0:00:02 > 0:00:03You're watching X-Ray,
0:00:03 > 0:00:06the programme that fights for your rights on holiday.
0:00:06 > 0:00:12Are you jetting off abroad or enjoying Wales' stunning scenery?
0:00:12 > 0:00:15To celebrate summer we've been out and about
0:00:15 > 0:00:19- finding brilliant ways to save you money.- Yes!
0:00:19 > 0:00:23From cheap days out in Wales to designer looks,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26but we haven't forgotten to investigate your holiday horrors
0:00:26 > 0:00:28and confront the rogues.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30We're from X-Ray! Excuse me!
0:00:42 > 0:00:46Tonight, the couple whose luxury hotel promised romantic meals
0:00:46 > 0:00:48beside the Indian Ocean.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51So how did they end up with views of a car park?
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I think there's a mixture of tears and anger really because
0:00:54 > 0:00:58the place was so depressingly awful. It was grim.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01What happens if your dream destination becomes
0:01:01 > 0:01:04the focus of a terrorist attack?
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Watch our guide to your rights if you've already paid out.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11The hotelier can say, "Your room's ready.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14"The fact that you're not here isn't our problem."
0:01:14 > 0:01:18And how to get the kids out and about over the summer
0:01:18 > 0:01:20when they just want to stare at a screen.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23They love their video games, they love playing indoors,
0:01:23 > 0:01:24but you'd be surprised what kids are like
0:01:24 > 0:01:26once you get them into an environment like this.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Hello and welcome to a special
0:01:31 > 0:01:35holiday series of X-Ray. We're on the banks of the beautiful
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Llyn Tegid, just outside Bala.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40And tonight, it's all about camping.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Yes, whether you're going away to a festival or a family campsite
0:01:44 > 0:01:47like this, I'm going to be finding out
0:01:47 > 0:01:49how to keep your stuff safe.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Are gadgets like this the answer?
0:01:52 > 0:01:55ALARM BLARES
0:01:55 > 0:01:57Oh, that was loud!
0:01:57 > 0:02:00And I'm going to find out whether a weekend under canvas
0:02:00 > 0:02:03has to mean a diet of bangers and burgers.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08Award-winning restaurateurs Abul and Sabia Hussain
0:02:08 > 0:02:10insist there's another way.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15But first, the families who didn't get the holidays they paid for,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19even though they booked through one of the biggest online travel agents.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26The online travel industry is big business.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31Around 80% of all holidays are now booked on the net.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34And Travel Republic is a giant in the industry,
0:02:34 > 0:02:40sending around three million people on their holidays every year.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43And it's quick to boast its credentials.
0:02:43 > 0:02:48Atol, Iata and the Association of British Travel Agents - Abta -
0:02:48 > 0:02:52are amongst the industry logos stamped all over its website.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56It says you can book your holiday safe in the knowledge
0:02:56 > 0:02:58that you are protected.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03But customers we've spoken to tell quite a different story.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Annie Pritchard and husband John from Swansea went on
0:03:07 > 0:03:12the Travel Republic website to book the five-star Galle Face Hotel
0:03:12 > 0:03:14in Sri Lanka.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20Known as Colombo's Grand Old Lady, the great and good have stayed here.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Hollywood star Vivien Leigh, Frank Sinatra
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and US President Richard Nixon.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31This is a hotel where glamorous people stay,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33and I think that was attractive.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36And it's overlooking the seafront
0:03:36 > 0:03:38and a veranda you have breakfast on and dinner.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42And the whole thing just oozed glamour and elegance.
0:03:42 > 0:03:48So, Annie and John paid over £2,000 for the flights and hotel,
0:03:48 > 0:03:52reassured everything would be OK because their booking confirmed
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Travel Republic was a member of Abta.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00So, with this extra peace of mind surely nothing could go wrong.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Well, no. Their luck wasn't in.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06On the day of departure,
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Annie and John got a call out of the blue from Travel Republic.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13They said that the hotel had overbooked
0:04:13 > 0:04:17and they were going to have to give us an upgrade at a different hotel.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21And I wasn't happy at all and I said, "Do I have to accept this?"
