Holiday Hijack

27 July 2011

Holiday Hijack takes all-inclusive resort-loving British holidaymakers on a once in a lifetime trip they'll really never forget.

Each week a group of unsuspecting tourists, who think they're in for some five-star luxuries, are hijacked from their package holiday by members of the local community to show them the realities of life behind the glossy travel brochure images. They get to witness first-hand the hard work needed to maintain their coveted paradise getaways and the environmental impact of their tropical escape.

Can they tough it out in the native surroundings of destinations like The Gambia, Maldives and Caribbean? Or will they abandon the challenge in favour of the luxury hotel?

 

The Gambia

In the first episode, four luxury-loving Londoners are plucked from the sanctuary of their five star hotel in the Gambia to experience the real side of Africa's smallest country.

Louise, 27 and best friend Natalie, 28 love to splash the cash at five star resorts. Two fellow big spenders are their friends; 20-year-old graduate Dan and 23-year-old actress Alex. The group admits they never normally leave the comfort of their all-inclusive hotels or mix with the locals, and instead concentrate on drinking, dancing and having fun in the sun.

Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, with an average annual wage of just £200, The Gambia is known as ‘The Smiling Coast of Africa' for its friendly atmosphere and stunning scenery. With temperatures reaching 47°C and flights from the UK only six hours, it is fast becoming a prime destination for British tourists to catch some winter sun.

For one night only, the Brits are booked into the five-star Coco Ocean Resort and Spa, one of the most expensive and decadent hotels in the Gambia. But little do they know they're about to be ‘hijacked'  from their tranquil surroundings and challenged  to live and work with locals Bella and Omar for the next week and learn about the side to Gambia that they never knew existed.

Whisked away to Kotu - one of the poorest communities in The Gambia - the group is thrown completely out of their comfort zone. Faced with basic accommodation and facilities, including a well to get their water, a bucket to shower with and no toilet paper, the Brits realise they're in their worst nightmare. And while some get stuck in, hygiene-obsessed Dan struggles to cope.

Put to work in the local crafts industry, Bella and Omar's sole source of income, the group experience first-hand the struggle the locals face to tempt holidaymakers away from the hotel gift shops. And a glimpse into the back-breaking work done by local women to clean the hotel laundry strikes a chord with them all.

But a trip to one of the biggest fishing ports in The Gambia, where the group learns of the competition the local fishing community faces from the multi-national hotels, almost proves too much for the pampered Brits.

Tears and tantrums aside, will these young holidaymakers be won over by the real beauty of the Gambia and more importantly, change their holiday habits for good? Or will the lure of the luxury resort prove too much to bear?

The Maldives

This week two quality-seeking couples discover the dark side to one of the world's most popular romantic destinations - The Maldives.

Nicknamed ‘five-star Ali', 28-year-old Ali from Oxfordshire, her father Graham and their fiancées Stuart and Sally love nothing more than the exclusivity of a super-swanky resort. While both couples have travelled the world in style, they admit to having seen very little of it, choosing instead to spend their time exhausting the facilities available at their all-inclusive resorts.

Nestled deep in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is made up of 1200 tiny islands, most little more than 1sq kilometer in size. Tourism is the country's biggest industry, with 97 resorts welcoming over 600,000 holidaymakers a year. With one hotel per island, tourists flock to the Maldives for its picture-perfect private beaches and tranquil luxury. However this separation between the locals and the resorts often means that the true Maldivian way of life goes unseen.

For one night only, both couples are booked into the Water Villas at the Reethi Beach Resort and Spa, where they are all wowed by the stunning views and privacy allotted them. But the tranquility of paradise is soon shattered as their holiday is hijacked by local couple Zuba and Nazu. They take them to live and work on one of the many service islands that cater for the five-star resorts so famous to the rest of the holidaying world.

