A couple from Aberdeen have finally received a refund for their 'disastrous' honeymoon after falling ill at a hotel in the Dominican Republic in 2007. Charles and Lyn Black were among 400 guests who suffered from illnesses including salmonella, shigella and campylobacter at the Bahia Principe hotel.
The compensation, totalling £1.9 million, was paid by travel operator First Choice as part of a wider settlement approved at the High Court in London. Law firm Irwin Mitchell said more than £5.5 million has been awarded in total to 963 people who stayed at the hotel in 2007.
Mr and Mrs Black told the BBC Scotland news website: 'Nothing will ever make up for the disappointment on our honeymoon. It has taken five-and-a-half years to get anything back and we have been refunded the cost of the holiday, which doesn't make up for anything.'
They described unhelpful staff, faulty air conditioning and out-of-date juice in their fridge. The couple said they would not return to the Dominican Republic. Other holidaymakers reported undercooked food, dogs and mice in dining areas, and cockroaches in bedrooms.
Thomson paid nearly £200,000 in 44 similar cases last December, while Thomas Cook and My Travel settled for £3.5 million more than four years ago for 500 customers. A spokesperson for Irwin Mitchell expressed concerns that hotels and tour operators have not learned vital lessons about health and hygiene standards.