0:04:21 > 0:04:25They said we should go and see and if we didn't like it
0:04:25 > 0:04:28then maybe they could do something about it.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33But once in Colombo they found their grand Galle Face Hotel
0:04:33 > 0:04:38had been swapped with the not so grand Galadari.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Instead of the sweeping panoramas of the Indian Ocean
0:04:42 > 0:04:46they'd been expecting, their view was the car park.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49I think there was a mixture of tears and anger really because
0:04:49 > 0:04:52the place was so depressingly awful. It was grim.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55It was very down at heel, dirty place mats
0:04:55 > 0:04:57and stains on the headboard.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59We said, "What options have we got?
0:04:59 > 0:05:02"Could they move us to any other hotel, really?"
0:05:02 > 0:05:04And they couldn't move us anywhere.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06The holiday was a total write-off.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09We didn't feel like doing anything. It was awful.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14It turns out the booking in their dream hotel was never made.
0:05:14 > 0:05:15Travel Republic told Annie and John
0:05:15 > 0:05:19this was the fault of their supplier Youtravel.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22But we know this isn't the first time they've laid the blame
0:05:22 > 0:05:25with their suppliers.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30X-Ray has discovered that Annie and John's story is not a one-off.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Other holiday makers have also experienced problems banking on
0:05:34 > 0:05:37the travel bookings they've made with Travel Republic.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Darren Holland, wife Becky and their three kids zipped off to Zante
0:05:43 > 0:05:46on a two-week, all-inclusive last August.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50But once they arrived at the Sunrise Hotel,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53the sun had already set on their booking.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57They asked me to take a seat at reception.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59We kind of figured out something was wrong,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02so we tried to put on a brave face at that point for the children.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04They called us over and said,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06"We're awful sorry, but we've got no record of you booking."
0:06:06 > 0:06:11We have three young children, all of a sudden it was quite serious.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16Once again, they were reassured by the Abta logo, and once gain,
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Travel Republic blamed their suppliers, this time Hotelbeds.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24They found the family new accommodation,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26but there was a problem.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28It was a half-board basis only,
0:06:28 > 0:06:32so we were left still having to find lunch and having to pay for drinks
0:06:32 > 0:06:36that we obviously thought were going to be provided as part of
0:06:36 > 0:06:38the all-inclusive package.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42After numerous calls to Travel Republic they finally provided
0:06:42 > 0:06:46all-inclusive drinks and snacks, but the Hollands had to traipse
0:06:46 > 0:06:50backwards and forwards to where they should have stayed to get them.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55They claim they've been left hundreds of pounds out of pocket.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00It just made me appreciate how vulnerable you are by booking
0:07:00 > 0:07:02with companies like Travel Republic.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05We knew that we were totally on our own.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07It was quite frightening, to be honest,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10for the first couple of days, and afterwards just very frustrating.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15So, what about Travel Republic's promise that you can book safe in
0:07:15 > 0:07:18the knowledge that your holiday is protected.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Is it water-tight?
0:07:21 > 0:07:28Uh, no. Their suppliers Youtravel and Hotelbeds are not Abta members.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31So if you have a complaint, you could be left treading water.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36After checking Travel Republic's website we've discovered that
0:07:36 > 0:07:42most of their other suppliers are also not registered with Abta.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46So what does consumer law expert Margaret Griffiths
0:07:46 > 0:07:48make of these complaints
0:07:48 > 0:07:52and Travel Republic's seemingly hollow promise?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55How have our viewers got caught out here?
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Well, I think like most consumers they wouldn't realise that
0:07:59 > 0:08:03a booking agent like Travel Republic is just that, they're an agent.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06You're not actually making the final contract with them.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Then any claim the consumer's got would be against the hotel
0:08:09 > 0:08:11or whoever else is providing their services.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15On their website, wonderful statement - you can book your
0:08:15 > 0:08:19holiday safe in the knowledge that you are protected.