The Brits are taken to the island of Kihaadhoo, a ten minute boat ride from their resort, where they discover the life of the Maldivians is a million miles away from anything they have ever experienced. And at their host's home Stuart struggles with the idea of sharing a room with his father-in-law, while ‘five-star' Ali's high standards are challenged by the basic sanitation and authentic food provided.

Fears are soon thrown aside when the group gets a humbling glimpse into the work done by the locals who keep the tourist industry going - from rubbish collecting, to fishing and beach sweeping - and the reality of what goes on behind the scenes of their dream holidays finally dawns on them.

But it isn't until they're taken to the island of Thilafushi - an island literally made of rubbish where all the tourist waste is dumped - that they see the true environmental impact of their holidays in paradise. It's a shocking and unpleasant eye opener for the Brits who now question the image and consequences of the all-inclusive experience.

Armed with the knowledge that the very industry the Maldives relies on to survive is slowly destroying it, will the Brits make the decision to change their holiday habits for good? Or will the lure of the luxury resort prove too much to resist?

Mexico

Supermarket tasting manager Jenny and her 16-year-old son Dior have been holidaying with care worker Martine and her 15-year-old son Connor, for over a decade.  These best friends from Camberley in Surrey are package holiday crazy, taking up to four all-inclusive trips every year.  They may be jet-setting globetrotters, but they're happiest when they never leave the resort.

Both families are whisked off to what they believe will be an all-inclusive trip to Mexico's tourist capital, Cancun. Checked in to the five-star Gran Caribe Bay hotel, the Brits are awed by the abundance of food and hope to take advantage of all the facilities available. But their plans are soon thwarted when their holiday is hijacked by Irving, who takes the Brits to live with him and his family in downtown Cancun.

He wants to show the group the real Mexico and put them to work in menial tourist industry jobs, much to the dismay of the luxury-loving Brits. For Jenny and Martine this is their idea of hell and both worry about the basic accommodation and exotic cuisine they'll have to live with for the next week, while Connor and Dior look forward to experiencing a different side of Cancun culture.

As a fisherman, Irving's livelihood is being threatened by the all-inclusive resorts which have a stranglehold on the tourist trade. So first up for the Brits is a trip on Irving's boat where the gang gets a glimpse into his gruelling day job. However it isn't until the next day that the Brits really get their hands dirty - with Dior and Connor sent to clear through the hotel rubbish and Jenny and Martine to an industrial launderette. Jenny and Dior both shirk the challenge, while Martine and Connor begin to question the environmental affects of their holiday choices.

But a job shelling prawns in a local fish factory almost proves too much for the pampered Brits and threatens to derail all of Irving's efforts. Will the Brits ever realise the consequences of their love of the all-inclusive holiday, or will the lure of the five-star resort be too strong to resist?

 

Holiday Hijack takes all-inclusive resort-loving British holidaymakers on a once in a lifetime trip they'll really never forget.

Each week a group of unsuspecting tourists, who think they're in for some five-star luxuries, are hijacked from their package holiday by members of the local community to show them the realities of life behind the glossy travel brochure images. They get to witness first-hand the hard work needed to maintain their coveted paradise getaways and the environmental impact of their tropical escape.

Can they tough it out in the native surroundings of destinations like The Gambia, Maldives and Caribbean? Or will they abandon the challenge in favour of the luxury hotel?

 

The Gambia

In the first episode, four luxury-loving Londoners are plucked from the sanctuary of their five star hotel in the Gambia to experience the real side of Africa's smallest country.

Louise, 27 and best friend Natalie, 28 love to splash the cash at five star resorts. Two fellow big spenders are their friends; 20-year-old graduate Dan and 23-year-old actress Alex. The group admits they never normally leave the comfort of their all-inclusive hotels or mix with the locals, and instead concentrate on drinking, dancing and having fun in the sun.

Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, with an average annual wage of just £200, The Gambia is known as ‘The Smiling Coast of Africa' for its friendly atmosphere and stunning scenery. With temperatures reaching 47°C and flights from the UK only six hours, it is fast becoming a prime destination for British tourists to catch some winter sun.

