American YouTuber Claims He Got Sick In India Despite Eating At Only 5-Star Hotels
YouTuber Tyler Oliveira faced backlash for generalising India's hospitality and lifestyle after falling sick.
An American YouTuber's claim that he got sick in India despite eating only at five-star hotels caused a stir on the Internet amongst Indians, who accused him of defaming the country. Tyler Oliveira, a 25-year-old US-based YouTuber, sparked debates after saying he got ill on his visit to the subcontinent country despite paying for meals at luxurious hotels.
Oliveira's remarks were made in response to an Indian influencer after she had alleged that foreign travellers of propagating negative stereotypes about the nation. In a viral video, Twinkle Stanly lashed out against travellers who visit unhygienic locations due to a lack of information and awareness and end up throwing brickbats at India for the shortcomings they had experienced.
Stanly's clip also addressed foreign travellers' tendency to romanticise poverty in India by actively seeking underprivileged locations and how the same travellers then go on to disparage India as a 'pathetic" country after encountering troubles.
Offering a counterpoint to the lady's clip, Oliveira shared his own ordeal and said calling out India's shortcomings shouldn't be considered an act of racism: 'During my trip to India, I ONLY ate in 5-star hotels and still contracted 4 types of Salmonella. The hotel sourced its eggs from a filthy chicken farm right next to a literal mountain of trash. There are serious hygiene issues that must be addressed in India. It is NOT racist to address the poor quality of life most Indians are subjected to while the upper caste insulates itself from reality."
Backing his concern, Oliveira responded to a user by noting that the five-star hotels he stayed at cost around USD 100 per night, which, while budget-friendly for him as an American tourist, would be luxurious and too expensive for most Indians. Oliveira then also shared the medical proof of his bout with illness. But as the US traveller's post spread among Indians on Twitter, he only further received a backlash. Many criticised Oliveira for painting the wrong image of India's hospitality and overall lifestyle.
Amidst the flood of comments, some pointed out that similar incidents occur with travellers in 5-star hotels of other countries as well, while others attributed his issues to a sensitive stomach. A user summed up the other side of the argument, writing: 'Look, your salmonella sob story doesn't prove India's got some unique hygiene crisis. Bad eggs can come from anywhere—it happens in the U.S., Europe, you name it. You're acting like five-star hotels in India are uniquely incompetent, but global supply chains are messy everywhere. That 'filthy farm" you're whining about? It could just as easily be a shady supplier for a Western hotel. You've got no data, just a grudge."
'You're blaming India's hygiene issues for your salmonella while ignoring the fact that five-star hotels anywhere can screw up food safety. You think fancy hotels guarantee clean eggs? Please. Those places cut corners just like anywhere else—sourcing from sketchy farms isn't unique to India. You're cherry-picking a single bad experience to dunk on an entire country's hygiene standards," commented another user.
view comments
First Published:
July 28, 2025, 16:58 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
23 minutes ago
- India Today
Tsunami warning for Indian nationals from consulate in US: Move to higher areas
In response to the potential tsunami threat, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco has issued an urgent advisory for Indian nationals residing along the US West Coast and in Hawaii, following a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. The US has also issued tsunami warnings following the massive advisory has been issued for Indian nationals residing or travelling in California, other West Coast states, and Consulate General of India in San Francisco is monitoring the potential tsunami threat following the recent 8.7 magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Indian nationals in California, other US West Coast states, and Hawaii are advised to take the following steps," the Consulate said in a post on X. The advisory urges Indian citizens to:Follow Local Alerts: Monitor information from US authorities, including the US Tsunami Warning Centres and local emergency management to higher ground if a Tsunami Alert is Coastal Areas: Stay away from beaches and shorelines until the threat has for emergency & keep devices CONSULATE HAS ISSUED EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBERThe Consulate has also issued its emergency helpline, +1-415-483-6629 and email for undersea quake triggered tsunami waves of up to 4 metres (13 feet), prompting evacuations in the affected Russian region and across much of Japan's eastern Indian Consulate's advisory aligns with warnings from US to National Weather Service Eureka, California, a Tsunami Advisory is in effect for the coastal areas of National Weather service, in a post, said that a tsunami advisory has been issued for coastal areas of Oregon.- EndsMust Watch
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Aerial footage shows Tsunami waves swamping Russia's Severo-Kurilsk post 8.8 Earthquake
Dramatic drone footage has captured the moment tsunami waves inundated Severo-Kurilsk, a key settlement in Russia's Kuril Islands, following a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday. According to regional Governor Valery Limarenko, residents in the affected area were safely evacuated to higher ground, with emergency services monitoring the situation for potential repeat waves. While buildings sustained damage and vehicles swayed during the tremors in nearby Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, power outages and mobile network disruptions were also reported. Citing the regional Health Ministry, Russian news agencies said several people sought medical attention, but no serious injuries have been reported so far. A video aired by Russian state media showed flooding and significant coastal damage as tsunami waves struck Severo-Kurilsk. The footage, now widely shared online, highlights the force of the waves as they pushed inland shortly after the quake. Wednesday's quake is among the strongest recorded globally in recent years, comparable to the 2011 Japan earthquake that triggered a devastating tsunami and nuclear disaster. Only a few quakes stronger than this have ever been documented worldwide. The tsunami warnings also triggered transport disruptions in Japan. According to ferry and railway operators, services connecting Hokkaido and Aomori as well as routes between Tokyo and nearby islands were either suspended or delayed. Sendai Airport temporarily shut its runway as a precaution. