0:00:04 > 0:00:05Well, it's that time of year again,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08when millions of us are flicking through the brochures
0:00:08 > 0:00:12and deciding where we're going to spend our well-earned holiday break.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15# I am a passenger
0:00:15 > 0:00:18# And I ride and I ride... #
0:00:18 > 0:00:20We all put our trust and our hard-earned cash in the hands
0:00:20 > 0:00:24of the holiday industry, hoping it delivers on its promise.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26But, as many of us know to our cost,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29dream breaks can turn into nightmares.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32I was in that much agony, I knew I'd broke it,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35cos it was completely twisted round the opposite direction.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37We were actually on the cruise ship.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40My nan just suddenly had a stroke.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42'So, from uncovering the bad...'
0:00:42 > 0:00:44The top of the scale there would be close the pool,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- and this is off the scale.- It is.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48'To highlighting the good...'
0:00:48 > 0:00:50SHE LAUGHS
0:00:50 > 0:00:53The Holiday Hit Squad is back and we're more determined than ever
0:00:53 > 0:00:59to ensure that holiday blues don't mess up your well-earned break.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Coming up on today's programme,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I am investigating how your hotel balcony
0:01:10 > 0:01:12may not be quite as safe as you think it is.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16The last memory I have, everyone's smiling, happy.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19The next thing is I woke up in hospital.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21And Joe and I go head-to-head,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24as we battle to find the best city break.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25'At home...'
0:01:25 > 0:01:26It's stunning.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28'Or away...'
0:01:28 > 0:01:30Great view, great experience, doesn't cost a penny.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33And I get to ride shotgun with the Turkish police.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37My girlfriend's had her purse stolen.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- £500 holiday money.- No!
0:01:39 > 0:01:41But first, I'm checking into a hotel
0:01:41 > 0:01:43that's been driving some Brits bonkers.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51# Heaven
0:01:51 > 0:01:52# I'm in heaven... #
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Now, we've all been there, haven't we?
0:01:55 > 0:01:59You look forward all year to your well-earned break in the sun,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02but when you rock up at your accommodation,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04instead of Hotel Paradise...
0:02:06 > 0:02:09..what you've actually got is more Bates Motel.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14# Should I stay or should I go now... #
0:02:14 > 0:02:15'That's why this series,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18'I'm checking in again, to plumb the depths... '
0:02:18 > 0:02:22My terror is that a child could fall in and not be seen.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24'..and pull back the covers...'
0:02:24 > 0:02:25I dread to think what that is.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27'..on some of the hotels that have
0:02:27 > 0:02:30'been winding the British guests right up.'
0:02:30 > 0:02:32I'm guessing you won't be coming back?
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Not me, definitely not.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37What do you think needs fixing most?
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Have you got a bulldozer?
0:02:39 > 0:02:43'And, today, I'm in one of our favourite holiday destinations.'
0:02:45 > 0:02:47# Should I stay or should I go? #
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Cyprus, the third-biggest island in the Mediterranean,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58tucked away in the southernmost corner of Europe,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01with beautiful beaches and enticing blue seas.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05# On an island in the sun... #
0:03:05 > 0:03:08No wonder, then, that a million Brits
0:03:08 > 0:03:10make their way here every year.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13But not everything about Ayia Napa
0:03:13 > 0:03:16makes us Brits feel like partying.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Some of you have been telling us that the 200-room
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Anthea Hotel hasn't lived up to expectations.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28I wouldn't recommend anyone going back there.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31I certainly won't be going back there myself.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32The quality of the pool was terrible.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36I mean, they have all the railing around the edges,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38that was all cracked.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40And, quite a few times, you'd stand in it, you'd trip,
0:03:40 > 0:03:41you'd fall in the pool.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43The place ruined our holiday.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45It made us feel... We didn't really want to be there,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48at the end of the day.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51And Kraige is not alone.
0:03:51 > 0:03:52Dozens of Brits have been
0:03:52 > 0:03:54complaining online about,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57amongst other things, filthy pools, dirty rooms
0:03:57 > 0:03:59and rating it as
0:03:59 > 0:04:01just plain terrible.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07Not surprisingly, the owners aren't happy about the reviews, either,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09and they've invited us in to help
0:04:09 > 0:04:12them identify what's got guests' goats.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14# Mama told me not to come... #
0:04:14 > 0:04:17'And, when I start asking around...'
0:04:17 > 0:04:19HE KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:04:19 > 0:04:22'..it seems the answer to that is plenty.'
0:04:22 > 0:04:24DOOR SQUEAKS
0:04:24 > 0:04:26- Oh, nice door sound.- Yes!
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- How are you doing, guys?- All right, how are you?- Can I come in?
0:04:29 > 0:04:32- Yeah, no problem. - Great, thank you.
0:04:32 > 0:04:33So, how's the accommodation?
0:04:33 > 0:04:36So, you've got a tiny kind of kitchen area here with a bed in.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38And then, through here,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41you've got another couple of beds?
0:04:41 > 0:04:42- Two beds there.- OK.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44And you've got air-con? How's that going?
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Well, it hasn't been working properly.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49We went to tell them, three days later, it still wasn't working.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50So we went again. Now it's fixed,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53but they won't refund us for the three days...
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Oh, so you paid upfront for a week?
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Yeah, we paid 45 for the air-con?
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- 48 or 56. - For the air-con for the week.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02And, actually, looking at this, there's
0:05:02 > 0:05:06quite a lot of marks on the walls. Sort of footprints and things?
0:05:06 > 0:05:08It wasn't us, as well, we just came in...
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Toothpaste or something on the wall here.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Toothpaste? You see, it's all up the wall, isn't it?
0:05:13 > 0:05:15So, let me get it straight.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18You've paid £650 each for flights and accommodation.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22So, basically, two grand and you're in this tiny room
0:05:22 > 0:05:25that's dirty, the air-con hasn't worked.
0:05:25 > 0:05:26Would you stay here again?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29No. We would look for somewhere else, definitely.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33And if I thought the cleaning in their room was a bit iffy...
0:05:33 > 0:05:35# Hot barbecue today... #
0:05:35 > 0:05:38When you got to your room, there was takeaway food in the wardrobe?
0:05:38 > 0:05:40- It's still there.- It's still there? I've got to see this.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42- Can I see it?- Yeah.- Come on.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45This is it, is it?
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Oh, wow, just up there?
0:05:47 > 0:05:49I can smell it.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51No-one's taken it out of there in a week?
0:05:51 > 0:05:54I don't know if I want to do this.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56- So, it's just full of food?- Yeah.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58That is grim, isn't it?
0:05:58 > 0:06:00# Do the funky chicken now
0:06:00 > 0:06:02# Do the funky chicken now... #
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Rooms here are supposed to be cleaned five times a week,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08and towels and bedding changed twice a week.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11But these guests reckon their room wasn't cleaned at all
0:06:11 > 0:06:12until they complained about it.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17'And, even then, the tub of chicken was left behind.'
0:06:17 > 0:06:18Well, look at that.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21A whole bucket of fast food.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24You'd think the cleaners would spot that, wouldn't you?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28If these guests' experiences are anything to go by,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31all is far from well at the Anthea Hotel.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Time to call in reinforcements.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Vince Matthews is an environmental health inspector
0:06:41 > 0:06:44and an expert in rooting out all that is dirty or
0:06:44 > 0:06:47dangerous in the hospitality industry.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Right, in we come. That goes in there. Right, where should we start?
0:06:50 > 0:06:52We'll just have a look around.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54This kitchen place is a good place to start.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57This fridge looks a bit dirty over here.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58Have a quick look.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02All along here is pretty grim, actually.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Pretty grim.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07'And the floor's not much better.'
0:07:07 > 0:07:09I can feel it, it's not nice. I mean, look at that.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11All that grime and dirt.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14I've even managed to pick up a live ant on my finger.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15THEY LAUGH
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Yeah, no, that doesn't look like it's been cleaned very well at all.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Or, at least, with a really dirty mop or something.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24'But there's worse to come in the bedroom.'
0:07:26 > 0:07:28This pillow looks particularly dirty.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31I can see a hair on the bed, as well.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- I think we've got some matching ones in here, as well.- Eeurgh!
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Oh, my goodness, that's full of hair!
