0:00:02 > 0:00:03We asked you, "Who's left you feeling ripped off
0:00:03 > 0:00:05"when it comes to your holidays?"
0:00:05 > 0:00:09and you came back with a catalogue of travel disasters.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12A holiday's supposed to be a time of relaxing, not a time of more stress,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15and certainly not a time of stress whilst you're away.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17You go into it with your eyes wide open.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20If you think something's too good to be true then it probably is.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23So, whether it's a deliberate rip-off, a simple mistake,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26or indeed a catch in the small print,
0:00:26 > 0:00:30we'll find out why you are out of pocket and what you can do about it.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34Your stories, your money. This is Rip-Off Britain.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Hello and welcome once again to Rip-Off Britain,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41where we've come to the beautiful island of Tenerife,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43clearly with gorgeous sunshine.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46And we're here to get to the bottom of all manner of issues
0:00:46 > 0:00:49that you've asked us to investigate, relating to your holidays.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51And today we'll be giving you the lowdown
0:00:51 > 0:00:53on some real travel essentials.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Yes, all those thorny questions,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58like how do you get the best value out of exchange rates?
0:00:58 > 0:01:00How will you cope with certain aspects of the journey?
0:01:00 > 0:01:03And whether or not you should be drinking the local water.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04There's a regular one.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07And they're all things that can play on your mind
0:01:07 > 0:01:10and, indeed, stop you from enjoying yourself while you're away.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13And some of them are issues that have caused far bigger problems
0:01:13 > 0:01:15for the people that we're going to be meeting.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19So, on their and your behalf, we've made a big effort to discover
0:01:19 > 0:01:22the best tips and advice to keep stress levels at a minimum
0:01:22 > 0:01:24on your next trip
0:01:24 > 0:01:27and, in the process, save you a bit of money too.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28Coming up...
0:01:28 > 0:01:31..the prepaid currency cards that left these holiday-makers
0:01:31 > 0:01:32seriously out of pocket.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35I was, as you can imagine, absolutely flabbergasted.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39How on earth could they justify making a charge
0:01:39 > 0:01:41for MY money on MY card?
0:01:43 > 0:01:46And what's the best way to beat travel sickness?
0:01:46 > 0:01:49With the help of this extraordinary spinning chair, we put some of
0:01:49 > 0:01:51the best-known remedies to the test.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Pleasantly surprised at how long Shar actually lasted.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57This was a very big, strong result.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Now, with exchange rates constantly changing and some foreign currency
0:02:06 > 0:02:08providers offering - let's be absolutely honest -
0:02:08 > 0:02:12truly atrocious deals, working out how and when to get your holiday
0:02:12 > 0:02:16spending money can sometimes be a bit of a faff to say the least,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19which is why one in ten of us now use a prepaid currency card
0:02:19 > 0:02:22when we go away. And there's no doubt that they can come with
0:02:22 > 0:02:25lots and lots of benefits, not least if you choose the right one
0:02:25 > 0:02:28offering, of course, some of the best rates on the market.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32But there can be downsides as well because every card comes with
0:02:32 > 0:02:35a different set of terms, conditions, and sometimes charges.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38So if you're not careful, you could find yourself forking out
0:02:38 > 0:02:40more than you would have expected in fees.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44And for the people in this next film, it really was a lot more.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48While going on your hols should mean a chance to switch off
0:02:48 > 0:02:50and leave all your worries behind,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52it's hard to truly kick back and relax
0:02:52 > 0:02:55until you know everything to do with your spending money
0:02:55 > 0:02:57is properly sorted out.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01But the world now officially has 180 different currencies,
0:03:01 > 0:03:02so deciding how to deal with the one
0:03:02 > 0:03:06where you're headed isn't always easy.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08For some, cash is king.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12But it's bulky to carry and isn't always the safest solution.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14So, for decades, traveller's cheques were many people's
0:03:14 > 0:03:17preferred solution when they went away.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20You only cash them in as and when necessary
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and they've always been seen as secure.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26And because they never expire,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29the ones you don't spend you can simply put in a drawer
0:03:29 > 0:03:31and forget about until your next trip.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42All of which explains why seasoned traveller Sylvia Robert-Sargeant,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44from Cardigan in Wales,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47has always favoured them when she goes off on her adventures.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50I've travelled very extensively.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53You could say everywhere from Bhutan to Brazil.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58On the other hand, from Ethiopia to El Salvador.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03So, lots and lots of countries,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06and I suppose at the last count, it was somewhere over...
0:04:06 > 0:04:07..over 90 countries.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Sylvia normally takes on her trips
0:04:11 > 0:04:13a combination of cash - usually dollars -
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and those traveller's cheques.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Traveller's cheques were always useful to have
0:04:19 > 0:04:22because you knew exactly what you had.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26If you'd bought five traveller's cheques at 20 each, then you had
0:04:26 > 0:04:30100 in your wallet and it would remain 100 until it was used,
0:04:30 > 0:04:31even if it was only 12 months later.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36But back in 2011, when booking a trip to America,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Sylvia decided to take a road less well travelled
0:04:39 > 0:04:43and her head was turned by a new way to take cash abroad.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46I had ordered my traveller's cheques online,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48as I normally do, from Travelex,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52and I had the option of buying a prepaid currency card, also,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55which appeared to be marketed as an extension,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57or a newer version of a traveller's cheque.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01The way these currency cards work is that you preload them with cash here
0:05:01 > 0:05:05in the UK. Then, when you're abroad, you can either use the funds
0:05:05 > 0:05:07you've put there to pay for things
0:05:07 > 0:05:10or you can withdraw the money from a cash machine.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13And if you need more money, it's usually a doddle to top them up.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17So, happy that a card would be handy to have, Sylvia ordered one.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21When I got it, I loaded it with about £300 in sterling,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25which is about, at the time, about 470,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28and I also had dollars as a currency as well.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31So, it was really just a backup for my travels in the States.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Sylvia's trip to the US went swimmingly well
0:05:36 > 0:05:39and while she did sometimes use her prepaid currency card,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42there was still about 300 left on it when she came back -
0:05:42 > 0:05:45a fact that didn't worry her at all,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48as she was sure she'd use them in the future.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52I would very often be going back to countries time and time again,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55so I would never bother to cash the traveller's cheques
0:05:55 > 0:05:56or local currency,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58and the same applied to the prepaid currency card.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04And sure enough, just over four years later, in 2015,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Sylvia remembered about the card and the money left on it
0:06:07 > 0:06:09when she was planning another trip.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14In 2015, I was planning to travel to some of the remoter parts of
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Indonesia, so I thought particularly my prepaid currency card would be
0:06:18 > 0:06:22useful in the capitals and some of the larger cities,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24and in some of those countries
0:06:24 > 0:06:27you can't get local currency until you arrive.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30So, I thought at that point, "I'll just double check
0:06:30 > 0:06:33"and see exactly how much I've got remaining on it."
