Holidaymakers are being exposed to "life-threatening diseases" in overseas resorts, the British Consumers' Association (CA) claimed this week.
Health problems top the list of customer complaints, followed by shabby rooms, building work and inaccurate brochure descriptions, according to a report by Holiday Which? magazine.
A list of what it described as nine "dodgy destinations" included Majorca, Tenerife and Turkey.
Based on complaints received by Holiday Which? and by complaints co-ordinating group Holiday Travelwatch, the CA's report included cases of:
Salmonella poisoning in Majorcan and Turkish hotels;
One example of cholera, and serious gastric problems, in Tunisia;
Building work problems in Tenerife and in other of the Canary Islands;
Vermin infestation at a hotel in the Portuguese Algarve;
Complaints about unsatisfactory holidays on some cruises.
The CA said: "By far the most alarming area of complaints received concerned illness and people exposed to life-threatening illnesses in holiday resorts."
Holiday Which? editor Ms Patricia Yates said: "Tour operators have to take responsibility for the accommodation they contract and make more effort to sort out problems in the resorts, otherwise they will receive more and more complaints which could end up in the court room."