0:07:38 > 0:07:39There's loads of it.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42This pillow is disgusting, as well!
0:07:42 > 0:07:44That is really grim, isn't it?
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Well, the mattress actually looks pretty good,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49but I don't see any kind of protector on it.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52This is really basic, simple stuff, isn't it?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55This is a hot room, I'm sweating, people are going to be sweating.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57At least protect the bed,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01so that people don't inherit months or even years worth
0:08:01 > 0:08:03of sweat and grime.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06'It's a major thumbs down from Vince for the cleaning.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09'But, later, we discover the Anthea Hotel
0:08:09 > 0:08:12'poses some much greater risks.'
0:08:12 > 0:08:14That really turns the stomach.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16We need to speak to the manager about this now.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28While you're soaking up the delights of your holiday destination,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31you may not be aware of it, but, in most resorts,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33in the background, there is a whole team
0:08:33 > 0:08:36of dedicated professionals who are there
0:08:36 > 0:08:41to pick of the pieces, just in case something goes wrong with your trip.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46'And I've got a backstage pass so I can find out just what happens
0:08:46 > 0:08:49'if, amongst other things...' OK? Got you.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52'..you are one of the quarter of million plus Brits every year
0:08:52 > 0:08:54'that need medical help.'
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- I got bitten by a mosquito on my heel.- Blimey! That's it?!
0:08:57 > 0:08:59'Or the estimated 19,000
0:08:59 > 0:09:02'that call on the aid of the British Consul.'
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Their passport was stolen, and they're travelling tonight,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06so I need to get this done pretty quickly.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Today, I'm in a Turkish resort that's become a real favourite
0:09:10 > 0:09:12with British holiday-makers.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Once considered an exotic location,
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Turkey is now Britain's sixth most visited country.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28# Hey, ladies, drop it down
0:09:28 > 0:09:30# Just want to see you touch the ground
0:09:30 > 0:09:32# Don't be shy, girl... #
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Topping the list of resorts for UK tourists
0:09:35 > 0:09:37is the Mediterranean port of Marmaris...
0:09:37 > 0:09:39# Whoop, whoop # That's the sound of da police
0:09:39 > 0:09:41# Whoop, whoop... #
0:09:41 > 0:09:43'..where I've got privileged access
0:09:43 > 0:09:46'to the hard-working local police force.'
0:09:46 > 0:09:50There are some 200 police officers here in Marmaris
0:09:50 > 0:09:52who keep the peace year round.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54In the winter, that's fairly straightforward,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57because the local population is about 72,000.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59But, in the high season of the summer,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01that rises to half a million.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04As you can imagine, they've all got their work cut out,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07whether they are in cars, on motorcycles or on foot patrols.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12'And nowhere more so than the area known as Bar Street.'
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Noisy!
0:10:16 > 0:10:20'The neighbourhood has been hitting the headlines in the UK
0:10:20 > 0:10:23'as a hot spot for boozy young Brits.'
0:10:26 > 0:10:31More than 40 bars, clubs and tattoo studios are all squashed
0:10:31 > 0:10:36into a narrow street that's barely a quarter of a kilometre long.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38The booze here is so cheap!
0:10:39 > 0:10:43'And the staggeringly inexpensive drinks obviously
0:10:43 > 0:10:45'leave some holiday-makers vulnerable.'
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Have you had many shots this evening?
0:10:48 > 0:10:49- A couple.- Just a couple?
0:10:49 > 0:10:51- Just a couple.- Two?
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- Seven or eight. - Seven or eight?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Because every bar you go in, you get a free shot.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- Yeah.- Yeah.- And how do you feel now?
0:11:00 > 0:11:02SHE LAUGHS
0:11:02 > 0:11:06'The visible police presence here is intentionally low-key,
0:11:06 > 0:11:08'but don't be fooled into thinking that this makes them a soft touch.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10'The resort has piled money
0:11:10 > 0:11:15'into discrete CCTV surveillance systems and, particularly at night,
0:11:15 > 0:11:17'there are likely to be as many officers
0:11:17 > 0:11:20'on the streets in plainclothes as there are in uniform.'
0:11:22 > 0:11:23What do you look for?
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- Anything that might be a problem? - Anything.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28We're looking for robbers or anyone.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32We don't let anyone hassle the tourists.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- And then you're in to stop the trouble before it starts.- Exactly.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42'But, despite their best efforts,
0:11:42 > 0:11:47'it's impossible to keep a busy hot spot like this crime-free.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50'British tourists, with their holiday heads on, are easy targets,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53'and we are soon called to an incident.'
0:11:53 > 0:11:54Are you having problems here?
0:11:54 > 0:11:58Yeah, my girlfriend's had her purse stolen.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00- Little boys asked if they could weigh us.- Weigh me.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03And while they was weighing us, they stole her purse.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06And the children's Galaxy tablets.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Dale and Joanne and their kids appear to have fallen victim
0:12:09 > 0:12:12to juvenile pickpockets.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Did you feel them going, or what?
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- No, we didn't know until we got home.- They was little children.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- So we didn't expect anything.- They were not much bigger than him.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23While I was looking down, one of them had their hand in my bag.
0:12:23 > 0:12:29- £500 holiday money.- No!- We've managed to cancel the credit cards.- Yeah.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Guess your weight games or any kind of street entertainment
0:12:34 > 0:12:37are a classic distraction tactic used by pickpockets.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40And you shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that kids
0:12:40 > 0:12:42are not going to be in on the scam.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44That's just the false sense of security
0:12:44 > 0:12:46that crooks are out to exploit.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48HE SPEAKS TURKISH
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Did they walk that way or that way?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55I'm not sure, cos we walked off that way.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- You walked off that way.- But we didn't know nothing had happened.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00Understandably, dealing with a crime
0:13:00 > 0:13:03and a foreign police system is not easy.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- That's the only place where you put your bag down?- Yeah.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08That's why you suspect the boys?
0:13:08 > 0:13:10When did you notice your wallet was gone?
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Um...it must have been about five o'clock.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- You didn't see anything in their hands?- No, no.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22The strain and the language barrier
0:13:22 > 0:13:25are all becoming a bit much for Joanne.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Well, I've not got much hope, to tell you the truth.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31And Dale and Joanne aren't the only Brits
0:13:31 > 0:13:34to fall foul of Turkish pickpockets.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Glaswegian Robert Lennox and his wife Janice
0:13:38 > 0:13:41have come into the station to report a theft.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44I lost my chain down in the market. Icmeler market yesterday.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46How did that happen? Do you know?
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Somebody was putting a T-shirt on my neck.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51- "That looks lovely on you, sir," yes.- And away with it.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- That's a terrible thing to happen when you're on holiday.- I know.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Looking forward to coming to the country.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59It just makes you feel iffy for coming back.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01It leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, doesn't it,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04- when that happens.- It does. - Oh, I'm so sorry.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Turkey's colourful and lively markets,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12like the one that Robert visited,
0:14:12 > 0:14:16are understandably a big draw for British tourists.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18But, as with any market worldwide,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21the hustle and the bustle does not come without risks.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Everyone here is so friendly and they're so lovely.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28But in crowds, there's always the possibility of pickpockets stealing.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- Yeah.- Stealing your jewellery. You just have to be a bit careful.- Yeah.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- Trouble is in anywhere, in the world. - When you have crowds.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Every day, an estimated 400,000 travellers
0:14:42 > 0:14:45are victims of pickpockets somewhere in the world,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49and Dale and Joanne and Robert all appear to have been taken in
0:14:49 > 0:14:52by classic pickpocket scams.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Distraction is the name of the game
0:14:54 > 0:14:56for these crafty light-fingered thieves.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00So, beware people manhandling or jostling you in any way.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Spilling something on you is another ruse.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10And some gangs will even stage accidents to grab your attention,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13whilst someone else swipes your stuff.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Importantly, if you do find yourself a victim
0:15:15 > 0:15:20of any sort of theft, you must go and report it to the local police.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Or else you might find that your insurers
0:15:22 > 0:15:24refuse to pay out.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Sadly, it seems that Dale and Joanne will be returning home
0:15:26 > 0:15:30£500 and two tablet computers light.
0:15:31 > 0:15:32Hi, guys.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34I have to say, it's really good to see you all looking
0:15:34 > 0:15:38a lot less stressed and distressed than you were last night.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39What's happened since?