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Though pretty sure she still had a balance of around 300,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41just to be sure, Sylvia called Travelex to confirm.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44But I'm afraid she was in for a surprise.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49They checked and they came back and they said, "162."
0:06:51 > 0:06:56By Sylvia's calculations, that meant her card had lost about 138
0:06:56 > 0:06:58since she'd last used it four years ago.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01And when she asked why, it was explained that
0:07:01 > 0:07:05after 12 months of inactivity, the card had incurred a monthly fee.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09I was, as you can imagine, absolutely flabbergasted.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11It was my money. I had put it on a card.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15I wasn't using it. They were not giving me any interest.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17They were providing no service.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21So, how on earth could they justify making a charge
0:07:21 > 0:07:24for MY money on MY card?
0:07:25 > 0:07:29In each of the 39 months since the inactivity charge had kicked in,
0:07:29 > 0:07:33around £2 had been taken from the remaining balance on Sylvia's card.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37So, by now, the amount left had almost halved.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Had I known that there was going to be a charge,
0:07:40 > 0:07:44then I certainly wouldn't have proceeded with the transaction.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Now, it IS made clear in the small print that comes with the card that
0:07:48 > 0:07:52you'll be charged an inactivity fee of around £2 per month
0:07:52 > 0:07:55if you haven't used it within a 12-month period,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57but I'm afraid Sylvia hadn't registered that.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01In hindsight, I thought I was a fairly savvy traveller but this one
0:08:01 > 0:08:04certainly caught me out and it really tells you -
0:08:04 > 0:08:06look at the terms and conditions very carefully,
0:08:06 > 0:08:10even if you think there is nothing sinister in them.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12But clearly, in this case, there was.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Well, Travelex told us that the majority of its cardholders
0:08:16 > 0:08:20use or top up their cards at least once within a 12-month period,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23in which case no inactivity fees are charged.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24It says the fee is...
0:08:27 > 0:08:30..and reiterated that the information about it
0:08:30 > 0:08:33is clearly displayed in its terms and conditions.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37It advises anyone who thinks they won't use their card for a year
0:08:37 > 0:08:40to either load it during that time with a minimum amount,
0:08:40 > 0:08:41or cash out the balance.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46But fees like this aren't uncommon.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Prepaid currency cards from other big names
0:08:48 > 0:08:51often have a monthly charge for inactivity as well.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55And, as we know from all the e-mails and letters you've sent us on this
0:08:55 > 0:08:59topic, the various cards available can have all manner of other fees
0:08:59 > 0:09:01and costs that you may not have been aware of
0:09:01 > 0:09:04until you end up paying them.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06So our personal finance expert Sarah Pennells
0:09:06 > 0:09:09says it's really important that you understand
0:09:09 > 0:09:11exactly what these might be.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14The main disadvantage of prepaid travel cards
0:09:14 > 0:09:16is the cost and charges.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18For a start, there can be lots of them.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21You could get charged a set-up fee when you first buy the card.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23There could be a monthly fee.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25There could be a fee for topping up the card
0:09:25 > 0:09:27or one for withdrawing money.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29And there could even be a fee for taking the money off the card
0:09:29 > 0:09:31once you come back from holiday.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34And because different providers impose different fees,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37it can make it really hard to compare one with the other.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41But if you're aware of all of this before you take one out,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44these currency cards can be a great way
0:09:44 > 0:09:46to safely store your holiday funds.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49There are a couple of big advantages to using a prepaid travel card.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53One is that the card isn't linked to your bank account,
0:09:53 > 0:09:57so if it gets lost or stolen then there's no worries, really,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00about fraudsters getting hold of your bank details.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03The other is that you normally get a better rate, a better exchange rate,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05so your money will go further.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08And, also, they can be really good for budgeting
0:10:08 > 0:10:11because you can't spend more than you've loaded on the card.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15All that was exactly why Simon Riley from Hull
0:10:15 > 0:10:19opted for a prepayment card on a recent trip to Thailand.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22He got a really good exchange rate and felt that it was
0:10:22 > 0:10:25by far the safest way to take cash on his holiday.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30In February, we planned a trip to Phuket, Thailand,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33and somebody had told me about these prepaid travel cards,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37where you preload this card with cash before you go
0:10:37 > 0:10:42and then you can exchange the money at their rate over in Thailand,
0:10:42 > 0:10:43or wherever you're going.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46When Simon booked the holiday at Thomson,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49he was advised that the company's prepaid multi-currency
0:10:49 > 0:10:52travel money card could work out cheaper than using
0:10:52 > 0:10:55his own debit card to buy or withdraw cash.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58And the only charge he understood he'd face would be a flat fee
0:10:58 > 0:11:01of 80 Thai baht, around £2,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03every time he took money out of a cashpoint.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09So, Simon bought £800 worth of Thai baht to go on his card.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11But before flying out of the UK, thinking nothing of it,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14he used the card for a meal and a trip to the pub.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Then as soon as he arrived in Thailand he withdrew 10,000 baht,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22which Simon thought was the equivalent of around £240,
0:11:22 > 0:11:26and was confident that the transaction would cost him 80 baht.