0:08:19 > 0:08:20Is that fair?
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Well, it certainly is very misleading, isn't it?
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Because it does mean that you've got to read the advert to the word
0:08:26 > 0:08:29and not make any assumptions whatever about quite how far
0:08:29 > 0:08:31your protection's going to go.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34So what advice do you have for people then who are booking a
0:08:34 > 0:08:38holiday and want to make sure it is water-tight if anything goes wrong?
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Well, really suppose the best way is to book a package.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45And book a package with a company based in the UK and that
0:08:45 > 0:08:49the holiday company who's providing the whole package is Abta
0:08:49 > 0:08:52protected because then every aspect of it will be protected
0:08:52 > 0:08:54and you don't need to worry about it any further.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57But that's little comfort to Annie
0:08:57 > 0:09:00who hasn't received any compensation.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Well, what's the point of putting an Abta logo on there
0:09:03 > 0:09:06if it's absolutely no protection to anybody?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I think that is actually sharp tactics,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13sharp practice and that's part of the reason I'm angry about it.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Some very unhappy holiday makers there.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21But when we took up the case Travel Republic apologised
0:09:21 > 0:09:26to both families for the problems they experienced on holiday,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30although none of the companies involved have taken
0:09:30 > 0:09:33any responsibility for what went wrong.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37They have though offered compensation.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40£950 to Annie and £860 to the Hollands,
0:09:40 > 0:09:45which is a massive result, over £1,800.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Still to come tonight, the mobile phone app which helps you get
0:09:50 > 0:09:53the kids out of the house and into the fresh air.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56This is really fun and it's adventurous.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03Now, camping is all about family fun and the great outdoors.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08The only thing you miss apart from a comfy bed is a bit of home cooking.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11I wonder what campers here have been rustling up.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Can we have a peak under there? What have you got on the go?
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- Burgers.- Ooh! - Local burgers.- Nice.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23We like to cook breakfast, so bacon, sausages, beans and eggs.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Really unhealthy stuff.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Hello, everyone. Hi. How are you?
0:10:29 > 0:10:33So what kinds of things do you tend to have when you're out camping?
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Bacon butties.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Burgers, barbecues, things like that.
0:10:37 > 0:10:38Just nice and easy.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Burgers.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Toasted marshmallows at the night-time.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Oh, that sounds like heaven.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50I like to eat sweets and sausages.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- Sweets and sausages together?- Yeah.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Do you ever try anything a bit more adventurous?
0:10:56 > 0:10:58No, not to be honest.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02If I want something more adventurous I'd nip to a take away nearby.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Well, I'm with one couple who would never burn their tea on a barbecue,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12even when it's raining like this.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Sabia and Abul Hussain who run the award-winning Abul Spice
0:11:16 > 0:11:19restaurant just down the road from here in Corwen.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- Hello, both.- Hello.- Hello.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24We've got a cheap camping stove here, just two rings.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27I'd be cooking a fry up now probably, but I suspect
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- you're going to be doing something a little bit more exciting.- Yes.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33It's going to be simple, with simple ingredients
0:11:33 > 0:11:37where you'll be getting great flavour, Asian flavour.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39What are you going to be cooking, Abul?
0:11:39 > 0:11:41I'm cooking chicken bhuna.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Simple ingredients, with fresh onions, tomatoes, peppers,
0:11:44 > 0:11:49fresh garlic, ginger paste, with some dry spice, cardamom,
0:11:49 > 0:11:50cinnamon and bay leaves.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53So simple, straightforward, easily available ingredients.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56- Yes.- And how long will it take to prepare and cook?
0:11:56 > 0:12:00About half an hour to 45 minutes. It shouldn't take long.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05We'll be back later to see how they coped with the campsite conditions.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Now, sadly most of us can't spend the whole of the holidays
0:12:12 > 0:12:15away from home in a place like this.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19So how do you entertain the family for the rest of the time
0:12:19 > 0:12:21without spending a fortune?