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a 50 cm (1.6 feet) tsunami at Ishinomaki port in northern Japan — the highest wave observed in the region following the quake. Meanwhile, Indian nationals residing on the US West Coast, including California and Hawaii, have been urged by the Consulate General of India in San Francisco to remain on high alert following the powerful earthquake in Russia.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘At the airport, everything fell apart': Indian travel blogger, son miss out on ‘amazing' birthday celebration in Hong Kong's Disneyland, details what went wrong
Indian travel blogger Roslin Dwivedi and her family's plans to spend a birthday in Hong Kong's Disneyland were 'shattered' owing to a slight mismatch in the details on the Pre-Arrival Registration that is required for Indians visiting the region. Documenting the disappointment, the blogger shared on Instagram, 'We dreamt of an amazing birthday vacation, Disneyland, lots of unique places, shopping, and local food experiences, but all that was shattered when we were denied boarding for Hong Kong. Going back home, I couldn't stop crying.' Notably, Indian passport holders can visit Hong Kong for up to 14 days without a visa. Still, they need to complete one essential step — to submit Pre-Arrival Registration (PAR) online. This mandatory slip allows multiple entries within six months. Stressing that 'it feels like reliving a nightmare', Roslin added, 'Getting a Hong Kong PAR (Pre-Arrival Registration) as an Indian is usually simple, but there's no guarantee. We filled out the form, hit submit, and it was approved in seconds. But here's the catch: your application must exactly match your passport'. The blogger said that their issue was with the 'Place of Issue' section. 'There was no option that matched our passport, and no way to manually type it in (unlike the place of birth option). We thought it wouldn't matter. But at the airport, the airline couldn't check us in because of that mismatch. They tried for an hour, even called immigration, but nothing worked. It was heartbreaking—our son cried because he was excited for Disneyland. What made it worse? No human is reviewing your PAR—just a system that gives a yes or no. Even if the error isn't your fault, you can be denied boarding. I genuinely hope Hong Kong improves this system or turns it into a proper, paid visa process so travelers don't face this confusion or disappointment,' she continued. In another post, detailing the 'back story,' Roslin recalled that the family felt the issue was a 'minor' one. 'But just to be safe, we emailed Hong Kong immigration, hoping for clarity. Two weeks passed. There was no clear answer, saying yes, you are good to go, or no, this is not acceptable. We assumed it wouldn't matter much. But at the airport — everything fell apart. We were denied boarding. We tried explaining to the airline staff that there's nothing we could do to change the form or change what's printed on our passports. They understood. They even reached out to immigration on our behalf — both via phone and email — but again, no real-time help came.' However, 'a small light came through'. 'Hong Kong Immigration called us back. They apologised for the confusion and the delay, and kindly offered us a visa valid for 6 months. Cathay Pacific airline also followed up, checking how they could support us post-incident.' Taking a cue from the incident, we reached out to an expert to learn more. Santosh Pawaskar, visa head at R K Vacations, stated that the Hong Kong Immigration Department mandates Indian nationals to complete an online PAR as a prerequisite for visa-free entry for up to 14 days or transit purposes. 'What happens if you don't have barcode/pre-arrival registration is that airlines may refuse to board you for Hong Kong-bound flights. 'Even if you arrive, Hong Kong Immigration may deny entry, forcing you to return to your departure point and endure significant inconvenience,' said Pawaskar. A post shared by Roaz| Travel Blogger|UGC creator (@travelnlifewithroaz) Pawaskar stressed that the PAR for Hong Kong is completed at least 2–3 business days before the travel date to avoid any inconvenience. 'A travel associate makes sure the arrival is safe without any problems. For PAR, the documents required are minimal—just your passport (which should be valid for at least 6 months from your travel date), flight details, accommodation information, and employment details (if applicable).' According to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Immigration Department website, 'All family members are required to apply for PAR individually'. Pawaskar said that generally, PAR is rejected due to: 1. Incorrect or Mismatched Passport Details 2. Expired or Near-Expiry Passport 3. Duplicate or Multiple Applications 4. Previous Overstay or Violation in Hong Kong 5. Inconsistent Information 6. Technical/May be server issue A post shared by Roaz| Travel Blogger|UGC creator (@travelnlifewithroaz) What can help? One of the comments said, 'This is such an important reminder'. 'If the HKPAR dropdown doesn't have the exact 'Place of Issue' from your passport, it's safest to skip PAR and apply for a proper visa. The system is automated, and any mismatch — even if it's not your fault — can lead to denied boarding. More awareness is definitely needed!' Agreeing, Pawaskar said that 99 per cent of the time, the issue can be resolved by quickly applying for a visa, which incurs an additional fee. What to do if your PAR is rejected? *Check the rejection reason to understand why your application was denied. *If the issue is minor, correct the error and submit a new application. *Apply for a formal Hong Kong Visit Visa if you plan to stay longer than 14 days. Tips for a smooth PAR application *Even though PAR is instant, apply a few days before your trip to avoid last-minute hassles. * Ensure all information matches your passport and travel plans. *Always carry a printed and signed copy of your PAR slip. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to