0:15:39 > 0:15:43They said about the boys, they said unless the boys get found
0:15:43 > 0:15:49with the purse or the tablets, there's nothing they can do.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51It's going to be hard to put it behind us.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54But...these things happen.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56'The couple have been issued with a crime number
0:15:56 > 0:15:59'so they can lodge an insurance claim.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02'But, of course, prevention is always better than cure,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05'so Helen has some hints for how to beat the crooks.'
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Each week on Holiday Hit Squad,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I'll be tackling some of the Great British holiday-makers'
0:16:16 > 0:16:18most common consumer questions.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21From how to avoid being clobbered by unexpected costs...
0:16:21 > 0:16:25You could end up paying £200 just to have your luggage with you.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27..to making the most of your money.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Having ready cash abroad is essential
0:16:29 > 0:16:31if you want to have a trouble-free holiday.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34And this week, keeping your precious cash
0:16:34 > 0:16:36away from those sticky-fingered thieves.
0:16:45 > 0:16:4812% of holiday-makers end up getting their things pinched
0:16:48 > 0:16:49while they're abroad.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53The most popular items - passports, cash and cards.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55But you can't exactly carry a safe around with you
0:16:55 > 0:16:58when you're walking about in a bikini,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00so here's a few tips on how to protect your things.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Firstly, don't make the mistake of thinking
0:17:07 > 0:17:10it's safer to leave your valuables in your room.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Thieves know that hotel rooms in holiday resorts
0:17:14 > 0:17:16are full of tourists' stuff.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21Almost a third of thefts that happen abroad happen from your hotel room.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24So if you can't put your treasures in a secure hotel safe...
0:17:26 > 0:17:29..you might be better off keeping them with you.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32One of the easiest things to do is if you've got your passport with you,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35or your credit cards, put them into a zipped compartment in your bag.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Don't leave it sitting in the top so that somebody can just grab it.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40If this type of bag isn't your thing,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43why not try a cheap and easy money belt,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45or, a tamper-proof waist wallet?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Now, this has even got a steel waistband
0:17:48 > 0:17:50so that should keep you nice and safe.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55Another prime spot for the holiday thieves to strike is the beach.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58These days, our beach bags can be worth quite a lot
0:17:58 > 0:18:01because you tend to bring things like tablet computers, cameras
0:18:01 > 0:18:03and phones to the beach with you.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04And if any of them gets stolen,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07you could end up losing things that are impossible to replace.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12If you are planning a dip and you haven't got someone on dry land
0:18:12 > 0:18:15you can rely on to keep guard of your belongings,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17a beach safe is a great idea.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19If you've got a sunbed or a parasol to secure it to,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21you just need something heavy.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Everything goes in the bag, you just tie it on using the steel cable.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28But if you can't bear to be away from your phone or your camera,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32there is a way to keep it on you at all times.
0:18:32 > 0:18:33Even when you're in the water.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Still to come on Holiday Hit Squad...
0:18:42 > 0:18:47I investigate the rising trend in potentially deadly balcony falls.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49I went to the toilet, looked in the mirror,
0:18:49 > 0:18:50was like, "Dad, where's my head gone?"
0:18:50 > 0:18:55Joe and I share more fabulous holiday ideas home and abroad.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59It's in countless movies, it's a movie set, and it's free!
0:18:59 > 0:19:02But first I continue my inspection of that hotel
0:19:02 > 0:19:04that's driving Brits up the wall.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14So far, we've uncovered seriously sloppy housekeeping...
0:19:14 > 0:19:16A whole bucket of fast food.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19You'd think the cleaners would spot that, wouldn't you?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21'But things are about to get a whole lot more serious
0:19:21 > 0:19:24'when we start looking into safety.'
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Now, you can see, going along the corridor and that way,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31there's a lot of fire doors, which is great. But everywhere I look...
0:19:31 > 0:19:34- They're all propped open. - They're all propped open.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- Doesn't make sense, does it? - No, it doesn't.
0:19:37 > 0:19:38Behind, there's a magnetic catch.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Yes, it's an automatic door closer.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44So basically, you put it on there, and then if there's a fire alarm,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46it activates and it shuts the door automatically.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49So what's happening? It doesn't seem to work.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Which basically means it's either not working or it's been switched off.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Ah. So in the event of a fire, what would happen,
0:19:56 > 0:19:57the way things are right now?
0:19:57 > 0:20:01The doors would stay wide open, and the fire would progress
0:20:01 > 0:20:03quite easily from one corridor to the next.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08'Around the site, there are some serious signs of poor maintenance.'
0:20:08 > 0:20:10When we first arrived, it was actually spinning.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13It was just a blade going round. With no cover at all.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Yeah, not safe at all.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- Quite a big chunk of glass. - Broken glass. On the poolside.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- And in the pool as well. - And in the pool.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27There's a massive scum mark all the way round the edge as well.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32'But most worrying is what Vince discovers on a terrace
0:20:32 > 0:20:34'overlooking the pool.'
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Sometimes with balconies it's the height. It's not the height here.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41No, it's a good height. Provided it can take your weight, if you like.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Then you're not going to fall to the ground below.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47If I put not too much weight on this...
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- Oh.- It does this.- Goodness! - Which is lethal, to be honest.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- That's incredible! - It's really dangerous.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56I'm not putting a lot of weight into that.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58That really turns the stomach.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03- That's a serious enough height to do some proper damage.- Yeah, of course.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06We need to speak to the manager about this now.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09'And that's exactly what I intend to do.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11'While Vince compiles a detailed report,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13'I want to take manager Nicholas to task
0:21:13 > 0:21:16'over some of the serious shortcomings we've discovered
0:21:16 > 0:21:17'at the Anthea Hotel,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21'and that potentially lethal balcony just can't wait.'
0:21:23 > 0:21:27- And it's just very unstable. - This...- I'm worried.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- This is a hospital trip. - Yes, for sure.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32We arrange for somebody who will come
0:21:32 > 0:21:34- and raise this concrete up to here. - OK.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38So this will go into the concrete and it will make it very solid,
0:21:38 > 0:21:43- so it will not be a hazard any more. - Fantastic.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- So this is going to happen soon? - Very soon.
0:21:45 > 0:21:51'So what will Nicholas make of the faulty doors in the hotel corridors?'
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Your fire doors, throughout the building, are all propped open.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59You have a fantastic system. Why is it not working or switched on?
0:21:59 > 0:22:02The time, the maids are in sometimes,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04because they go with the trolleys, they use this.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08This shouldn't be used, because we need to remove it.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10But it's not sticking.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- Is it not turned on?- Oh, it is on.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17If it wasn't turned on, then we should have problem.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20I will see what the company who install it say to us.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23It just needs someone to look at it, doesn't it?
0:22:24 > 0:22:26'Nicholas promises he'll investigate
0:22:26 > 0:22:29'why the automated system isn't operating.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33'And instruct the cleaners to stop propping open the fire doors.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36'And talking of the cleaners...'
0:22:36 > 0:22:38I've seen a few different guest rooms,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41and I'm not convinced that the cleaning is consistent
0:22:41 > 0:22:42throughout the hotel.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46And one example, unfortunately, was that there was fried chicken
0:22:46 > 0:22:49left in a cupboard before guests arrived.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53The rooms are cleaned for sure five times a week.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54It didn't come to my attention
0:22:54 > 0:22:58that something was found in a room after departure.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00I've spoken to guests who say they only got their room cleaned
0:23:00 > 0:23:02when they complained,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05and yet you're saying they are cleaned five times a week?
0:23:05 > 0:23:08I went to see three boys who were from Wales
0:23:08 > 0:23:12and there were footprints all up the walls, toothpaste on the walls.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14And I believe it wasn't them.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17And they're paying quite a lot of money for their room.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20And that doesn't seem right to me.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23For sure, if this happened, it's not right.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24Uh...
0:23:24 > 0:23:29We can see, the boys, we can send somebody to check it again.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Good news. One more thing in here, can we go through to the bedroom?
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Now, I did notice on here, you have a mattress protector,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41which is fantastic. And it's sort of waterproof and that's brilliant.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43That's the only one I've seen.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46I haven't seen any other in any other rooms.
