Your summer holiday is something you’ve saved up for and spent weeks, if not months, looking forward to. But around three million Brits reported having a problem with their package holidays in the last year alone.

Our consumer champion Jane Hawkes, founder of the Lady Janey blog, says we should speak up if we are unhappy about something when we are away, rather than simply accepting it. And she has shared her advice on the most common complaints and what you can do if you find yourself facing one of those situations.

Most complaints tend to be around the accommodation or poor service, but when you pay for a holiday you are signing up to a contract with the tour operator to provide what you paid for.

It might be in our nature to not make a fuss but if something was advertised as part of your booking and isn’t there, doesn’t work, or falls well below what you were promised, don’t simply write it off as ‘one of those things.'

Speak up while you're there, gather evidence and give the company the opportunity to put it right. You don't have to accept less than you paid for.

You can’t get any sleep

A holiday should leave you feeling rested, not exhausted. Yet many of us simply accept sleepless nights because rooms are directly above the hotel nightclub, next to ongoing building work or overlook a busy road instead of the peaceful haven we were expecting.

If the room isn't what you were promised, report it straight away and ask to be moved. Take videos to capture the noise, particularly late at night or early in the morning.

If the hotel can't resolve the problem, you may have grounds to seek compensation.

You spend half your holiday queuing

No one expects to spend their holiday standing in queues but at some resorts it can feel like that's exactly what happens. Long waits for breakfast, restaurants, lifts, bars or even finding a sunbed can become a daily frustration, especially if the hotel has accepted more guests than it can comfortably accommodate.

While the odd queue is to be expected during peak times, persistent overcrowding that prevents you from enjoying facilities you've paid for could well amount to poor service.

If it's affecting your holiday, raise it with hotel management while you're there and keep a record of the issues. If the experience falls well below what was advertised, you may have a case for compensation.

The 'all-inclusive' isn't actually all-inclusive

If you arrive at your ‘all-inclusive’ to find that things like ice creams, certain drinks or facilities aren’t included, it can really put a dampener on your holiday.

Businesses are entitled to offer different levels of all-inclusive packages, but these extra costs should be made clear before you book. If important exclusions weren't properly disclosed, it's worth challenging them.

Always read the small print before travelling and keep screenshots of what was included at the time of booking in case you need them later.

The holiday photos don't match reality

You’ve booked a holiday in a hotel which looks immaculate with photos of infinity pools and newly refurbished rooms, only to discover you’ve ended up with a week at Fawlty Towers but without the glamour.

If the accommodation or facilities differ significantly from what was advertised, don't just accept it as bad luck. Take photographs as soon as you arrive and report your concerns immediately.

If you're travelling on a package holiday, your tour operator has a responsibility to address significant differences between what was sold and what you've actually received.

You're moved without asking

Imagine arriving at your dream hotel only to be told you're staying somewhere else. Many of us reluctantly accept these changes because we think there's no alternative.

Unless the replacement accommodation is genuinely equivalent or better, you have every right to question it.

If you’ve paid for a deluxe room but been allocated a standard one or are demoted to a lower class of hotel, this is called ‘loss of value’ and you can claim back the difference if they do not rectify it at the time.

The 'heated' pool is freezing

One of the most requested amenities on holiday is a pool, and if it was advertised as heated, but you get there and find it’s colder than a polar bear’s freezer, report it immediately.

It may seem like a minor issue, but if it formed part of your decision to book, you could be entitled to compensation if it significantly affected your holiday. There’s a refreshing dip and then there’s a pool so cold you can’t actually enjoy it, so don’t just accept it.

No air conditioning

When temperatures are pushing 35°C or more, functioning air conditioning isn't just a luxury; it can be essential for getting a decent night's sleep.

If air conditioning was advertised as part of your room and it's not available or is ineffective, report it straight away and ask for a repair or a room change.

Keep photographs or videos showing the room temperature, if possible, as this can help support a later complaint.

The '5-minute walk to the beach' isn't 5 minutes

You book a hotel which says it’s close to the beach and it turns out to be a half an hour hike down a steep cliff.

If your hotel is advertised as ‘just a short stroll from the beach', then give or take a few minutes, that’s what it should be.

You can make a complaint at the time and try to get moved to a better hotel if you feel you've been misled, or if they don’t do that, complain when you are back with evidence from screenshots and photos.