0:11:26 > 0:11:27The first cash withdrawal,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31the charge was what the guy in Thomson's told me,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34so I was happy with that. The card was doing what it said on the tin.
0:11:34 > 0:11:35And all was well.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38A few days later, Simon withdrew the same amount of cash
0:11:38 > 0:11:43from a different ATM, assuming that he'd only be charged a small fee.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44And again, later in the holiday,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48he visited a third ATM to withdraw what he reckoned should be
0:11:48 > 0:11:52the remaining £250 or so still left on the card.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55But, to his surprise, he found that the card's balance
0:11:55 > 0:11:56was far less than he thought.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59The third time I tried to use the card,
0:11:59 > 0:12:01it declined my application for money.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04I was absolutely horrified at the time,
0:12:04 > 0:12:05thinking there must be a mistake,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09or has my card been robbed, or has somebody tampered with it?
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Didn't really know what to think. It was panic mode.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Simon's card no longer had anywhere near as much money
0:12:16 > 0:12:17as he was expecting,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20and when he rang the helpline number he'd been given,
0:12:20 > 0:12:21it became very clear why.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Although Simon had estimated that he'd only spent
0:12:25 > 0:12:29around £550 of his money, in fact - although he hadn't realised it -
0:12:29 > 0:12:33he'd managed to rack up an additional £105,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35made up of various charges.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39For starters, there'd been a small charge for using his card in the UK.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43That's because the currency he'd loaded up with was Thai baht,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45so he'd been charged a less-than-favourable exchange rate
0:12:45 > 0:12:50for changing it back, plus an additional fee for the transaction.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53But a far bigger charge of around £35 had come from
0:12:53 > 0:12:55using the cash machines in Thailand,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58because he'd mistakenly chosen the option of pounds and euros,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02rather than the local currency, which would have been far cheaper.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Well, the upshot of all of this was
0:13:04 > 0:13:06he now had far less money than he'd expected,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08which was especially frustrating
0:13:08 > 0:13:11as he'd thought using a prepaid currency card
0:13:11 > 0:13:14would help him save money, not cost him more.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18I felt angry and as though I'd been a bit gullible
0:13:18 > 0:13:20in not realising this.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Well, Thomson, now known as TUI, confirmed to us,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25as well as the smaller charges,
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Simon had unwittingly been caught out by what's known as...
0:13:30 > 0:13:32..which comes about when you're given the option of what
0:13:32 > 0:13:35currency you want a transaction to be completed in.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38The company says, where possible, you should always choose to pay in
0:13:38 > 0:13:41the currency that's loaded on the card for the country you're in.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Otherwise, as happened here...
0:13:47 > 0:13:49TUI points out it does advise of this
0:13:49 > 0:13:52in the information sent out with its cards.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55And then the company went on to say that its travel money card is
0:13:55 > 0:13:59one of the cheapest and most secure ways to spend money abroad,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02and that the vast majority of the feedback it receives from customers
0:14:02 > 0:14:03is very positive.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Well, it's true that if you do follow the recommendations
0:14:07 > 0:14:10on how to get the most out of any prepaid currency card,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14then they can be one of the most cost-effective and flexible ways
0:14:14 > 0:14:15to spend your money abroad.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Although Sarah Pennells doesn't advise relying on one completely.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23It's generally a good idea to have a mix of methods of payment
0:14:23 > 0:14:27when you go on holiday. So I always take some foreign currency,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29I normally take a credit card,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33and then a prepaid card can be a good one to add to this.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36But I would never recommend just relying on one card,
0:14:36 > 0:14:38or one method of payment, because you could come unstuck.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Of course, many people swear by their prepaid cards
0:14:43 > 0:14:45and wouldn't dream of going away without one.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47So, the key advice here is simple -
0:14:47 > 0:14:50check what charges you might face and that you're totally across
0:14:50 > 0:14:53the pros and cons of using them.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56The companies in Sylvia and Simon's cases, Travelex and TUI,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58have both made goodwill gestures
0:14:58 > 0:15:01to cover at least some of the charges incurred.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04But, even so, I'm afraid Simon and Sylvia say that next time
0:15:04 > 0:15:07they head off for new experiences,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10they'll use old ways of handling their spending.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12The whole experience of this prepaid travel card
0:15:12 > 0:15:15has left me 100% dissatisfied with it.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17I'll never use one again.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21I'll just use my own UK bank debit card from here on in.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26In the future when I travel, I will go back to using local currency,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29traveller's cheques and a credit card,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32and I certainly will not be even contemplating
0:15:32 > 0:15:35using a prepaid currency card that operates under those conditions.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Now, travel sickness is fortunately something
0:15:45 > 0:15:47that I very rarely suffer from,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49but I have travelled with many people who do,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53so I do know how it can turn an otherwise pleasant journey
0:15:53 > 0:15:57into something that's far more stressful and unpleasant.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01And if you are one of the unlucky ones that it affects, then you will
0:16:01 > 0:16:04probably have tried just about everything there is
0:16:04 > 0:16:06to settle your stomach and settle your head.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10But whilst some of the remedies out there cost absolutely nothing,
0:16:10 > 0:16:11or just a few pence,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15there are others that mean forking out quite a lot of money.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18And figuring out which are worth it and, indeed, which even work
0:16:18 > 0:16:20can be very tricky indeed.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23So we've got some very brave volunteers
0:16:23 > 0:16:25to do the hard work for you
0:16:25 > 0:16:27and all you've got to do is come along for the ride.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Travel sickness is a lot more common than you might think.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36In fact, it's reckoned that as many as 20 million people in the UK
0:16:36 > 0:16:40will suffer that nauseous feeling while making a long journey.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43And come the summer holidays, those affected will spend a lot of money
0:16:43 > 0:16:47on all sorts of remedies claiming they can stop you from feeling ill.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50So it's no surprise that a lot of work and research
0:16:50 > 0:16:53is being carried out to find the best way to tackle the problem.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55And at the University of Westminster,