0:23:46 > 0:23:52All of the rooms should have, unless it's sent for washing.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57But even that time, should be replaced.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59I swear to God, every room I've looked in,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02all the people are sweating straight onto the mattress.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06If we need to order new ones, it's something which has to be done.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11'I'm encouraged that Nicholas appears to be taking our findings seriously,
0:24:11 > 0:24:15'and is promising quick action across all the areas we've identified.'
0:24:15 > 0:24:17My language skills aren't great,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20but I definitely heard the word air conditioning in this phone call.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Some things are being fixed immediately.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26And he's even said he'll refund the Welsh lads' air conditioning
0:24:26 > 0:24:29charge for the time it wasn't working.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33But I'm not going to take his word at face value.
0:24:33 > 0:24:34Later in the show,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37I'll be back to make sure he's put his money where his mouth is,
0:24:37 > 0:24:41not least when dealing with that potential death trap of a balcony.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49It can happen in a flash.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52One minute you're enjoying holiday heaven, the next minute,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55you're plunged into holiday hell.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57So every week, I'm going to be investigating
0:24:57 > 0:25:02some of the potential hazards that, frankly, could happen to any of us.
0:25:03 > 0:25:04From the shattering...
0:25:04 > 0:25:07If people go down head first, you're looking at, possibly, fatality.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09..to the terrifying.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12The vehicle turned over and the lioness was approaching.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17I'll discover that you aren't always as safe as you might think.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Today, a deadly problem that shows no signs at all of going away.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Having a balcony is something that we'll often pay a premium for.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36But just last year,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40seven Brits were killed as a result of falling from hotel balconies.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44And as we saw earlier at Joe's hotel,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47maintenance or construction quality might not always be
0:25:47 > 0:25:49as we'd expect back home.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Today, I'm off to meet Lee Charie,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57who had horrific head injuries following a fall off a balcony
0:25:57 > 0:25:59in a hotel in Thailand.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Like 800,000 of us every year,
0:26:03 > 0:26:0532-year-old Lee had been enticed
0:26:05 > 0:26:09by the exotic delights promised by a Thai holiday.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11He'd been on the island of Koh Tao,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14enjoying the fantastic swimming and scuba-diving there.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Until one evening, disaster struck.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Lee, I know you won't mind me saying this, but it's pretty obvious
0:26:21 > 0:26:25just looking at you, you have had a horrendous accident.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28You were out with your friends that night.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31What is the last memory you have?
0:26:31 > 0:26:35We was basically saying see you later to some girls that we was with.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Um, everyone's smiling, happy.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I think we were all looking at going back anyway, saying our goodbyes.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44And, yeah, ready to get our heads down.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49And you think that you went back to the hotel to go to bed?
0:26:49 > 0:26:51But you have no memory of actually going back
0:26:51 > 0:26:53- or what happened next?- No.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Lee was found in an alley,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59seven metres below his hotel balcony.
0:26:59 > 0:27:04He'd clearly fallen and had sustained a terrible head injury.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07The Thai doctors were forced to cut away a quarter of his skull
0:27:07 > 0:27:09to cope with the swelling in his brain.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Lee's dad, Peter, flew out to Thailand and Lee's first
0:27:13 > 0:27:17memory after the accident is of seeing his dad in front of him.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20I was like, "You all right, Dad?" He was like, "Yeah, you all right?"
0:27:20 > 0:27:22I was like, "Yeah, what you doing over here?"
0:27:22 > 0:27:25And he was like, "I've come to see you."
0:27:25 > 0:27:28And I was like, "What, all the way in Spain?"
0:27:28 > 0:27:31And he was like, "We're not in Spain, Lee, you're in Thailand."
0:27:31 > 0:27:34I went to the toilet. Had a look in the mirror.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37I was washing my hands, I was like, "Dad, where's my head gone?"
0:27:37 > 0:27:39I didn't have a clue what had happened.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41He was like, "That's why I've come over here."
0:27:42 > 0:27:45No-one can be sure how Lee fell.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48But it's clear that the height of the balcony wall
0:27:48 > 0:27:51was far from what you'd expect here in the UK.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56It was like a balcony shared between three, maybe four rooms.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00With a wall, probably between a foot and two foot in width.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02This is about...
0:28:03 > 0:28:05- ..the size of the wall. You can just...- You can sit on it.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08You can, like that. Probably about this width as well.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Lee is gradually recovering from his terrible accident,
0:28:11 > 0:28:12and hopes that soon,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16he'll have a plate inserted to fill the gap in his skull.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18But he's hoping that his experience can be a warning
0:28:18 > 0:28:22to other holiday-makers of the dangers that balconies can pose.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Well, it seems pretty clear that building regulations in Thailand
0:28:27 > 0:28:31come nowhere near the standards that are required in Europe.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33So, I'm off to meet an expert now
0:28:33 > 0:28:35who's going to tell me exactly what those standards are
0:28:35 > 0:28:38and should have been in this case.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Jeff Wilkinson is a building inspector
0:28:41 > 0:28:44and consultant with 30 years' industry experience.
0:28:44 > 0:28:49So, Jeff, what are the minimum standard regulations
0:28:49 > 0:28:54when it comes to the height of a balcony and its design,
0:28:54 > 0:28:55to keep people safe?
0:28:55 > 0:28:57One of the concerns obviously to start off with
0:28:57 > 0:29:02is that there is no Europe-wide, there is no worldwide standard.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05The UK regulations require a minimum height
0:29:05 > 0:29:08for the guarding of 1.1 metres.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10If we take a quick look here,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13just to show you what 1.1 metres actually look like.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15You can see, that is 1,100
0:29:15 > 0:29:19from the surface of the balcony to the top of that.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23The reasoning behind that is about the tipping point of the human body.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Your body is naturally heavier on the top half than the lower half.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31So the centre of gravity is going to be above a metre in height.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34So you're not likely to accidentally tip over there.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37- You can't, can you? - It's going to restrain you.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Also, you've got to look out for the fixings.
0:29:40 > 0:29:45They need to be secure and they need to withhold some horizontal force.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48- So if you lean against it... - What about the design itself?
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Here, we've got glass so that people sitting down can look out,
0:29:51 > 0:29:53because you want to see the view.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57The rules in the UK are a maximum spacing of 100mm.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59- Which is what that is? - Which is what we've got here.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Also, as soon as you start having horizontals,
0:30:02 > 0:30:03it creates a ladder effect.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- So, you could actually walk up them. - Yep.- Treat it like a ladder.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08And children will be tempted to do exactly that,
0:30:08 > 0:30:09so you want to try and ensure
0:30:09 > 0:30:12that if it's an area where children are likely to be,
0:30:12 > 0:30:14that is the wrong type of guarding.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17How much responsibility do tour operators have to ensure
0:30:17 > 0:30:21that balconies and safety standards are being applied in the hotels
0:30:21 > 0:30:23to which they send British holiday-makers?
0:30:23 > 0:30:27I think it's absolutely vital. You're taking money.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30You need to ensure that the hotel that you're sending someone to
0:30:30 > 0:30:33is fit for purpose.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35But it's not just the balconies themselves
0:30:35 > 0:30:39that are contributing to the tally of serious or fatal falls.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42LAUGHTER
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Later, the dangerous balcony bravado
0:30:44 > 0:30:48that continues to cost an alarming amount of British lives.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50Whoa!
0:30:57 > 0:30:59There's a whole new trend in the holiday industry,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02and it's called staying put.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06Which is exactly what around 40 million of us did last year,
0:31:06 > 0:31:10because we holidayed in the UK as well as, or, in some cases,
0:31:10 > 0:31:12instead of, going abroad.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15And that's twice as many as just two years before.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19But can Britain really compete with the rest of the world?
0:31:19 > 0:31:20# Round, round, get around
0:31:20 > 0:31:22- # I get around - Yeah... #
0:31:22 > 0:31:24I've packed Helen and Joe off to find out.
0:31:24 > 0:31:25# I get around
0:31:25 > 0:31:26# Get around, round, round
0:31:26 > 0:31:27# I get around... #
0:31:27 > 0:31:29From foodie breaks...
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Root vegetables, rabbit you skinned.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34It's actually really nice, isn't it?
0:31:34 > 0:31:36..to thrill-seeking adventures...