For one night only, the Brits are booked into the five-star Coco Ocean Resort and Spa, one of the most expensive and decadent hotels in the Gambia. But little do they know they're about to be ‘hijacked'  from their tranquil surroundings and challenged  to live and work with locals Bella and Omar for the next week and learn about the side to Gambia that they never knew existed.

Whisked away to Kotu - one of the poorest communities in The Gambia - the group is thrown completely out of their comfort zone. Faced with basic accommodation and facilities, including a well to get their water, a bucket to shower with and no toilet paper, the Brits realise they're in their worst nightmare. And while some get stuck in, hygiene-obsessed Dan struggles to cope.

Put to work in the local crafts industry, Bella and Omar's sole source of income, the group experience first-hand the struggle the locals face to tempt holidaymakers away from the hotel gift shops. And a glimpse into the back-breaking work done by local women to clean the hotel laundry strikes a chord with them all.

But a trip to one of the biggest fishing ports in The Gambia, where the group learns of the competition the local fishing community faces from the multi-national hotels, almost proves too much for the pampered Brits.

Tears and tantrums aside, will these young holidaymakers be won over by the real beauty of the Gambia and more importantly, change their holiday habits for good? Or will the lure of the luxury resort prove too much to bear?

The Maldives

This week two quality-seeking couples discover the dark side to one of the world's most popular romantic destinations - The Maldives.

Nicknamed ‘five-star Ali', 28-year-old Ali from Oxfordshire, her father Graham and their fiancées Stuart and Sally love nothing more than the exclusivity of a super-swanky resort. While both couples have travelled the world in style, they admit to having seen very little of it, choosing instead to spend their time exhausting the facilities available at their all-inclusive resorts.

Nestled deep in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is made up of 1200 tiny islands, most little more than 1sq kilometer in size. Tourism is the country's biggest industry, with 97 resorts welcoming over 600,000 holidaymakers a year. With one hotel per island, tourists flock to the Maldives for its picture-perfect private beaches and tranquil luxury. However this separation between the locals and the resorts often means that the true Maldivian way of life goes unseen.

For one night only, both couples are booked into the Water Villas at the Reethi Beach Resort and Spa, where they are all wowed by the stunning views and privacy allotted them. But the tranquility of paradise is soon shattered as their holiday is hijacked by local couple Zuba and Nazu. They take them to live and work on one of the many service islands that cater for the five-star resorts so famous to the rest of the holidaying world.

The Brits are taken to the island of Kihaadhoo, a ten minute boat ride from their resort, where they discover the life of the Maldivians is a million miles away from anything they have ever experienced. And at their host's home Stuart struggles with the idea of sharing a room with his father-in-law, while ‘five-star' Ali's high standards are challenged by the basic sanitation and authentic food provided.

Fears are soon thrown aside when the group gets a humbling glimpse into the work done by the locals who keep the tourist industry going - from rubbish collecting, to fishing and beach sweeping - and the reality of what goes on behind the scenes of their dream holidays finally dawns on them.

But it isn't until they're taken to the island of Thilafushi - an island literally made of rubbish where all the tourist waste is dumped - that they see the true environmental impact of their holidays in paradise. It's a shocking and unpleasant eye opener for the Brits who now question the image and consequences of the all-inclusive experience.

Armed with the knowledge that the very industry the Maldives relies on to survive is slowly destroying it, will the Brits make the decision to change their holiday habits for good? Or will the lure of the luxury resort prove too much to resist?

Mexico

Supermarket tasting manager Jenny and her 16-year-old son Dior have been holidaying with care worker Martine and her 15-year-old son Connor, for over a decade.  These best friends from Camberley in Surrey are package holiday crazy, taking up to four all-inclusive trips every year.  They may be jet-setting globetrotters, but they're happiest when they never leave the resort.

