Package Holidays Unpacked

The nights are drawing in, and the temperatures are plummeting.

It’s little wonder then that many of us are allowing our thoughts to drift towards Summer - and the beach.

Travel operators often slash prices at this time of year - and November and December are popular months for people to try and get a holiday deal.

With that in mind I’ve prepared. Package holidays unpacked: A package holiday is one which includes at least two different travel elements such as flights, accommodation and transport. There are lots of different options to choose from in a range of destinations.

Is it worth the money?

If you book a package holiday, you are covered under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements 2018 and entitled to a refund within 14 days if your holiday is cancelled. DIY holidays with separate components are not covered in the same way. You have the right to a full refund and this does not need to be in the form of a credit note or vouchers.

Package holidays provide the most financial protection in the event of delays, cancellations or if your travel company goes bust. If you’ve booked a package which includes a flight, then you will also benefit from ATOL protection. Package holidays also come with legal protection in that travel companies are responsible for ensuring you get the holiday you have paid for.

Under the Package and Linked Travel Regulations 2018 holidaymakers are entitled to cancel and request a full refund ‘if unavoidable/extraordinary circumstances occur at their destination or its immediate vicinity which significantly affect the performance of the package.’

Package holidays can be a lot more cost effective especially if all components of the holiday are included. Many hotels offer budget friendly all-inclusive or half board options. A fixed price can be particularly beneficial for large families or groups as costs for ad hoc expenses such as food and drink soon tot up.

How do ABTA and ATOL differ?

All UK companies selling package holidays which include flights must be signed up to ATOL. If the package holiday does not have a flight component, look for ABTA protection or a similar scheme instead when booking. ABTA can also help if you need to make a complaint about one of its members and you haven’t reached a resolution with the travel company in question.

ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing) is specifically designed to cover those travelling by air. ABTA covers rail, road, or sea travel holidays. Many ABTA tour operators also provide bonds to the CAA under the ATOL scheme.

While ATOL is a compulsory licensing system, ABTA is a voluntary scheme that Travel agents can sign up to. ABTA has a specific code of conduct that its members have to abide by in order to be certified so there is a lot of protection if things go wrong with your package holiday.

Is ATOL protection worth it? Yes, if your travel company stops trading the ATOL fund can repatriate, refund or reimburse you for the affected parts of your trip.

Is ABTA protection worth it? Yes, if you book your package holiday with an ABTA travel agent you will be entitled to a full refund should the company cease to trade. ABTA can also cover repatriation costs if you away when the company goes in to liquidation. The cover complements travel insurance by providing extra financial protection.

Are there downsides of booking a package holiday?

Some cons to booking a package holiday is that it might not be as flexible as you would like it to be dining or entertainment wise. There might also not be the same flexibility in timings. Unusual trip durations rather than standard 7 or 14 days can be cheaper but not readily available as part of package. You’re more likely to get a better price on midweek departures as opposed to weekends but again this might not be an option.

When booking Swiss package holidays, elsewhere in Europe or international package holidays with an OTA (online travel agent) check contact details are clearly displayed on the website and that there are a number of options for getting in touch. Many OTAs offer limited services. Involving a third party can make things harder to deal with should issues arise and there tends to be a lot of buck passing. What you need is a one stop shop, a good travel agent that you can pick up the phone and actually speak to if any issues arise.

https://ladyjaney.co.uk/blog-posts/