0:31:36 > 0:31:38This is so cool. So cool!
0:31:38 > 0:31:40..they're going head-to-head
0:31:40 > 0:31:44in a battle of vacation versus staycation.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Tonight, a city break...
0:31:46 > 0:31:48MUSIC: "Hey Ya" by OutKast
0:31:48 > 0:31:49..and each of them
0:31:49 > 0:31:54has got a budget of £1,200 to create a long weekend for two.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57This week, I'm tackling the foreign leg,
0:31:57 > 0:32:01and with all the cities on the world to choose from, where did I pick?
0:32:01 > 0:32:04# Hey, ya... #
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Well, New York, of course!
0:32:06 > 0:32:08This place has everything.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11It's got culture, history, fashion, it's got energy,
0:32:11 > 0:32:13it's forward-thinking.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15There's so much to see - this is just Time Square.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17I don't know where to begin!
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Oof, it's making me queasy.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22And what about me? Well, I've gone for something completely different.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29I've come here to Bristol, one of the highlights of the Southwest.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31It's a fantastic modern city,
0:32:31 > 0:32:34yet has a brilliant, rich and diverse history.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37Now, you might think this is an unfair fight.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41The mighty American metropolis versus the pride of the West Country.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45But remember, because I've had to blow a bundle on flights,
0:32:45 > 0:32:48I've got peanuts left to enjoy the delights of this city.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53So, apart from a small budget, budget for food and accommodation,
0:32:53 > 0:32:55I'm going to be doing NYC for free.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59- # I need money - That's what I want
0:32:59 > 0:33:00# That's what I want... #
0:33:00 > 0:33:04I won't spend a dime on transport or entertainment...
0:33:06 > 0:33:10..while I can afford to create a much more luxurious package.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14And as this is supposed to be a city break for two,
0:33:14 > 0:33:18I decided to go all-out for romance.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21# I'll take romance
0:33:21 > 0:33:25# While my heart is young and eager to fly... #
0:33:25 > 0:33:27I might be all on my lonesome,
0:33:27 > 0:33:32but I think Bristol's got the power to fan any couple's flames.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36All right, this is your room, Mr Crowley.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38Oh, wow.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42And for a romantic break, I haven't skimped on the accommodation.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45Because, as I've learnt to my cost in the past,
0:33:45 > 0:33:48nothing dulls a partner's ardour more than a poky B&B.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50Well, I certainly knew I'd have to go it some
0:33:50 > 0:33:52to beat Helen on this holiday.
0:33:52 > 0:33:53Hope I haven't gone too far...
0:33:53 > 0:33:59This suite, with its own private terrace, is £219 per night,
0:33:59 > 0:34:01but there are of course plenty of other options
0:34:01 > 0:34:04in the city for those on a tighter budget.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10# These vagabond shoes... #
0:34:10 > 0:34:13Talking of tight budgets, I'd have to plan ahead
0:34:13 > 0:34:19to get the most bang for my buck in this city of sky-high hotel prices.
0:34:19 > 0:34:20Booking in advance on the internet
0:34:20 > 0:34:25can get you a room in this ultra-modern budget hotel
0:34:25 > 0:34:26for £105 a night.
0:34:26 > 0:34:32It's a little bit like stepping into a sort of sci-fi film.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35It's very clean, it's very modern.
0:34:35 > 0:34:36They're called cabins,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39so they're kind of saying upfront that this is going to be small,
0:34:39 > 0:34:41but it's not THAT small.
0:34:41 > 0:34:42Big, comfy bed.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46I mean, that is better than a lot of beds I've slept on.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48And you've got everything that you need.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52And yes, Joe, it's not exactly a lovey-dovey romantic environment,
0:34:52 > 0:34:55but that's not what my break is all about.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57This is for a couple, or friends, even,
0:34:57 > 0:35:00who'll get their buzz from the city streets.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03# New York, New York... #
0:35:03 > 0:35:07And my hotel is right in the thick of it, which is a good job,
0:35:07 > 0:35:09because I can't afford a cab.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15I, however, CAN afford to splash some cash.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18Because if a hotel room like mine fails to give you a romantic high,
0:35:18 > 0:35:22there are other ways for a couple to get their kicks.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25# Love is in the air
0:35:25 > 0:35:28# Love is in the air... #
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Bristol is, of course, renowned
0:35:30 > 0:35:32for its world famous hot-air balloon fiesta.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35And there are a number of local operators that offer flights
0:35:35 > 0:35:40over the city, a fabulously amorous thing for any couple to do,
0:35:40 > 0:35:42I'm sure you'll agree.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45It is, of course, weather-dependent, so if, like for me,
0:35:45 > 0:35:49the conditions don't play ball with you, there's an alternative way
0:35:49 > 0:35:53to view this beautiful city in an equally uplifting fashion.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56MUSIC: "Fly Me To The Moon" by Astrud Gilberto
0:35:56 > 0:35:58What a green and pleasant land we live in.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01It's stunning, it really is.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04None of this urban concrete jungle of New York.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09It'll cost upwards of around £300 for two
0:36:09 > 0:36:12to get this unique view of the city.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15This is so exciting.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17You've got the suspension bridge just there,
0:36:17 > 0:36:20the floating harbour laid out in front of us.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24You can see all the boats. It really is a very exciting view.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26It's just so beautiful.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29All right, moneybags.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32But I'm not going to let my mini budget hold me back.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35It's time for dinner and a show.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Two amazing things to do in New York - have a burger
0:36:37 > 0:36:39and do something on Broadway.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42If you want to combine those for time and money, this is the place to come.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46- Hello!- Hello! Welcome to Ellen's Stardust Diner.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49- Follow me, OK?- Cool!
0:36:49 > 0:36:53Not only do you get your all-American fast food fix here,
0:36:53 > 0:36:56but you're entertained by professional Broadway performers
0:36:56 > 0:36:58who are all in between jobs.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00This is amazing.
0:37:00 > 0:37:01She's amazing!
0:37:01 > 0:37:03And it's a chance for me
0:37:03 > 0:37:07to pick the brains of the Marsden family, who are here on their hols.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10It's quite an expensive flight to get here.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13But have you managed to find anything to do that doesn't cost anything?
0:37:13 > 0:37:17Central Park, John Lennon's memorial... Grand Central Station.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20There's all sorts to see. It's just a wonderful place.
0:37:20 > 0:37:21As long as you're prepared to walk.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- Has it been worth it? How would you rate this holiday?- Every penny.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26- Every penny, yeah. - Every penny, yeah.
0:37:26 > 0:37:27It wasn't cheap for us, but...
0:37:27 > 0:37:30- Every penny, every blister's worth it.- Every blister's worth it.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37I'm going to take their advice straightaway.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40# Walk this way... #
0:37:40 > 0:37:42Come this way.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44We are entering one of the most impressive public buildings
0:37:44 > 0:37:45in the world.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49Three quarters of a million Americans come through here every single day,
0:37:49 > 0:37:51because it's a train station - but not just any train station.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53This is Grand Central Station.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56I bet you're already thinking, "I've seen that!
0:37:56 > 0:37:58"It's in that movie, it's in that movie..."
0:37:58 > 0:37:59It's in countless movies.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02It's a movie set, and it's free!
0:38:02 > 0:38:04# Just gimme a kiss... #
0:38:04 > 0:38:08Genuinely, without sarcasm, I really wish Joe was here,
0:38:08 > 0:38:11because I want to try this thing where you whisper into the walls,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13and apparently it bounces across the ceiling
0:38:13 > 0:38:15and you can hear it in the other corner.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17And I'm not the only one who thinks this - look over there.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21Guys, will you go into the corner and whisper?
0:38:21 > 0:38:22How is your holiday going?
0:38:22 > 0:38:24'Good so far.'
0:38:24 > 0:38:25Oh, yes, I can hear him!
0:38:25 > 0:38:26'Where are you from?'
0:38:26 > 0:38:28England. Where are you from?
0:38:28 > 0:38:29- 'Scotland.'- Oh, right!
0:38:29 > 0:38:31Now, you guys are clearly here as tourists,
0:38:31 > 0:38:33- cos you're doing the tourist thing. - Yes.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35What, for you, makes New York interesting?
