Tourists warned of holiday nightmare as top resorts ‘won’t be safe for years’

FAMILIES claim they have been left feeling ripped-off by tour firms in the wake of the Egyptian jet ‘bombing’ while a terrorism expert warned we face a generation of holiday hell following the disaster.

Customers who booked to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, which is in lockdown following the downing of a Russian passenger jet last weekend, have been told they’ll have to pay huge admin fees to switch to other destinations.

On top of that, exasperated holidaymakers are claiming that travel firms are now hiking up prices to other destinations popular with winter sun-seekers.

Meanwhile, a leading terrorism expert has warned several popular sunshine resorts would be at risk for up to 20 years.

Prof Anthony Glees said British tourists were now prime targets for Islamic extremists.

And he warned: “Unless you view risk like Bear Grylls you should avoid flying to places like North Africa, Sub-Sahara Africa and other countries with an extremist Islamic presence. That’s now much of the world.

“I’m afraid that means for those who can’t afford the Caribbean, any chance of getting away for winter sun is lost.

“It could potentially last a generation.”

Prof Glees issued the grim warning as air accident investigators confirmed a loud noise was heard in a recording taken from one of the black boxes on board the jet.

Prime Minister David Cameron said it was “more likely than not” the aircraft, which had 224 people on board, was brought down in a terrorist bomb attack.

Hundreds of holidaymakers were brought back to the UK from Sharm el-Sheikh on Friday and Saturday.

But around 2,600 were last night still stuck at the Red Sea resort, amid mounting anger over a lack of information being given to tourists.

Tour operators have been inundated with messages on Facebook and other social media sites from desperate customers who claim they have been left in limbo.

Some have even accused them of cashing in on the chaos.

All scheduled flights to Sharm el-Sheikh have been cancelled until Friday and customers due to depart before then are eligible for a refund.

But people who have booked holidays after that date face no such guarantee.

A plane part is seen as the Egyptian officials inspect the crash site of Russian Airliner in Suez, Egypt (2015 Anadolu Agency)

They can risk keeping their booking in the hope normality is restored, cancel and lose hundreds or thousands of pounds, or pay to change destination.

Rhys Thompson, 20, from Sunderland, was due to fly to Sharm el-Sheikh with girlfriend Lauren Hurworth, 21, next month.

He contacted Thomas Cook but was warned he would lose a near-£600 deposit if he cancelled.

He was given the option of choosing an alternative destination but was told this would incur a £150 administration fee.

He fumed: “I think they are just profiteering from the fact families are having to re-book their holidays.”

Thomas Cook agreed to waive Rhys’s admin fee and give him an alternative after it was contacted by The Sunday Post.

Laura Jade, from Yorkshire, was due to spend her honeymoon in Sharm el-Sheikh with new husband Saul Gouder.

She said: “I went to amend the holiday to a new destination and the prices had rocketed. We have no honeymoon today because we can’t afford anywhere else as the prices have climbed too high.

“We’re devastated and now sat at home on our honeymoon. It’s disgusting.”

Another, Carolyn Smith, fumed: “So Thomas Cook bang their prices up for other destinations! £3,400 for Lanzarote in November for a week! What a joke.”

Jane Edwards had been due to fly to Sharm el-Sheikh with her husband this Thursday, the day before flight restrictions are lifted. Although entitled to a full refund she wanted to fly the following day, but the price had rocketed by £600.

Thomson, which includes the First Choice brand, also received a flood of complaints.

Despite the security alert in Egypt both Thomas Cook and Thomson continue to sell package holidays to Sharm el-Sheikh.

A Thomas Cook spokesman said: “We have cancelled all programmes up to and including 12 November 2015.

“We are following Foreign Office advice and anticipate making a decision on Monday regarding holidays after this date.”

A Thomson spokesman added: “We would like to apologise for the inconvenience.”