0:12:21 > 0:12:25This holiday series we're going to be trying out a few options.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Tonight, how about a bit of Geocaching?
0:12:33 > 0:12:38From majestic mountains to a stunning coastline,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Wales has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47But in a world of smartphone zombies, or smombies,
0:12:47 > 0:12:53how do you get your kids to look up from their phone and enjoy the view?
0:12:53 > 0:12:58What if there was a way of combining our kids love of their smartphones
0:12:58 > 0:13:02with the great outdoors without spending a fortune.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08I've come to meet one mum from Neath who thinks she's discovered
0:13:08 > 0:13:10that magic combination.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Sarah Parsons regularly goes Geocaching with her family.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20- Hello, guys. How you doing? - Fine, thank you.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Right, Sarah, I have to admit,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24I have never heard of Geocaching before.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26What exactly is it?
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Well, it's a national treasure hunt
0:13:28 > 0:13:31that you can pretty much pick up anywhere.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34It's going and using your phone, using an app,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37using the GPS to get you to the point of the cash
0:13:37 > 0:13:40and then using the hints and tips to try and discover the cash.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42How exactly does it work?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45You can download this Geocaching app from the website.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47All you have to do is press the button here,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49find your nearest Geocaches,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53pick the one you want to go from and then your adventure begins.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Well, shall we go? Are you ready for an adventure?
0:13:55 > 0:13:56- KIDS:- Yes!- OK.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Let's go, everybody. Sarah, I think you better lead the way.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01That's OK. Follow me.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Sarah has put the coordinates of the cash we're trying to find
0:14:05 > 0:14:09into this free app and we're now tracking it using GPS.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14And while we're en route we can't help but look up from
0:14:14 > 0:14:18the phone to appreciate some stunning scenery.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- Oh, this is absolutely gorgeous, isn't it?- It is.
0:14:23 > 0:14:24It's a very nice spot.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28It's brilliant because it gives you a real purpose to get out and about, doesn't it?
0:14:28 > 0:14:30It does. I mean, you get to bring the kids out.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33They love their video games, they love playing indoors,
0:14:33 > 0:14:34but you'd be surprised what kids are like
0:14:34 > 0:14:37once you get them into an environment like this.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40They really get into it, into the fresh air and playing with nature.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44The kids agree it's the perfect combination of gadgets
0:14:44 > 0:14:46and the great outdoors.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48You do use your phone as well to look for it
0:14:48 > 0:14:51and you do get outside as well, so most people say,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53"Oh, no, I'm not going to do anything today.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56"I'm just going to sit inside on the Xbox or on my phone,"
0:14:56 > 0:14:58but it's a really good thing to do to get out.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00This is really fun and it's adventurous.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06And the Gnoll Estate isn't the only beautiful place you can find
0:15:06 > 0:15:08a geocache -
0:15:08 > 0:15:10at the Antarctic,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16and even on the International Space Station.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Since the hobby was first invented in 2000,
0:15:19 > 0:15:25it's become so popular, there are now million of geocaches worldwide
0:15:25 > 0:15:29with around 50,000 hidden across Wales.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Geocaches, they can come in all different sizes.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Traditional caches will be something usually round about this sort
0:15:35 > 0:15:38of size, which is a small box container which can fit
0:15:38 > 0:15:41a few sort of swaps and things for kids.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47Some caches, called trackables, can be moved from location to location.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51We set one off last year, Zaggy the bat,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54and he got taken by a Welsh couple to Spain.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57We saw a photo of him having a cocktail on the beach
0:15:57 > 0:16:01and he's now done 7,000 miles and he's currently in Germany,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03so it's brilliant to watch that at home.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Do you have to pay with the trackables?