0:38:35 > 0:38:37I just love its busy-ness.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41It's in your face, it's hectic, it's the city that never sleeps.
0:38:41 > 0:38:42# New York
0:38:42 > 0:38:43# Are you tuning in?
0:38:43 > 0:38:45# New York
0:38:45 > 0:38:47# Are you tuning in? #
0:38:47 > 0:38:49So far, I'm right up to the wire with my budget,
0:38:49 > 0:38:53but I've still got loads of free New York City adventures
0:38:53 > 0:38:55to come later in the show.
0:38:55 > 0:38:56Feeling nervous, Joe?
0:38:58 > 0:39:01Don't worry, Helen, my budget's still looking fairly healthy.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04And while you run yourself into the ground,
0:39:04 > 0:39:07I'll be taking things at a much more pleasant, leisurely pace.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11This is supposed to be a city BREAK, after all.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13I reckon after three days slogging it round on your trip,
0:39:13 > 0:39:16you'll need another fortnight's holiday to recover.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24Earlier in the programme,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27I started looking into the appalling number of deaths
0:39:27 > 0:39:32and serious injuries that occur as a result of falls from balconies.
0:39:32 > 0:39:37Now, one unfortunate victim was Lee Charry, who had horrendous
0:39:37 > 0:39:40head injuries as a result of an accidental fall in Thailand.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45It's clear that the height of the wall on Lee's balcony
0:39:45 > 0:39:49fell way short of what we would expect here in the UK.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53But it's not just poor balcony design that's costing British lives.
0:39:53 > 0:39:58Last year, seven deaths and several serious injuries occurred.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02And many serious accidents appear to be as a result of ill-judged
0:40:02 > 0:40:04holiday hijinks.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07Despite the horror stories, over the last couple of years,
0:40:07 > 0:40:11the terribly dangerous holiday craze of "balconing",
0:40:11 > 0:40:15leaping from balconies into swimming pools, has been growing.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19So, just what are the holiday industry doing to help protect us,
0:40:19 > 0:40:24either from our own foolishness or dodgy balcony construction?
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Gillian, the statistics for the number of people
0:40:27 > 0:40:31who have accidents on balconies - badly injured, killed, even -
0:40:31 > 0:40:33are growing every year,
0:40:33 > 0:40:37which suggests that ABTA members are not taking this seriously.
0:40:37 > 0:40:39We're taking it very seriously, actually.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43We launched a campaign with the government at the end of the summer
0:40:43 > 0:40:46last year, when we saw this was becoming more and more of an issue,
0:40:46 > 0:40:49to try and prevent these accidents happening.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Although they are quite isolated, as you say, when they happen,
0:40:52 > 0:40:54they can be very tragic,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57so we really want to try and prevent them as much as we can.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00So, what are you doing as a trade association
0:41:00 > 0:41:04to ensure that your members actually try and tackle this issue?
0:41:04 > 0:41:06Well, as a trade association,
0:41:06 > 0:41:10we've produced guidance with the Foreign Commonwealth Office,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13created posters, we've done a radio campaign,
0:41:13 > 0:41:17we've got posters for our members to hand out in their welcome meetings,
0:41:17 > 0:41:19when the reps - particularly in the youth resorts -
0:41:19 > 0:41:22when they hold their welcome meetings,
0:41:22 > 0:41:25to warn people of the dangers of mixing drink and balconies,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27and what can happen.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30We've been working since 1999 on the issue of balcony heights,
0:41:30 > 0:41:32and we have guidelines in place
0:41:32 > 0:41:36giving recommendations for balcony heights and what they should be,
0:41:36 > 0:41:38and the distance between different railings.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42Because although in the UK we have very good health and safety
0:41:42 > 0:41:43in building regulations,
0:41:43 > 0:41:46it's not always to the same standard in destinations abroad.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49You don't want people to spoil their holidays -
0:41:49 > 0:41:51they pay a premium for having a balcony in their room,
0:41:51 > 0:41:54- and they've got a balcony because they want to look at the view.- Yeah.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57But you've got to get that message across, haven't you?
0:41:57 > 0:41:59Are you absolutely convinced that you and your members
0:41:59 > 0:42:01are getting that message across
0:42:01 > 0:42:04as firmly and as seriously as clearly it needs to be?
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Well, we're doing a lot in resorts,
0:42:06 > 0:42:08but this is a relatively new campaign,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11and we will be assessing it at the end of the year with
0:42:11 > 0:42:14the government to see whether more action needs to be taken.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21Clearly, the consequences of a balcony fall can be tragic,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23but if you just use a little bit of common sense,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25you can avoid coming a cropper.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29So, don't simply assume that your balcony is safe.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32Check the fixtures and fittings for signs of disrepair.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34If you've got kids,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38make sure that they can't fit through or climb up the railings.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42And beware of any balcony furniture that they could use to stand on.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Balconies and booze are not a good mix.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48Don't lean over balconies or climb between them,
0:42:48 > 0:42:52and it should go without saying, don't jump from them.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54And be aware that if you have an accident
0:42:54 > 0:42:56while under the influence of drink,
0:42:56 > 0:43:00it could very well invalidate your insurance.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10Fortunately, most holidays run problem free,
0:43:10 > 0:43:13but there are all kinds of medical mishaps that can
0:43:13 > 0:43:15get in the way of us having fun in the sun.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19And that's why the Holiday Hit Squad beach surgery is open for business.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22MUSIC: "Guaglione" by Perez Prado
0:43:22 > 0:43:25Over the course of the series, Dr Chris van Tulleken and I
0:43:25 > 0:43:27will be on call for British holiday-makers
0:43:27 > 0:43:29experiencing some of those common...
0:43:29 > 0:43:31- You're here for the ear. - Yes.- OK, mainly.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33It hasn't popped from the plane.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36..and not-so-common holiday ailments.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39- I'll get the screen.- Yeah, that's probably the best thing.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42- Do you mind stepping out of this, Helen?- That's all right, yeah.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44- You all right?- Yeah.
0:43:45 > 0:43:46But first up today is Jo,
0:43:46 > 0:43:51with what she thinks is a mozzie bite that's mysteriously on the move.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54Why have you come to see Dr Chris?
0:43:54 > 0:43:56I noticed the day I arrived -
0:43:56 > 0:43:59I thought, "Oh, I've been bit by a little mozzie."
0:43:59 > 0:44:04Which raised itself and did the normal thing, and over the days,
0:44:04 > 0:44:07I've noticed it's travelled that little bit further down my hand.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09- It's had a good feast, that one, hasn't it?- Mm!
0:44:09 > 0:44:12I'm just thinking that maybe his family have joined in!
0:44:13 > 0:44:15Fortunately, Dr Chris is an expert
0:44:15 > 0:44:19in the sometimes weird world of travellers' illnesses.
0:44:19 > 0:44:21When you got here, did you go to the beach?
0:44:21 > 0:44:23- Every day!- Did you, yeah?
0:44:23 > 0:44:26It might be - and you're not going to like this at all -
0:44:26 > 0:44:28is a thing called cutaneous larva migrans.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31- Do you want to know what that means in Latin?- Absolutely not!
0:44:31 > 0:44:35So, basically, that means a running skin worm.
0:44:35 > 0:44:39And when dogs poo on beaches...
0:44:39 > 0:44:43Dogs can have worms in their faeces that can get through the skin,
0:44:43 > 0:44:45the larvae can get through the skin,
0:44:45 > 0:44:47and they migrate around the human skin.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50In the dogs, the worms can find their way to the bit of the body
0:44:50 > 0:44:52they need to reproduce in, but in humans they get lost,
0:44:52 > 0:44:54they can't find their way through the skin,
0:44:54 > 0:44:56so they wander around under the skin,
0:44:56 > 0:44:58and they get intensely itchy, and then they die
0:44:58 > 0:45:00- and it's not a problem. - That sounds really attractive(!)
0:45:02 > 0:45:07It's estimated that up to 740 million people in the world get
0:45:07 > 0:45:09infected with hookworm.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11They usually occur in more tropical developing countries
0:45:11 > 0:45:13with poor sanitation.
0:45:13 > 0:45:17Some parts of Africa, South America or South East Asia.