0:16:55 > 0:16:59Professor John Golding is quite an expert on the subject.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Motion sickness is like any other type of sickness,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05except it's elicited by motion,
0:17:05 > 0:17:11and that motion can be anything as diverse as sea motion, air motion,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13or car sickness.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Even astronauts get sick.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17And you can also have, nowadays,
0:17:17 > 0:17:21virtual reality sickness where there may be no physical motion,
0:17:21 > 0:17:23but the motion is implied.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Professor Golding has carried out extensive work
0:17:25 > 0:17:29to test the effectiveness of all of those remedies on the market,
0:17:29 > 0:17:30and there really are quite a few.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33In any high street pharmacy or supermarket,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37you'll find an array of pills and wristbands sold in the hope
0:17:37 > 0:17:41that they'll prove the best at tackling that horrible sickness
0:17:41 > 0:17:44that so many of you feel in a car, plane, boat or train,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48because if you're one of the people who suffers from travel sickness,
0:17:48 > 0:17:52then you'll probably try anything to help you avoid it.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Motion sickness is very, very unpleasant.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58It's not life-threatening, as such. People don't die of motion sickness,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00but it's extremely unpleasant.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03These three students at Professor Golding's university
0:18:03 > 0:18:07know only too well how grim travel sickness can be.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Zoe Smith says it's ruined many of her family holidays.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15I tend to get motion sickness on longer car journeys
0:18:15 > 0:18:17and especially bad on boats.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21I went to Amsterdam recently and we got the ferry over to France,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23and the whole way there I was just sitting there
0:18:23 > 0:18:26with my head in my hands trying to combat the motion sickness.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Photography student Michael Naylor has suffered motion sickness
0:18:30 > 0:18:31since he was a young boy.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34I've suffered from motion sickness since I was young,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36since I was going on fairground rides when I was a kid.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39I always found it really difficult and I'd always get nauseous,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41and then I'd throw up.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43And also as a teenager, I couldn't go on long car journeys
0:18:43 > 0:18:44without feeling sick.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Like, five minutes to Morrisons would literally destroy me.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53And for biomedical sciences student Shar Taysir, it's a similar story.
0:18:54 > 0:18:59I always get these hot flushes where I feel like I have to sit down,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02and I get dizzy, and I feel like I'm going to throw up.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05I get really nauseous.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08But that only happens in cars and trains.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Today Shar, Michael and Zoe are going to put to the test
0:19:12 > 0:19:16some of the travel sickness remedies on offer, and to help them do it,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Professor Golding will be relying on this incredible
0:19:20 > 0:19:22and rather terrifying piece of kit.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26The rotating chair works by spinning people around,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28which if you superimpose head movements,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31cause what's called a cross coupling effect,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33in other words, apart from feeling dizzy,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36you have this very unpleasant tumbling sensation.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39And to begin with, you just get a feeling of dizziness.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Gradually, if you just keep on doing that,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44you will start to get some initial symptoms of motion sickness.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48And then if you carry it on long enough, most people would get quite
0:19:48 > 0:19:50severely motion sick.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52The spinning chair would test the mettle
0:19:52 > 0:19:55of those with even the strongest constitution.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57All three candidates will be spun around,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00and as they go, they'll be asked to move left,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04right and backwards and forwards, and every 30 seconds they'll be
0:20:04 > 0:20:07asked to rate how they feel on a scale of one to four -
0:20:07 > 0:20:12one being no symptoms at all and four feeling moderate nausea.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15You can go as high as six, which is vomiting.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18But don't worry, Professor Golding would stop the test
0:20:18 > 0:20:20way before that happens.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23The idea here is to help them feel better.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26If all else fails, we have the trusty sick bag.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29But this is almost a historical object.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34It's never been used in 15, 20 years,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37which is because we're very careful how we make people motion sick.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42First, our volunteers will all have a go on the chair
0:20:42 > 0:20:44without any travel sickness remedy,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47just to see how long they can last before reaching level four.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49First up is Zoe.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- COMPUTER:- Rate symptoms. - Four.- Four, OK.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Zoe, keep your head upright, still as possible.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59And after seven and a half minutes of spinning around,
0:20:59 > 0:21:02she starts feeling moderate nausea.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Next, Michael, without any anti-nausea medication.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09- Rate symptoms.- Er... I'd say four.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11OK, four, we're stopping there.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15He lasts just under five minutes before feeling sick.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16Finally, Shar had a go,
0:21:16 > 0:21:20and she started feeling nauseous after 11 minutes,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23at which point she came off the spinning chair.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- Four.- Four, OK, keep your head as still as possible.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Next, after a break of a few hours to let their spinning heads settle,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34we can start testing the effectiveness
0:21:34 > 0:21:38of a couple of the anti-sickness treatments on the market.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Again, it's Zoe who goes first.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42She's trying these wristbands, which,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45by applying pressure to a single part of the wrist,
0:21:45 > 0:21:49it's thought can help reduce sickness symptoms.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53The acupressure bands rely on pressure on what's called,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55in acupressure terminology, the Nei Guan points,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59which are about three finger lengths up from the wrist creases
0:21:59 > 0:22:01on your hands.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05And it is said that pressure or activation of those points
0:22:05 > 0:22:08will relieve nausea, not just for motion sickness,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12but from pregnancy sickness or all sorts of types of sickness.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16These types of anti-motion sickness bracelets are relatively inexpensive
0:22:16 > 0:22:20at around £5 each and can be used over and over again.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23But the question is, do they work?