0:16:06 > 0:16:07It is part of the premium service.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10It's £24-a-year, I think it is,
0:16:10 > 0:16:13but initially the app is free and basic membership is free
0:16:13 > 0:16:17so you don't need anything to see if this is what you want to do.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24'Once you get close to the cache you have to stop looking at your phone
0:16:24 > 0:16:26'and rely on your eyes to find it.'
0:16:26 > 0:16:28We are only seven metres away.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31- Seven metres!- So we are really, really close.- Let's go.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36So we're looking for a small box or something.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Remember, it can be disguised.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41- Oh, well done!- You found it.
0:16:41 > 0:16:42Guys, wow, look.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46So, we've got, look at that, a trackable.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48- So we can take that with us. - We can take that with us.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53The log there is who has been to the cache before and has signed it.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58'Some geocaches also like to make swaps part of the hunt.'
0:16:58 > 0:16:59People can take things from this,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03but they have to put something of equal value or size back.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05OK, well, I've got this ball.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Well, obviously that's a bigger ball than these two,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10so we could probably take two balls...
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- Brilliant.- ..and put a big ball back.- Good swap.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15'Once you've finished,
0:17:15 > 0:17:17'you need to put the cache back where you found it
0:17:17 > 0:17:22'so other treasure hunters can follow the trail in the future.'
0:17:22 > 0:17:27- Well done, everyone.- Good job, good job. We did it.- Excellent.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29- Fantastic.- There you are, you're all experts now.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Oh, I think you've all earned an ice-cream.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37When you're camping, there is always one nagging worry, isn't there?
0:17:37 > 0:17:43Security - how are you going to keep your tent and its contents safe?
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Well, Mark Howell-Warmsley is a bit of a camping security expert.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Now, Mark, I'm guessing it's when you're at festivals or when
0:17:50 > 0:17:53you're out in the sticks that you're most vulnerable?
0:17:53 > 0:17:54In a festival it's very busy.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57There's lots of activity going on, so someone going into your tent,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00it's not going to draw that much attention to anybody.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03However, there are simple things we can employ with a panic alarm.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- We've got one attached to the tent here.- OK, let's have a look.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08We can see it's just attached to either side of the zip
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- and as soon as you pull the zip apart it's going to set it off.- OK.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13ALARM SOUNDS
0:18:13 > 0:18:14That is noisy, isn't it?
0:18:14 > 0:18:17In most events, it's going to act as a deterrent and people are
0:18:17 > 0:18:19going to leave it and leave your contents safe.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21Now, if you brought your car with you,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23you might as well utilise that, I'm guessing?
0:18:23 > 0:18:25Yeah, that's quite true and if you've brought anything of
0:18:25 > 0:18:28great value with you from cameras to laptops, any of that,
0:18:28 > 0:18:29place them in the car.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Put them in the boot, put them out of sight in the car.
0:18:32 > 0:18:33What about the car keys then?
0:18:33 > 0:18:36OK, that's a big thing cos that's where you've kept everything safe
0:18:36 > 0:18:38so you need to keep your keys safe on you.
0:18:38 > 0:18:39We have a simple answer to that.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43It's a waterproof pouch which you can buy from most outdoor outlets.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- Good for the beach.- It's good for pretty much everywhere.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49You can even take it swimming if you wish. It'll keep it all waterproof.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52What you've got to do is pop it open, pop your keys into there,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55seal it all up again which keeps your keys nice and dry,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58pop it in your pocket and that'll keep your car keys nice and safe.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01What do thieves tend to target?
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Thieves will target expensive tents.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04A good two-man tent, three-man tent,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08you can spend anywhere from £500 to £1,000.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10So they will know what they're looking for.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11They will go to campsites.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14They'll know you're going to disappear for four, five, six hours,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17so once you're gone then it's open to them.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19So how do you make your tent less desirable?