0:45:17 > 0:45:18If you think there's a risk,
0:45:18 > 0:45:22you should avoid walking barefoot on the beach and handling the sand.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27I saw a patient who lay down without realising it
0:45:27 > 0:45:29in dog muck on the beach
0:45:29 > 0:45:33- and he must have had a couple of hundred worms in his back.- Oh!
0:45:33 > 0:45:36Luckily for Jo, this beach is clean as a whistle,
0:45:36 > 0:45:39so Dr Chris thinks her bite is more easily explained.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43If I had to bet a hundred quid on it,
0:45:43 > 0:45:47- I wouldn't bet on hookworm under the skin.- OK, right.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49I think you've got a bite there
0:45:49 > 0:45:51and this is inflammation going down the lymphatics.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54I think for that, at the moment, since you're living with it, I would
0:45:54 > 0:45:57do precisely nothing and ignore it
0:45:57 > 0:45:59and crack on with your holiday, which is what you seem to be doing.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02OK, no problem. Thank you very much indeed for taking a look at it.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05If you're worried you might have a hookworm infection, your GP
0:46:05 > 0:46:09can usually clear up the problem in a few days with commonly used drugs.
0:46:14 > 0:46:18Also throwing herself on the mercy of good Dr Chris is Jean Walker, with
0:46:18 > 0:46:22an embarrassing ailment that reoccurs every time she comes on holiday.
0:46:24 > 0:46:26- Chris, this is Jean.- Hi, Jean. - Hello, Dr Chris.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30- Jean has got a bit of an annoying problem, haven't you?- I have.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33- I've got a rash under both breasts...- Right.- ..that itch.
0:46:33 > 0:46:37- OK, tell me the story about this. When did it start?- Er, two days ago.
0:46:37 > 0:46:41- OK. When did you get to Spain? - Er, a week ago.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45So it just happens every year and I don't know what causes it really.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48- Does it ever happen in the UK? - No, just when I come out here.
0:46:48 > 0:46:50OK, so this is a really common problem.
0:46:50 > 0:46:54Do you want to show me where it is, if you don't mind?
0:46:54 > 0:46:56OK, so this is the inframammary crease, which is
0:46:56 > 0:46:58just the skin fold under the breast.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01- Has anyone ever given this a name for you?- No.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03It's called intertrigo.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06- OK.- This is absolutely classic.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09You've just got a red spotty rash.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12That's fine. We can try and preserve some of your dignity.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15Basically, this is really common. Boys and girls get it.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18I've had it in any creases
0:47:18 > 0:47:22when you go to especially hot climates where you get skin
0:47:22 > 0:47:25folds that don't allow air circulation,
0:47:25 > 0:47:30and you get sweat and build up of just dirt and dead skin.
0:47:30 > 0:47:34You get this red rash called intertrigo and sometimes it's fungal
0:47:34 > 0:47:37and sometimes it can lead to other infections,
0:47:37 > 0:47:39so you can get a skin infection.
0:47:39 > 0:47:41Some people with diabetes get it a bit more frequently
0:47:41 > 0:47:46and those with diabetes are more likely to progress to an infection,
0:47:46 > 0:47:49but you can treat it in some really simple ways.
0:47:49 > 0:47:54- So, weak solutions of vinegar work if you just dab that on.- OK.
0:47:54 > 0:47:55Tea compresses.
0:47:55 > 0:48:00If you use tea bags to dab it on and then dry it carefully after that.
0:48:00 > 0:48:04You can use some talc. And then, what is your bra made of?
0:48:04 > 0:48:06- Are you wearing a cotton bra? - This is a cotton bra.
0:48:06 > 0:48:08Yeah, so cotton bra's a good thing to wear,
0:48:08 > 0:48:12and just doing anything you can to allow air to circulate.
0:48:12 > 0:48:16You can even put some cotton gauze in the fold just to keep it dry.
0:48:16 > 0:48:19So would you suggest to go topless on the beach?
0:48:19 > 0:48:23- Well, that's up to you, but, yes. - I'm quite happy to do that.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26Lying topless on the beach, especially so that
0:48:26 > 0:48:30if you lie down and the breasts move up, that's no longer a crease
0:48:30 > 0:48:32- and allow a bit of sunlight on it. - OK.- Don't burn it.
0:48:32 > 0:48:36That would be a really good remedy, actually. I hadn't thought of that.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38OK. That's my excuse for going topless now.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41I think this is the first time I've ever advised anyone to
0:48:41 > 0:48:43medically go topless on the beach.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45# It's too darn hot... #
0:48:46 > 0:48:51Anti-fungal treatments like nappy rash cream can work
0:48:51 > 0:48:54but can sometimes exacerbate the problem.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56It might sound like an old wives' tale,
0:48:56 > 0:48:59but a cold tea bag compress really can help,
0:48:59 > 0:49:00as can a weak vinegar solution.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04But the most important thing
0:49:04 > 0:49:06is to keep the area dry and well ventilated,
0:49:06 > 0:49:10hence Jean's bold plan to let it all hang out!
0:49:16 > 0:49:18Earlier in the programme,
0:49:18 > 0:49:21I sent Joe and Helen off in search of holiday heaven to see
0:49:21 > 0:49:24if Britain really can compete with the rest of the world
0:49:24 > 0:49:28when it comes to how we spend our very hard-earned holiday dosh.
0:49:28 > 0:49:32Well, this week, the challenge is to find a city break for two
0:49:32 > 0:49:33for less than £1,200.
0:49:34 > 0:49:38This week, I'm championing Britain's cause and I'm suggesting using
0:49:38 > 0:49:42the money you'd save on air fares to splash out on romantic
0:49:42 > 0:49:46relaxation in the historic West Country city of Bristol.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51While I've gone for something much less romantic
0:49:51 > 0:49:53and much more high-octane.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56# New York
0:49:56 > 0:49:59# Concrete jungle where dreams are made of... #
0:50:00 > 0:50:03New York, New York, but because I've blown
0:50:03 > 0:50:06most of my budget on flights and accommodation,
0:50:06 > 0:50:11I've got to find all of my fun for free, but there's plenty to be had.
0:50:11 > 0:50:13There are free board games to play, free books to read.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15What's not to love?
0:50:15 > 0:50:18All the major museums have days or times where entry is free
0:50:18 > 0:50:21and, despite New York being absolutely enormous,
0:50:21 > 0:50:24if you've got a bit of energy and some comfy shoes,
0:50:24 > 0:50:26central Manhattan is a very walkable city.
0:50:26 > 0:50:31OK, so welcome to the Today programme.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33This is a free thing to do in America
0:50:33 > 0:50:36and I will be amazed if Joe can top this.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39# It's a beautiful day. #
0:50:40 > 0:50:45For more than 60 years, visitors of every age from around the world have
0:50:45 > 0:50:50been coming to the Rockefeller Plaza to witness one of NBC's top shows
0:50:50 > 0:50:53and hopefully get their mugs on TV.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56You stand a better chance of getting on TV if you've got a sign.
0:50:56 > 0:50:59Oh, my sign's in! Yes!
0:50:59 > 0:51:01I can see my sign!
0:51:01 > 0:51:04I've just had a really unique American experience
0:51:04 > 0:51:06and it didn't cost me a penny.
0:51:06 > 0:51:10And there are even free tour guides known as greeters who can take
0:51:10 > 0:51:13you under their wing and pass on their priceless insider knowledge.
0:51:15 > 0:51:17Would it be fair to say that hanging out with
0:51:17 > 0:51:19a greeter like yourself is a way to get under the skin
0:51:19 > 0:51:22of New York, see something different and hang out with a New Yorker?
0:51:22 > 0:51:24Definitely. That's the whole idea of the programme.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27Get to know a real New Yorker.
0:51:27 > 0:51:28While Helen's getting blisters
0:51:28 > 0:51:31hot-footing it around noisy New York,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34I'm suggesting a more relaxed and intimate experience for you
0:51:34 > 0:51:37and your nearest and dearest in Bristol.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40# Somewhere
0:51:40 > 0:51:42# Beyond the sea. #
0:51:42 > 0:51:46This restaurant is a converted boat floating in the heart of the city
0:51:46 > 0:51:50and a dining experience guaranteed to pluck your heart strings.
0:51:51 > 0:51:52Isn't this special?
0:51:52 > 0:51:57Just sitting above the water, great view, light
0:51:57 > 0:51:59glittering off the top of the water.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01It's fantastic.