0:22:23 > 0:22:25The evidence for that is mixed.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28There have been some controlled published trials,
0:22:28 > 0:22:29which show it is effective.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31There have been other controlled trials,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34which have failed to show effectiveness.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Last time, Zoe lasted seven and a half minutes
0:22:36 > 0:22:39on the spinning chair before feeling sick.
0:22:39 > 0:22:40Rate symptoms.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44- Four.- Four, OK, keep your head upright, as still as possible, Zoe.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48With the wristband, it's only eight minutes 20,
0:22:48 > 0:22:52which, while a slight improvement, isn't a huge difference.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Although she tolerated the acupressure bands very well -
0:22:55 > 0:22:57in other words, no side effects -
0:22:57 > 0:22:59it really had little or no effect.
0:22:59 > 0:23:06However, her reaction probably fits in with the bulk of research,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10which would show that, if there is an effect of acupressure bands,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13it's probably overall rather small.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18A 50-second improvement using the wristband may not be the level of
0:23:18 > 0:23:21relief many would want from an anti-sickness device.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23So, let's try medication -
0:23:23 > 0:23:26the type of travel sickness pills you can buy on the high street
0:23:26 > 0:23:28for around £3 a packet.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Michael is taking a tablet 20 minutes
0:23:30 > 0:23:33before having another go on the spinning chair.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Anti-motion sickness medications,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40there are quite a few different types of drugs that can be used.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43The one we're going to use today is called hyoscine hydrobromide.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47In the USA it's called scopolamine, just different terminology.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51These are standard over-the-counter preparations.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55They're very well, er, tested.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57They're very reliable.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Without medication, Michael lasted just under
0:24:00 > 0:24:02five minutes on the chair,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06but now, after six minutes, he's still going strong.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10But for some, these pills can come with side-effects.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13A minority of people, especially with repeated dosing,
0:24:13 > 0:24:18can get blurred vision, which, if you're driving, is not a good idea.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Equally, that drug, in common with most,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23but not all other anti-motion sickness drugs,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25can make some people feel rather drowsy.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29- Right.- After nine minutes and 44 seconds,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Michael has had enough and starts to feel sick.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- I'd say four.- OK, it's a four. OK, we'll stop there.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37Keep your head nice and still.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41But he's lasted nearly twice as long as he did without medication.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44In terms of how that would fit in with general research,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47that would be probably quite a good effect
0:24:47 > 0:24:49for an anti-motion sickness drug.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Now, these results can't really be regarded as scientifically sound,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56as a proper test would take much longer,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59and involve many more subjects over a longer period of time.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Even so, they do broadly match the findings of wider studies
0:25:03 > 0:25:07into the effectiveness of motion sickness remedies.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09But Professor Golding has a technique
0:25:09 > 0:25:10that he believes tops them all.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15It's one that's free and it's all to do with breathing.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Regulate your own breathing and this could do away with motion sickness
0:25:19 > 0:25:21for much longer.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25And to prove it, the professor has asked Shar to try it.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Spend at least five or ten minutes trying to see if you can,
0:25:29 > 0:25:33in a very systematic fashion, pay very close attention
0:25:33 > 0:25:37to your breathing and maintain your respiration rate
0:25:37 > 0:25:40at a rate which seems very natural and comfortable to you.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Not hyperventilating,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45not over breathing, not stopping your breathing.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Shar has been practising the breathing techniques
0:25:47 > 0:25:50that she's going to use once she's back in the chair,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52and now she thinks that she's mastered them,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55she's going to put them to the test.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59In the first round, Shar lasted 11 minutes in the spinning chair
0:25:59 > 0:26:01before feeling sick.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- Rate symptoms.- Two.- Two, OK.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06But now, keeping up her breathing technique,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09at 19 minutes, she was still going strong
0:26:09 > 0:26:13and was only a three on the scale, which is mild nausea.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Wider research into the breathing technique suggests it can be about
0:26:18 > 0:26:22half as effective as medication, but that's not been the case with Shar,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25for whom it appears to be far more successful,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27and clearly without any of the side effects.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- Three.- Three? OK. We've reached the mandatory stop point.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33So keep your head as still as possible.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35I'm just slowing you down, Shar.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38The test doesn't go beyond 20 minutes,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42so Professor Golding stops the chair with Shar still at level three,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45but he's delighted with how well she responded to this technique.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48So, nice and still, keep your head nice and still.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52I was pleasantly surprised at how long Shar actually lasted.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56For her, obviously, the controlled breathing technique
0:26:56 > 0:26:57was a massive success.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01She didn't actually reach a motion sickness end point,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04so she could have probably carried on further.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07This is a very big, strong result.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11On the whole, if we relate that to the literature,
0:27:11 > 0:27:16she'd be at the high-end of positive outcome for controlled breathing
0:27:16 > 0:27:17as a technique.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20For Shar, who's always suffered motion sickness,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22this feels like a real breakthrough
0:27:22 > 0:27:25and something she certainly plans to try the future.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Personally, I do not like to take any drugs.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32I always like natural remedies.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35So I'd definitely go with controlled breathing.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39Professor Golding is keen to emphasise that all the remedies
0:27:39 > 0:27:43for travel sickness can work for different people at different times
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and there's no single treatment that works for everyone,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49but there are plenty of things you can do to reduce the risk
0:27:49 > 0:27:51of feeling sick in the first place.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54If you're on a coach or a car or on board a ship,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58if you can get a stable horizon view, that's very good.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Of course, that's not always possible.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03If you're in a vehicle of any sort,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06try to avoid actually reading text or looking at your phone
0:28:06 > 0:28:10or anything like that, because that's certainly a way of
0:28:10 > 0:28:13aggravating motion sickness.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17And, finally, if you can be the person in control of the vehicle,
0:28:17 > 0:28:20such as the driver or pilot, that certainly helps.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30Still to come on Rip-Off Britain,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34as we debunk the dangers of drinking tap water on holiday,
0:28:34 > 0:28:36could it be time to stop splashing out
0:28:36 > 0:28:38on all that bottled water when we're away?