Both families are whisked off to what they believe will be an all-inclusive trip to Mexico's tourist capital, Cancun. Checked in to the five-star Gran Caribe Bay hotel, the Brits are awed by the abundance of food and hope to take advantage of all the facilities available. But their plans are soon thwarted when their holiday is hijacked by Irving, who takes the Brits to live with him and his family in downtown Cancun.

He wants to show the group the real Mexico and put them to work in menial tourist industry jobs, much to the dismay of the luxury-loving Brits. For Jenny and Martine this is their idea of hell and both worry about the basic accommodation and exotic cuisine they'll have to live with for the next week, while Connor and Dior look forward to experiencing a different side of Cancun culture.

As a fisherman, Irving's livelihood is being threatened by the all-inclusive resorts which have a stranglehold on the tourist trade. So first up for the Brits is a trip on Irving's boat where the gang gets a glimpse into his gruelling day job. However it isn't until the next day that the Brits really get their hands dirty - with Dior and Connor sent to clear through the hotel rubbish and Jenny and Martine to an industrial launderette. Jenny and Dior both shirk the challenge, while Martine and Connor begin to question the environmental affects of their holiday choices.

But a job shelling prawns in a local fish factory almost proves too much for the pampered Brits and threatens to derail all of Irving's efforts. Will the Brits ever realise the consequences of their love of the all-inclusive holiday, or will the lure of the five-star resort be too strong to resist?

 

Holiday Hijack takes all-inclusive resort-loving British holidaymakers on a once in a lifetime trip they'll really never forget.

Each week a group of unsuspecting tourists, who think they're in for some five-star luxuries, are hijacked from their package holiday by members of the local community to show them the realities of life behind the glossy travel brochure images. They get to witness first-hand the hard work needed to maintain their coveted paradise getaways and the environmental impact of their tropical escape.

Can they tough it out in the native surroundings of destinations like The Gambia, Maldives and Caribbean? Or will they abandon the challenge in favour of the luxury hotel?

 

The Gambia

In the first episode, four luxury-loving Londoners are plucked from the sanctuary of their five star hotel in the Gambia to experience the real side of Africa's smallest country.

Louise, 27 and best friend Natalie, 28 love to splash the cash at five star resorts. Two fellow big spenders are their friends; 20-year-old graduate Dan and 23-year-old actress Alex. The group admits they never normally leave the comfort of their all-inclusive hotels or mix with the locals, and instead concentrate on drinking, dancing and having fun in the sun.

Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, with an average annual wage of just £200, The Gambia is known as ‘The Smiling Coast of Africa' for its friendly atmosphere and stunning scenery. With temperatures reaching 47°C and flights from the UK only six hours, it is fast becoming a prime destination for British tourists to catch some winter sun.

For one night only, the Brits are booked into the five-star Coco Ocean Resort and Spa, one of the most expensive and decadent hotels in the Gambia. But little do they know they're about to be ‘hijacked'  from their tranquil surroundings and challenged  to live and work with locals Bella and Omar for the next week and learn about the side to Gambia that they never knew existed.

Whisked away to Kotu - one of the poorest communities in The Gambia - the group is thrown completely out of their comfort zone. Faced with basic accommodation and facilities, including a well to get their water, a bucket to shower with and no toilet paper, the Brits realise they're in their worst nightmare. And while some get stuck in, hygiene-obsessed Dan struggles to cope.

Put to work in the local crafts industry, Bella and Omar's sole source of income, the group experience first-hand the struggle the locals face to tempt holidaymakers away from the hotel gift shops. And a glimpse into the back-breaking work done by local women to clean the hotel laundry strikes a chord with them all.

But a trip to one of the biggest fishing ports in The Gambia, where the group learns of the competition the local fishing community faces from the multi-national hotels, almost proves too much for the pampered Brits.

Tears and tantrums aside, will these young holidaymakers be won over by the real beauty of the Gambia and more importantly, change their holiday habits for good? Or will the lure of the luxury resort prove too much to bear?

