicorn fish, we saw.
0:56:06 > 0:56:08And a lot of divers, which made us very jealous!
0:56:08 > 0:56:11The coral reefs are absolutely tremendous in size,
0:56:11 > 0:56:13absolutely brilliant.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15I think that calls for a celebration.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25And it looks as though Linda's enjoying herself.
0:56:27 > 0:56:31So has her new Egyptian experience banished her bad memories?
0:56:32 > 0:56:35Rewind a couple of years, would you have ever thought,
0:56:35 > 0:56:37you would be back here in Egypt?
0:56:37 > 0:56:40- No.- Definitely not.
0:56:40 > 0:56:45My lasting memory of Luxor was horror.
0:56:45 > 0:56:49And I hated that because it just cut off a great part of my life.
0:56:49 > 0:56:53This has bought it back again, this holiday.
0:56:53 > 0:56:57Meeting the Egyptian people, being with them, you know,
0:56:57 > 0:57:00talking to them - it's been absolutely fantastic.
0:57:00 > 0:57:03So how do you feel now then about travelling?
0:57:03 > 0:57:06- No problem.- We're back.- We're back.
0:57:06 > 0:57:10- Well done!- Well, thank you girls, it's been brilliant.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16I'd call that a success.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Thank you, that was brilliant. Well done.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26Sadly, the holiday memories haven't been so happy
0:57:26 > 0:57:29for some of the revellers that I've encountered,
0:57:29 > 0:57:32patrolling the streets of Magaluf with the two Franciscos.
0:57:32 > 0:57:36The girl caught fighting was taken to the police station,
0:57:36 > 0:57:38where luckily for her,
0:57:38 > 0:57:42the club owner she attacked decided not to press charges.
0:57:44 > 0:57:47The British lad who cut his foot partying had it stitched up
0:57:47 > 0:57:51and faced an uncomfortable journey home.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54And the young Scot who was dazed and confused got off lightly
0:57:54 > 0:57:58with the mother of all hangovers. His friends collected him,
0:57:58 > 0:58:01and he eventually did find his way home to Stirling.
0:58:05 > 0:58:08That's it from the Holiday Hit Squad for this week.
0:58:08 > 0:58:10On next week's programme...
0:58:10 > 0:58:13I travel to Florida, home of Disney World,
0:58:13 > 0:58:17and I find my hotel has its own resident mouse.
0:58:17 > 0:58:22I find out just how damaging that healthy-looking tan can be.
0:58:22 > 0:58:26And we hear from a family who were turned into human fireballs
0:58:26 > 0:58:28on holiday in Turkey.
0:58:28 > 0:58:30So until the next time, from all of us,
0:58:30 > 0:58:32- goodbye.- Goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:58:54 > 0:58:58Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd