The Travel Snob’s David Walker has gone beyond the call of duty to help one of his clients during his own holiday.
The travel agent was staying at the same hotel as one of his customers when he got a text message from her to ask what to do, as she was unlikely to make her flight home on Boxing Day due to ill health.
The pair had already met for the first time at dinner, as they were both staying at the Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic over Christmas.
Speaking from the Dominican Republic during his nine-day break, Walker said he immediately went to find his client, a lady in her late 70s who was travelling on her own. She had messaged him while she was in the resort’s health clinic.
“The clinic said she had to go to hospital so I went too. She even had her luggage with her as she was supposed to be flying home that day,” said Walker, adding: “I wanted to make sure she was all right. It’s what I would normally do for any of my clients if I was in the same resort.”
Walker stayed in the hospital for the whole day until his client had been seen by the doctor and given a bed for the night.
He looked after her luggage in his room and contacted British Airways to hold her a seat on a later flight. To do so, he had first to secure a ‘not fit to fly’ certificate from the hospital for the airline.
“We managed to get it in the end; BA were brilliant and have got her a seat on hold,” said Walker, who admitted the timing was tight.
He also contacted tour operator Jetset, which had offered to help if needed and been very supportive, he said.
His client, who was dehydrated and fatigued, was now recovering well and should be well enough to return home to the UK on either the December 28 or 30 flight, he added. She had arrived in the Dominican Republic on December 19, three days before Walker.
Walker, who said he always goes away at Christmas as it is a quieter time for travel agents, also ensured the hotel could accommodate his client for a further night after her release from hospital before her flight home.
“I have been keeping in touch with her by text and I’ve been trying to keep her spirits up and take her mind off it all,” he said, adding: “I have also been in touch with her son, who also books with me. She didn’t ask or expect any help.”
Picture: The Travel Snob’s David Walker with his client, before she fell ill, in the Dominican Republic