0:28:38 > 0:28:40I don't drink the tap water.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43I make tea with it, as long as it's boiled.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51Our travel expert, Simon Calder, is full of tips to save you money
0:28:51 > 0:28:53on your travels. He's got lots of advice on everything,
0:28:53 > 0:28:57from how to avoid the crowds to the best way to steer clear
0:28:57 > 0:28:59of those tourist traps.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01This time he's heading west.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05From beaches to mountains, forests to desert,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08California is home to some of the most breathtaking scenery
0:29:08 > 0:29:10in the world.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13And now the Golden State is more accessible than ever from the UK,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16thanks to extra flights from Manchester and Gatwick.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19To fully appreciate what the state has to offer,
0:29:19 > 0:29:23you have to travel around it and here's how to do it the Simon way.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26So you want to visit San Francisco and Los Angeles,
0:29:26 > 0:29:28and drive between them -
0:29:28 > 0:29:33good idea, but don't simply buy a return ticket to one or other city.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Instead get a so-called open jaw deal.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39Fly out to one, back from the other.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41It shouldn't cost any more
0:29:41 > 0:29:44and it will save you time and money involved in doubling back.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Just talk to a travel agent or search online
0:29:47 > 0:29:50using the multi-city function.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55If you want to visit San Francisco and LA,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58then why not take a drive along the Pacific coast
0:29:58 > 0:30:00on State Route number one?
0:30:00 > 0:30:02It's a fantastic way to get from A to B,
0:30:02 > 0:30:06while taking in the stunning and varied scenery all around.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11Renting a car, I always book a deal from the UK that includes everything
0:30:11 > 0:30:15I need and that means unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver,
0:30:15 > 0:30:21supplementary liability insurance, rental tax, tourism tax, sales tax.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23Just give me an all-inclusive price, please.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27What's more, if you book both car and flights
0:30:27 > 0:30:29with the same travel company,
0:30:29 > 0:30:32your whole holiday will be ATOL protected.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Meaning, should the airline go bust while you're out there,
0:30:35 > 0:30:37you at least know your return journey to the UK
0:30:37 > 0:30:39will be taken care of.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45And if you decide a car isn't for you, then public transport in
0:30:45 > 0:30:48the big cities like LA is top notch.
0:30:48 > 0:30:53And if you invest a couple of dollars in a transit access pass
0:30:53 > 0:30:57or Tap card, then you can travel anywhere you like in the city
0:30:57 > 0:30:58for just 5 a day.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08Now, something I always remember my parents telling me
0:31:08 > 0:31:12when I started to go abroad was not under any circumstances
0:31:12 > 0:31:14to drink the local tap water.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Even brushing your teeth with it was out of the question, but times have
0:31:17 > 0:31:20changed and now tap water in most European countries,
0:31:20 > 0:31:25and indeed further afield, is completely clean and safe to drink.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28However, for some of us, a few of those doubts linger on,
0:31:28 > 0:31:32meaning that every trip abroad involves splashing out on plenty of
0:31:32 > 0:31:35bottled water and avoiding putting ice in drinks.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37So is all that really necessary
0:31:37 > 0:31:41or should we be spending our money on rather more exciting instead?
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Well, we're about to find out.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Wherever they're going, many holiday-makers travelling abroad
0:31:48 > 0:31:52still assume that the local tap water isn't fit for drinking.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Some will have been brought up on the fear that you can't even
0:31:55 > 0:31:58brush your teeth with foreign tap water - let alone drink it.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01So they'll buy bottles and bottles of the stuff
0:32:01 > 0:32:05just to be on the safe side and reduce the chance of getting ill.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I don't drink the tap water.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10I make tea with it, as long as it's boiled.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12No, we buy bottled water.
0:32:12 > 0:32:17Although I clean my teeth with the tap water, but that's about it.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19I would never drink it.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21- Well, you're advised not to. - Well, we were years ago,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25- so we've always bought it.- Yeah. - So it's never altered, you see.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29For drinking purposes alone, we buy the bottled water.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33Cooking, sometimes tend to use the ordinary water.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36- Clean my teeth with the tap water. - We haven't had any complaints...
0:32:36 > 0:32:37- Yes, but...- And rinse my mouth out,
0:32:37 > 0:32:39I don't bother about that. But I wouldn't drink it.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41I don't want to be ill or anything like that.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44I just bought four bottles this morning.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48They were only 30 cents a bottle, you know, so why would you?
0:32:48 > 0:32:52So I just pick up a bottle of water for next to nothing.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56Well, those widely held views that we heard in Tenerife
0:32:56 > 0:32:58stem from the old-fashioned belief
0:32:58 > 0:33:01that the tap water abroad isn't up to the same standards
0:33:01 > 0:33:02as it is in the UK.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06It's something that certainly stuck in Karen's mind
0:33:06 > 0:33:10since she first started travelling overseas as a child.
0:33:10 > 0:33:15I think I was about nine when I went on one of the first package holidays
0:33:15 > 0:33:20in the '70s to Majorca with my parents and my sister.