0:19:19 > 0:19:23You can mark it with a permanent marker on the outside of the tent
0:19:23 > 0:19:26which is clearly identifiable to anybody walking round the campsite
0:19:26 > 0:19:29and you can mark it from a smiley face to flowers and roses
0:19:29 > 0:19:31or whatever makes you smile.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Mark, thank very much.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41Good advice. Well, now to a security threat of a very different kind.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Over the past few years,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47thousands of families have had their holiday plans turned upside down
0:19:47 > 0:19:52because of civil unrest or terrorism in different parts of the world.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Many have been left badly out of pocket.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01So what are your rights if your dream destination goes off limits?
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Our guest presenter Omar Hamdi has been investigating.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09Holidays.
0:20:09 > 0:20:14We spend ages planning them and we look forward to them for months.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18But sometimes our dream destinations can turn into a nightmare.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24Tonight at ten, the BBC understands the British death toll from
0:20:24 > 0:20:28the shooting at this beach resort in Tunisia is at least 30.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36In June 2015, the popular Tunisian resort of Sousse hit the headlines
0:20:36 > 0:20:39when a gunman opened fire on the beach.
0:20:39 > 0:20:4138 people were killed.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46It was uncertain if the country's resorts would ever be safe
0:20:46 > 0:20:48to visit again.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Trevor Morgan from Ferndale was due to stay in Sousse for two weeks
0:20:54 > 0:20:56in July last year.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00We'd been there five or six or seven times before. We like it.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05But the terror attack shattered his plan to return.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09We will also be cancelling all Thomson and First Choice holidays
0:21:09 > 0:21:12to Tunisia for the next week.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Trevor was told his flight had been cancelled.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19He'd booked his apartment separately,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23so he contacted the owners to get back the £790 he'd paid them.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27They said then that they weren't offering any refunds
0:21:27 > 0:21:32for cancellations, so I wrote back and I said, "I didn't cancel."
0:21:32 > 0:21:34They said, "Neither did we."
0:21:34 > 0:21:37So it wasn't that you didn't want to go,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39it's that you couldn't get to Tunisia?
0:21:39 > 0:21:41I physically couldn't get there.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43I did say to the lady in question in the e-mail,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45"What do you expect me to do, swim?"
0:21:45 > 0:21:49There's nothing else I could do. Everything was cancelled.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53On 9th July, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office changed
0:21:53 > 0:21:55their travel advice for Tunisia.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58They advised against all but essential travel there.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03That advice hasn't changed and Thomson say they won't be
0:22:03 > 0:22:06flying there until November at the earliest.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09So, once again, Trevor asked for a refund
0:22:09 > 0:22:13and once again he was told no.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Where have you left it now with the accommodation owner?
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Well, at the moment now,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I spoke to them back in early February when Thomas Cook and
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Thomson cancelled all flights till October 31st,
0:22:25 > 0:22:30and they told me then that they were still holding my 50% deposit
0:22:30 > 0:22:33and they were prepared to hold it until such time
0:22:33 > 0:22:35flights were available.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39Trevor was stuck in Ferndale, unable to get to the apartment which
0:22:39 > 0:22:43was holding his money, so what are your rights in this situation?
0:22:45 > 0:22:49The Foreign Office issue travel advice for 225 countries
0:22:49 > 0:22:52around the world and it turns out it's that advice that decides
0:22:52 > 0:22:54whether you go on holiday.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Simon Calder is Britain's leading travel journalist.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05If the Foreign Office warns against all travel or all but
0:23:05 > 0:23:08essential travel to a destination,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12then you and I are not going to be able to book package holidays
0:23:12 > 0:23:14through UK firms.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17If you're on a proper package holiday,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20then you are relatively well protected.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24The tour operator has to offer you, and it's your choice,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28either a full refund or an alternative holiday.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35But if you've been hunting for deals and you booked your flights and
0:23:35 > 0:23:38your hotel separately, you could be in trouble.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Let's see what Simon says.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44The airline can say, in the case of Tunisair from Heathrow to Tunis,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46"We're still flying.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48"The fact that you don't want to go there isn't our problem."
0:23:48 > 0:23:51The hotelier can say, "Your room's ready.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54"The fact that you are not here isn't our problem."