The Maldives

This week two quality-seeking couples discover the dark side to one of the world's most popular romantic destinations - The Maldives.

Nicknamed ‘five-star Ali', 28-year-old Ali from Oxfordshire, her father Graham and their fiancées Stuart and Sally love nothing more than the exclusivity of a super-swanky resort. While both couples have travelled the world in style, they admit to having seen very little of it, choosing instead to spend their time exhausting the facilities available at their all-inclusive resorts.

Nestled deep in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is made up of 1200 tiny islands, most little more than 1sq kilometer in size. Tourism is the country's biggest industry, with 97 resorts welcoming over 600,000 holidaymakers a year. With one hotel per island, tourists flock to the Maldives for its picture-perfect private beaches and tranquil luxury. However this separation between the locals and the resorts often means that the true Maldivian way of life goes unseen.

For one night only, both couples are booked into the Water Villas at the Reethi Beach Resort and Spa, where they are all wowed by the stunning views and privacy allotted them. But the tranquility of paradise is soon shattered as their holiday is hijacked by local couple Zuba and Nazu. They take them to live and work on one of the many service islands that cater for the five-star resorts so famous to the rest of the holidaying world.

The Brits are taken to the island of Kihaadhoo, a ten minute boat ride from their resort, where they discover the life of the Maldivians is a million miles away from anything they have ever experienced. And at their host's home Stuart struggles with the idea of sharing a room with his father-in-law, while ‘five-star' Ali's high standards are challenged by the basic sanitation and authentic food provided.

Fears are soon thrown aside when the group gets a humbling glimpse into the work done by the locals who keep the tourist industry going - from rubbish collecting, to fishing and beach sweeping - and the reality of what goes on behind the scenes of their dream holidays finally dawns on them.

But it isn't until they're taken to the island of Thilafushi - an island literally made of rubbish where all the tourist waste is dumped - that they see the true environmental impact of their holidays in paradise. It's a shocking and unpleasant eye opener for the Brits who now question the image and consequences of the all-inclusive experience.

Armed with the knowledge that the very industry the Maldives relies on to survive is slowly destroying it, will the Brits make the decision to change their holiday habits for good? Or will the lure of the luxury resort prove too much to resist?

Mexico

Supermarket tasting manager Jenny and her 16-year-old son Dior have been holidaying with care worker Martine and her 15-year-old son Connor, for over a decade.  These best friends from Camberley in Surrey are package holiday crazy, taking up to four all-inclusive trips every year.  They may be jet-setting globetrotters, but they're happiest when they never leave the resort.

Both families are whisked off to what they believe will be an all-inclusive trip to Mexico's tourist capital, Cancun. Checked in to the five-star Gran Caribe Bay hotel, the Brits are awed by the abundance of food and hope to take advantage of all the facilities available. But their plans are soon thwarted when their holiday is hijacked by Irving, who takes the Brits to live with him and his family in downtown Cancun.

He wants to show the group the real Mexico and put them to work in menial tourist industry jobs, much to the dismay of the luxury-loving Brits. For Jenny and Martine this is their idea of hell and both worry about the basic accommodation and exotic cuisine they'll have to live with for the next week, while Connor and Dior look forward to experiencing a different side of Cancun culture.

As a fisherman, Irving's livelihood is being threatened by the all-inclusive resorts which have a stranglehold on the tourist trade. So first up for the Brits is a trip on Irving's boat where the gang gets a glimpse into his gruelling day job. However it isn't until the next day that the Brits really get their hands dirty - with Dior and Connor sent to clear through the hotel rubbish and Jenny and Martine to an industrial launderette. Jenny and Dior both shirk the challenge, while Martine and Connor begin to question the environmental affects of their holiday choices.

But a job shelling prawns in a local fish factory almost proves too much for the pampered Brits and threatens to derail all of Irving's efforts. Will the Brits ever realise the consequences of their love of the all-inclusive holiday, or will the lure of the five-star resort be too strong to resist?