0:33:20 > 0:33:26And I'm sure then that my parents did tell me not to drink the water,
0:33:26 > 0:33:28and to be careful when cleaning my teeth.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32So now whenever Karen arrives on holiday, wherever she goes,
0:33:32 > 0:33:34she follows the same routine.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37When I get to my apartment or hotel, I'll always find a shop,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39buy the big bottles of water.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41If there's a fridge, keep them in the fridge,
0:33:41 > 0:33:43and keep buying them until I leave.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47So convinced is Karen that bottled is best that she uses it not
0:33:47 > 0:33:52just to drink but to clean her teeth and she takes other precautions too.
0:33:52 > 0:33:57When I'm showering abroad, I always make sure not to swallow any water.
0:33:57 > 0:33:58So I tend to keep my mouth shut.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02The water probably is coming out of the water tank,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05so that's another reason not to swallow it.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Karen knows that some people might consider that extreme,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11but she believes that a good many others will share her concerns.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16I think a lot of people would agree with me and not drink the tap water
0:34:16 > 0:34:20when they go abroad, but I would need a lot of convincing
0:34:20 > 0:34:24that it would be OK to do that, and some concrete evidence.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28So to do just that and potentially save Karen and others a fortune in
0:34:28 > 0:34:32bottled water costs, we've brought her to this lab in Coventry
0:34:32 > 0:34:33where samples of water
0:34:33 > 0:34:35from many of our favourite holiday destinations
0:34:35 > 0:34:39are carefully tested to see if they're safe to drink.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41- Hi, Chris.- Hi, Karen, welcome to the lab.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45We've arranged for Karen to meet water analyst Chris Caird.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47Well, this is our sample store.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50This is just a small selection of the samples
0:34:50 > 0:34:52that we test within the company.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54We test samples all across the European Union.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57We've got labs in several different countries.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01Scientists here work to strict regulations set by
0:35:01 > 0:35:05the European Union to make sure all water samples in Europe
0:35:05 > 0:35:07are of the same quality.
0:35:07 > 0:35:12What we're looking for, we're trying to filter out particular bacteria
0:35:12 > 0:35:17that are indicative of potential contamination and health hazards.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20In the 1970s, the European Drinking Water Group
0:35:20 > 0:35:23put in place policies and legislation
0:35:23 > 0:35:25to protect and keep our water clean,
0:35:25 > 0:35:30bringing together all the drinking water standards throughout the EU.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33That means that wherever you are in Europe, the water you drink will be
0:35:33 > 0:35:37tested to the same standard and if testing companies like ALS
0:35:37 > 0:35:41find any impurities which may pose a danger to public health
0:35:41 > 0:35:43they'll report that back to the water company
0:35:43 > 0:35:45in the relevant country.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47So Chris is confident that the water
0:35:47 > 0:35:51in all the most popular European destinations is safe to drink.
0:35:51 > 0:35:56So when I travel on holiday to places like Portugal, Spain, Italy,
0:35:56 > 0:35:59should I be worried about drinking the water?
0:35:59 > 0:36:03I travel, like you do, on holiday to Spain, Italy, Portugal,
0:36:03 > 0:36:05I'm quite happy to drink the water when I get there
0:36:05 > 0:36:09and I'm quite happy to let my children do so, so I wouldn't worry.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13But when it comes to destinations further afield,
0:36:13 > 0:36:15it's a different story.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18There are still plenty of popular locations where drinking
0:36:18 > 0:36:20the water isn't recommended.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25These maps give an overview of where in the world the water is safe,
0:36:25 > 0:36:26and where it isn't.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28Areas marked blue are ones
0:36:28 > 0:36:29where you can drink it,
0:36:29 > 0:36:31but in those marked brown,
0:36:31 > 0:36:32you really shouldn't.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35While all of western Europe is blue,
0:36:35 > 0:36:36further afield, Russia,
0:36:36 > 0:36:38Eastern Europe, Turkey,
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Cyprus and Egypt are all brown
0:36:40 > 0:36:42as the tap water isn't
0:36:42 > 0:36:43always considered safe to drink.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47In North America, all tap water is safe, as it is in Brunei,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50but in Mexico, Cuba, the Bahamas and Caribbean,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52bottled water is recommended.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56Tap water in the whole of South America is unsafe to drink
0:36:56 > 0:36:57and in Africa and Asia,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00it's not considered safe to drink the tap water -
0:37:00 > 0:37:03with the exception of Hong Kong, Israel, Singapore,
0:37:03 > 0:37:05Japan and South Korea.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Back in the lab, Karen is so reassured
0:37:09 > 0:37:12by everything Chris has shown her today that it may mean an end
0:37:12 > 0:37:13to her spending lots of money
0:37:13 > 0:37:17on unnecessary bottled water on her next trip.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22Well, I've seen a lot today which actually has quite impressed me.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29My thoughts have changed on drinking water when I'm abroad,
0:37:29 > 0:37:32and perhaps I will give it a try.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35It all probably depends where I'm going.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38And if you're unsure about the quality of the tap water
0:37:38 > 0:37:41in the destination you're going to this year,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43you can find out more information on our website. That's...
0:37:54 > 0:37:57Our annual pop-up shop is a perfect opportunity
0:37:57 > 0:38:00to get your holiday problems and queries resolved.
0:38:00 > 0:38:01Yay!
0:38:03 > 0:38:07A problem that a lot of you come and tell us about is lost luggage.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11Martin and Siobhan are among the people who got to their destination
0:38:11 > 0:38:14only to find their bags didn't arrive with them.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17They say this ruined the majority of their cruise for them,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20so they're meeting travel writer Emma Colthurst
0:38:20 > 0:38:22to see what can be done.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Now, you've had a bit of a disaster,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27so just tell me from the beginning what happened.