0:23:54 > 0:23:56And same with the rental car.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00So therefore, if you're buying a holiday with individual
0:24:00 > 0:24:04components, you're in a much weaker position than somebody who's
0:24:04 > 0:24:07booked a proper package holiday.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10So if you do want to shop around and book different parts of your holiday
0:24:10 > 0:24:14separately, is there a way to do that while protecting your cash?
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Simon?
0:24:16 > 0:24:21The best way to avoid being in the dreadful position of having
0:24:21 > 0:24:24paid out an awful lot of money for flights, accommodation to
0:24:24 > 0:24:30a destination you no longer want to go to, is don't leave too much time.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Honestly, if you're travelling off peak,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37then there's no great need to commit a long way ahead.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42If you decide to go against FCO advice then you can,
0:24:42 > 0:24:46but you could invalidate your travel insurance policy.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49And, until the official advice changes,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Trevor has hundreds of pounds locked away in a holiday he can't take.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58I never dreamt in my wildest dreams
0:24:58 > 0:25:00that this type of thing would happen.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03I mean, it's a sad situation all round for everybody.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09That is not how you want your holiday plans to end.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13We've put all that advice on our website for you.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Now, this is the part of the programme I've really been
0:25:16 > 0:25:17looking forward to.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Abul and Sabir Hussain have been trying to show us that it is
0:25:21 > 0:25:24possible to eat like a king while you camp.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31With only a two-ring camp stove and a rickety table to work on,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35the couple start cooking up a chicken bhuna and some pilau rice.
0:25:41 > 0:25:47The veg and spices are fried up, then in goes the chicken.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Now, just wait for it to cook.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53You have managed to cook up something that looks spectacular.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55- It didn't take very long really, did it?- No, it didn't.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58The preparation maximum ten minutes.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01About half an hour cooking and there you are.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03So really about the same time as it would take to fire up
0:26:03 > 0:26:07- a barbie and cook your sausages... - Yes, yes.- ..and look what we've got.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12Abul, you use really interesting spices but would it be OK
0:26:12 > 0:26:14- just to use some curry powder. - Curry powder, yes.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17You can get some curry powder from the local shop.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20So, really, do you think anybody could do it?
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Anybody can do this. It's very simple.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25If you can make an omelette, you can do it.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27'Time to serve up the curry.'
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Here you go, gentlemen. Shall I pass that over to you?
0:26:29 > 0:26:32'Looks like the whole campsite wants to taste it.'
0:26:35 > 0:26:38It's absolutely delicious. It's so fresh, it's lovely.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Can you believe it was actually cooked on a campsite?
0:26:40 > 0:26:41- Can't believe it, no.- It's amazing.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45I could smell it the other side of the site. It was gorgeous.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48- What do you think? - Hot and spicy and delicious.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52What do you think of the fact that it was just made on a basic stove?
0:26:52 > 0:26:56It's amazing what can be done on two rings, yes.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58Well done.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Very, very nice, yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03I do cook curries regularly at home,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06but I've never considered cooking while on holiday from the
0:27:06 > 0:27:09camper van, but probably yes.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11- Give it a go?- I would think so.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Do you think you would ever attempt something like that?
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Definitely, yeah, if we had some instruction. Maybe a recipe.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Yeah, I'd have a go.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Well we were all hugely impressed, weren't we?
0:27:28 > 0:27:29- ALL:- Yes. - Delicious.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31And if you'd like to try this out at home,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34we've put the recipes on our website for you.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37And that's all we've got time for this week.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Next week, we've all got a holiday beauty routine,
0:27:40 > 0:27:44but if yours includes a botox treatment, you might want to
0:27:44 > 0:27:49steer clear of the cut-price clinic run by this bogus nurse.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04She's opening her clients up to such unnecessary risks.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Until then, if there's anything you'd like us to investigate,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09you can call us.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Our next programme is on Monday at 7.30pm.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22Until then, enjoy the holidays. Bye-bye.