Nephew strip searched at Kos airport - whats the law?

[rosandjohn]

My nephew has just phoned from Kos to say that his friend were stopped at the airport in Kos(?) and strip searched in the toilets. He is devastated! I'm not sure whether this is normal practice. They missed the bus to the accomadation and when they arrived it was disgusting - smelling like a sewer and people in the next room having a fight all night. The rep has moved their room but it's vile. He wants to come home the rep says it will cost 150 euros to get home. I've advised him to wait because his other 2 friends are due out on sunday. He is staying at the Karmenthan Stergia in Kos. Any advice please.

ps he and his friends are all 18 (they had nothing on them - they don't do drugs) and its their first holiday abroad without parents/aunties

[Emily Ball]

It was obviously distressing for your son and his friends to suffer the humiliation of a strip search but unfortunately young males of that age are the most likely to have to undergo the indignity of having their luggage thoroughly searched for drugs. I've seen it happen a fair few times. Customs officers the world over are notoriously unmoved by any attempt at jocularity or flippancy by passengers , however innocent, as they've heard it all a million times before and young men and women are sometimes strip-searched out of what seems almost to be bloody-mindedness. It's a shame too that their accommodation hasn't lived up to  their expectations. They need to get their rep to find better alternative accommodation for them a.s.a.p. and not take no for an answer.

[jno]

agree with Emily about demanding better accommodation, but that's really a separate issue to do with brochure reliability etc. (Take notes and photos in case you want to demand compensation later.) As for the rest of it - I bet he's hating it, but you're right; once all his friends turn up, he'll feel better. In 50 years he'll look back on it and laugh - maybe. Meanwhile, he should try to enjoy the beaches, the girls and the souvlaki.

[Grunty]

Also, you ask about the law.  It might seem an obvious point, but it is not the same as UK law.  If you are really concerned, the Greek Embasy should be able to explain it to you.

[claireybear]

I spent a very misserable 2 weeks in Kos in an awful apartment! I never thought I would get through it but I did! The rep we had was terrible, when a local complained to her about the noise from one of the apartments in our block she was rude and basically told him that they were only having fun. From about 3 that morning until 6 a gang of lads had been shouting obscenities from there balcony!! Given me a bad thing for Kos ever since so I know how your nephew is feeling

[delboy3]

I had the misfortune of 2 weeks in Kos (Kardamena) ten years ago. What a hole!  Best part of the fortnight was a trip to the volcano on Nyssiros - and that was on a different island.

[claireybear]

yeah delboy, my misserable stay was in Kardamena isn't it a disaster!!