Turkey and Egypt are two of the most popular tourist destinations, offering not only a chance to soak up the sun at times when Latvia does not spoil us with it, but also comfortable resorts for holidays with children. Unfortunately, there is a growing trend of food poisoning and the associated medical costs, which are often unexpectedly high.

Roughly half of all travel insurance claims for medical expenses relate to poisoning. Cases of colds are also common. The average cost of medical care received in Turkey rose by 53% between 2022 and 2024, while in Egypt it rose by as much as 154%, according to data from Gjensidige Latvia. Following the 2022 crisis, medical costs in these countries have increased several times over and are now higher than European price lists.

"The largest claim we have received this year, covering two people who each had two doctor's visits during their stay at an Egyptian resort for what was supposedly a relatively mild illness, came to just under 13,000 euros. This is exactly the kind of case travellers should learn from. When health problems arise abroad — whether or not travel insurance has been purchased — it is essential to understand which medical facility you are going to, and to keep track of what examinations are being carried out and whether they are justified. There are many cases where a lack of knowledge of the local language is exploited for profit, with tests performed that are not needed at that moment. Those without insurance in particular should think critically about whether the private clinic often recommended by hotel staff is the most suitable and only available option, for example in the case of a cold," says Gjensidige Latvia Head of the Health, Travel and Accident Claims Department Zane Dilāne.

Relying on a hotel employee's recommendation without looking closely into what the medical facility offers and what it charges can lead to very unpleasant surprises — such as paying several thousand to have a bout of nausea treated.

Poisoning comes from both food and water of insufficient quality. Before setting off on a trip, it is worth reading up on the advice for travellers to that country, because in a great many parts of the world drinking water in particular is a major problem. It is advisable to drink only bottled water, but most often people are poisoned not by drinking water itself but by drinks that use water: teas, freshly squeezed juices diluted with tap water, ice cubes in drinks. People whose bodies are not used to the local water can be poisoned very easily. It is also safer to choose food that has been heat-treated. Unfortunately, poisoning often strikes an entire family or group of travellers.

There is a trend for poisoning cases to occur most often in hotels with the lowest prices on the market. It is quite possible that this means savings are being made on both food control and water in order to keep that price down. Unfortunately, we cannot always trust online reviews either — for one hotel where several members of a travel group were poisoned, only positive comments can be found. It is therefore worth checking reviews on several sites, for example booking.com, tripadvisor.com and the Google reviews section.

Tips for reducing the risk of falling ill and avoiding overpaying for unreasonably inflated medical services:

• Choose the hotel you plan to stay at responsibly. Consult your tour operator, check online reviews and, best of all, do so on several sites. It is worth listening to the experiences of acquaintances, and you can ask any questions you have in discussion groups for travellers. Be wary of unusually low prices.

• Always take your own first aid kit so that you have essential medicines to hand for stomach ache, headaches, colds and a high temperature.
  
  
• Keep track of what goes into your drinks and pay attention to how food is stored.
  
  
• Do not drink tap water. If possible, avoid ice in cocktails.
  
  
• Take out insurance, because treatment costs can be disproportionately high and hard to cover out of your own pocket.
  
  
• If an accident happens or you fall ill, contact your insurer straight away. The insurer may be able to recommend the most suitable medical facility.