0:52:02 > 0:52:06And it seems my romantic radar is spot on.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09Now, nosey-parker that I am, I've just overheard this couple speaking,
0:52:09 > 0:52:12and I think this is quite a special place for them,
0:52:12 > 0:52:14so I'm just going to go and say hello.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18Excuse me, guys, do you mind if I just interrupt you for a second?
0:52:18 > 0:52:19I just overheard you talking.
0:52:19 > 0:52:23- I understand this is quite a special venue for you. Is it?- It is, yes.
0:52:23 > 0:52:27- What happened here?- We got married here five years ago today.- Wow!
0:52:27 > 0:52:30Congratulations. You'd recommend it for people visiting Bristol?
0:52:30 > 0:52:32Yeah, it's something a little bit special, I think.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35We just knew it was the right place for us.
0:52:41 > 0:52:43I'm heading out on the water too.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46The Staten Island Ferry is a free commuter service that
0:52:46 > 0:52:49carries 20 million passengers a year,
0:52:49 > 0:52:51but for a canny tourist like me,
0:52:51 > 0:52:55it's a brilliant boat trip with stunning sights absolutely gratis.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00There's Manhattan. There's the Statue of Liberty. Great view.
0:53:00 > 0:53:03Great experience. Doesn't cost a penny.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07Whatever!
0:53:07 > 0:53:09I'll see your commuter ferry
0:53:09 > 0:53:11and raise you one of the world's most historic ships.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14It was the first iron hull propeller-driven ship to
0:53:14 > 0:53:16cross the Atlantic.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19In essence, it was the world's first great ocean liner.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23And Brunel's SS Great Britain truly captures
0:53:23 > 0:53:25the romance of the steam age.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27# Rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby. #
0:53:27 > 0:53:28I've got no doubts I'll be OK,
0:53:28 > 0:53:31but that Helen Skelton wouldn't make it past this line.
0:53:31 > 0:53:36The freedom to roam this great ship above and below the water line
0:53:36 > 0:53:40makes it an acknowledged world-class must-see.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43This attraction is just so compelling and so exciting.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45But don't take my word for it.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48This Aussie couple have come halfway round the world
0:53:48 > 0:53:51and are two very happy tourists.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54- Oh, it is absolutely fantastic. - Is it?
0:53:54 > 0:53:57It would be one of the best exhibitions I've ever seen.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59- Would you recommend this? - Oh, definitely.
0:53:59 > 0:54:02Don't miss out because that was brilliant.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09Then, of course, there's historic theatres and backstage tours.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14To come here is absolutely a gift.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16Not to mention a good old English afternoon tea
0:54:16 > 0:54:19by the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Maybe not as big as the one in Brooklyn,
0:54:21 > 0:54:23but every bit as beautiful.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26The big question - where does one begin?
0:54:26 > 0:54:30I reckon Bristol punches well above its weight for a bustle-free
0:54:30 > 0:54:31romantic city break.
0:54:35 > 0:54:39I've got a few quid to spare from the £1,200 budget.
0:54:39 > 0:54:41I feel pampered, rested,
0:54:41 > 0:54:45and I'm sure if I hadn't been on my own, totally loved up too.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49Oh, bless him!
0:54:49 > 0:54:51I'm right on the money with my budget.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54I have had to use a lot of thigh power to get around, though,
0:54:54 > 0:54:58and I've survived on a diet of bagels, hot dogs and pizza slices,
0:54:58 > 0:54:59but that was all part of the fun.
0:54:59 > 0:55:03I'm exhausted, but I will be on a high for weeks.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06Sorry, Joe, but I reckon I've beaten you hands down on this one.
0:55:09 > 0:55:10Now here's a dilemma.
0:55:10 > 0:55:14Bristol versus New York.
0:55:14 > 0:55:16No contest, Joe?
0:55:16 > 0:55:18On paper, I know it sounds a little bit unlikely,
0:55:18 > 0:55:20but here's the thing.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23Not everyone wants it sort of big and bustly and quite full-on.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25If you want to explore a city in your own time,
0:55:25 > 0:55:28you want something a bit smaller, something a bit more leisurely,
0:55:28 > 0:55:30somewhere you can really treat yourself cos you're not
0:55:30 > 0:55:33paying for the flight, then I would thoroughly recommend Bristol.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35No disrespect to Bristol, I just don't think the two compete.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38There is excitement in the pavement in New York.
0:55:38 > 0:55:39Well, you two seem to have made up your mind.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42I'm just sticking up for British cities and Bristol is fantastic.
0:55:42 > 0:55:47Well, I can say I spent quality time in both cities, but when it
0:55:47 > 0:55:50comes to Christmas shopping, Joe, I know which one I'd rather be in.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53I don't need to get involved in this debate. You two fight it out.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55I'll just sit back and watch.
0:56:02 > 0:56:06Now, I might have been thrilled with my accommodation in Bristol,
0:56:06 > 0:56:08but it wasn't quite the same story
0:56:08 > 0:56:11when I visited the Anthea Hotel in Cyprus.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16Well, eight weeks later, I'm back to see
0:56:16 > 0:56:22whether manager Nicholas has heeded mine and Vince's recommendations.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24How have you been getting on?
0:56:24 > 0:56:28The list, we check all problems which you saw that we needed to improve,
0:56:28 > 0:56:32and I believe we're finished with the list. Everything should be OK now.
0:56:32 > 0:56:35Wow, everything! That's very promising.
0:56:35 > 0:56:38- Let's have a look round, shall we?- Yes.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41'The first thing that's immediately obvious is a marked difference
0:56:41 > 0:56:44'in cleanliness, which Nikolas says is a result of him
0:56:44 > 0:56:47'completely restructuring the housekeeping regime at the hotel.'
0:56:49 > 0:56:53So, when I was here before, my bed had a mattress protector,
0:56:53 > 0:56:55but a lot of beds didn't.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58'Now I'm told they all do.'
0:56:58 > 0:57:00Good, we're on the same page. We'll carry on.
0:57:04 > 0:57:05'But, even more importantly,
0:57:05 > 0:57:09'Nicholas appears to have taken our safety concerns seriously.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12'The automatic fire doors, once propped open
0:57:12 > 0:57:15'and malfunctioning, are now fixed.'
0:57:15 > 0:57:19In case of any incident with having a fire, they close automatically.
0:57:19 > 0:57:23Close automatically. Proper working fire doors. Fantastic.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28'And all around the hotel, maintenance is vastly improved.'
0:57:30 > 0:57:34This is the thing that was really worrying me last time.
0:57:34 > 0:57:35What have you done?
0:57:35 > 0:57:38As you can see now, the whole base is in the concrete
0:57:38 > 0:57:41and it's very secure and it's very safe for all our guests.
0:57:41 > 0:57:43Last time, I couldn't put my weight on there
0:57:43 > 0:57:45and now I can.
0:57:45 > 0:57:48Well, I've got to say, I'm very impressed with Nicholas
0:57:48 > 0:57:50and this hotel.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53They've taken all our suggestions really seriously
0:57:53 > 0:57:57and now I think they're in very good shape for next season.
0:57:57 > 0:57:59I reckon I'd call that a result.
0:58:04 > 0:58:06Well, that's it from the Holiday Hit Squad for this week.
0:58:06 > 0:58:08Coming up on next week's programme:
0:58:08 > 0:58:12I go toe-to-toe in a battle with Joe to find the best family beach
0:58:12 > 0:58:13holiday home...
0:58:13 > 0:58:15Oh, we've got a huge one!
0:58:15 > 0:58:19- ..or away.- It is absolutely stunning. There's no other word for it.
0:58:19 > 0:58:23I investigate how a trip to a water park can end in a smash,
0:58:23 > 0:58:24as well as a splash.
0:58:24 > 0:58:27I was in that much agony, I knew I'd broke it
0:58:27 > 0:58:30because it was completely twisted round the opposite direction.
0:58:30 > 0:58:34And I check into another hotel that's been driving Brits barmy.
0:58:34 > 0:58:38What would you say to people looking to come to this hotel?
0:58:38 > 0:58:39- Don't bother.- No, don't come.
0:58:39 > 0:58:43Till then, from all of us on the Hit Squad, bye-bye.