0:38:27 > 0:38:32We flew from Manchester to Copenhagen via Amsterdam,
0:38:32 > 0:38:36and when we got to get onto our cruise ship,
0:38:36 > 0:38:40all three pieces of our luggage had been lost.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42- Everything, everything?- Everything.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Martin and Siobhan were told
0:38:44 > 0:38:47there'd been a baggage handler strike at Amsterdam airport,
0:38:47 > 0:38:51so while they'd successfully boarded their transfer flight,
0:38:51 > 0:38:52their bags had not.
0:38:52 > 0:38:58Basically, the cruise line said that it was an airline issue and whilst
0:38:58 > 0:39:03they would provide us with credit in their shop to buy toiletries etc,
0:39:03 > 0:39:05there was nothing else that they could do
0:39:05 > 0:39:08beyond offering to do our laundry every night.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11We weren't able to enjoy the facilities,
0:39:11 > 0:39:13because we didn't have appropriate clothing.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15So there were three bags. Did they all arrive on the same day?
0:39:15 > 0:39:18No, all of our cases had turned up by day six.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22- It ruins your holiday, six days out of nine days.- It does. Yes.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25Once the couple were home, they wrote e-mails of complaint
0:39:25 > 0:39:27about the way in which the situation had been handled
0:39:27 > 0:39:31to both the travel company and the airline.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33What did you get? Did you get any money and compensation?
0:39:33 > 0:39:36- No.- No, they...- We got a very long and detailed apology
0:39:36 > 0:39:41from the cruise line and a very curt sorry from the airline.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43You can claim on your travel insurance.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46It's normally a small amount, but did you try that?
0:39:46 > 0:39:48We didn't, actually, because we thought, "Well, we've nothing to
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- "actually physically claim for." - Claim, yeah.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54Some travel insurance policies will pay out for delayed luggage,
0:39:54 > 0:39:56but make sure you check the terms and conditions
0:39:56 > 0:39:59before submitting a claim.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03And while they may not always like it, under the Montreal Convention,
0:40:03 > 0:40:05airlines are obliged to take responsibility
0:40:05 > 0:40:07for lost and delayed luggage -
0:40:07 > 0:40:09although you'll need to keep receipts
0:40:09 > 0:40:13for any essentials that you purchased in order to be reimbursed.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17I'm really glad that the cruise ship allowed you to buy toiletries at
0:40:17 > 0:40:23their expense, because ultimately it was the airline's responsibility.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25Well, I hope it hasn't put you off holidays forever.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27- No. That's brilliant, thank you. - Thank you very much.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Well, Martin and Siobhan and checked the terms and conditions of their
0:40:30 > 0:40:34travel insurance, but unfortunately their particular policy
0:40:34 > 0:40:37isn't one that offers cover for delayed luggage.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40However, in some good news, after visiting us,
0:40:40 > 0:40:44the couple have now received £300 in vouchers from the airline
0:40:44 > 0:40:46they flew with to spend on their next flight with them.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Meanwhile, Simon Calder was out and about in the shopping centre
0:40:53 > 0:40:57with tips and advice on all things travel.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00Let me introduce you to Mr Simon Calder,
0:41:00 > 0:41:04who is THE travel guru, so if you've got any questions at all about
0:41:04 > 0:41:07travel you want to ask, he's your man.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10So we would like to go to New York this year, for Christmas,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13- Christmas shopping.- Oh, right, Christmas shopping. Ooh, OK.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15- Yes, in New York. So any tips? - So what you've got to do,
0:41:15 > 0:41:17first of all, the flight -
0:41:17 > 0:41:21if you're prepared to change planes in Dublin, in Reykjavik, in Canada,
0:41:21 > 0:41:24you're going to get a much better deal on the flight.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27- Ooh!- And, also, if you do that, you don't have to go through
0:41:27 > 0:41:30immigration when you get to the other end.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32Very good point. If you go through Dublin,
0:41:32 > 0:41:35then you clear American immigration in Dublin.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37That's a really good idea, that.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39So nice to see you. Thank you very much indeed.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Rip-Off Britain wouldn't be here without your stories,
0:41:45 > 0:41:48and we've got plenty of ways that you can get in touch with us.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50You can send us an e-mail to...
0:41:54 > 0:41:56Or you can write to us at...
0:42:04 > 0:42:08But please don't send original copies of any documents.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11And even if you haven't got a story you'd like us to investigate,
0:42:11 > 0:42:15you can join in the conversation on our Facebook page.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17Just search BBC Rip-Off Britain.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Well, that's just about where we have to leave it for today,
0:42:22 > 0:42:25but if you're someone who insists on sticking with bottled water
0:42:25 > 0:42:26whenever you go away,
0:42:26 > 0:42:29hopefully you'll have been reassured to hear that,
0:42:29 > 0:42:33in most parts of Europe at least, it isn't absolutely necessary.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35Which I'm sure will be a relief for anyone
0:42:35 > 0:42:37who hasn't quite shaken off old habits.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39But as for those poor people
0:42:39 > 0:42:41who were spun around in that chair to test how effective
0:42:41 > 0:42:44that particular travel sickness remedy was...
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Oh, it made me feel absolutely sick just looking at it.
0:42:46 > 0:42:47Yeah, not just you,
0:42:47 > 0:42:50I think just about everybody that was watching them,
0:42:50 > 0:42:52but, I have to say, do remember if you have got a burning question
0:42:52 > 0:42:56on any consumer topic at all that you would like us to investigate,
0:42:56 > 0:42:59perhaps for our food series, which is returning very soon,
0:42:59 > 0:43:01then we really would love to hear from you.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03But, for now, though, that's it for today.
0:43:03 > 0:43:04Thanks for joining us,
0:43:04 > 0:43:07and we'll be back again with more of your stories very soon.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09- Until then, from all of us, bye-bye. - Bye-bye.- Goodbye.