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Tips for a hassle-free holiday
ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, answers your questions to ensure that you can enjoy a safe and problem-free holiday.
- How should I book my holiday?
- How can I ensure I get the best holiday for me?
- What if you want to book a last minute cheap holiday?
- Do I have to take out travel insurance?
- Check the best way to carry your money (credit cards, travellers' cheques or foreign currency).
- What happens if you do have a problem on holiday?
One way to protect your money is to ensure that you book your holiday with an agent is ABTA bonded and that your Tour Operator either holds an ABTA or ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence). You can check all ABTA companies by calling ABTA on 020 7637 2444 or looking on www.abta.com or contact ATOL on 020 7453 6430.
How can I ensure I get the best holiday for me?
It is important to take your time to talk through your holiday requirements with your travel agent. This should ensure that you buy the holiday that is "right" for you often a holiday may not be "bad" as such, but "wrong" for a particular person.
What if you want to book a last minute cheap holiday?
First of all, remember that they are not designed to meet everybody's thoughts of an ideal holiday. You may have to pack your bags within 48 hours of booking, while accommodation will often be two star and allocated on arrival.
These are the ultimate stripped down holiday packages. The price on the promotion is for the basic flight and accommodation components. In this current no-frills, more choice culture, they have become part of the holiday landscape, so be prepared for the added extras that you will have to pay including ticket on departure (non-optional when you are booking late), the security charge, meals on the flight, transfers, under-occupancy rates and insurance.
Make sure that you are completely aware of the Tour Operators' booking conditions before you book. These are at the back of the brochure, can be sent to you or will be downloadable from the website. They are commonly known as "The Small Print" and it is vitally important that you are aware of these as they form the conditions of your contract. The booking conditions are closely checked by ABTA to make sure that they are not unfair to members of the public.
Do I have to take out travel insurance?
Many mainstream tour operators insist that you have some kind of travel insurance even if it is not taken out with them. Taking out the right travel insurance for you and for your activities will save you a great deal of money if the worst was to happen.
Make sure you check out the health, visa and passport requirements for the country you are going to. If you are going outside of Western Europe, the USA or Australasia, then talk to your doctor as soon as you can to find out whether you need vaccinations and what health precautions you may need to take. Remember the sun abroad can be fiercer, so always take plenty of suntan lotion.
Check the best way to carry money (credit cards, travellers' cheques or foreign currency).
Consult a guidebook, for details on local customs and social etiquette. Check whether the Foreign Office has issued any advice on your destination. Make sure you leave your home secure.
Take the same personal safety measures on holiday as you would at home. Don't carry all your money and valuables with you - ask about safety deposit facilities at your accommodation.
What happens if I have a problem on holiday?
Any pre-departure holiday problem should be dealt with by your Travel Agent, who, if they have difficulty, will contact ABTA's Information Bureau for help and assistance or call ABTA's Pre-Departure Department on 020 7307 2044.
Speak up immediately - you have a legal duty to "mitigate the loss" or give the Tour Operator a chance to put the problem right. Complete a complaint form if relevant, and take photos. On your return, follow the ABTA complaints procedure:
If your holiday has already taken place and you have a complaint against a member, you can discuss your complaint with ABTA's Information Bureau who will talk you through the complaint. Otherwise the procedure is that you address your complaint to the tour operator. If you made your booking through a travel agent, your agent may be able to assist you with the complaint. In their capacity as acting agent of the tour operator, they are responsible for ensuring that any queries are put to the operator and that the operator in question replies to the points raised.
Members of ABTA are required to provide an acknowledgement within 14 days and a full response to any letter of complaint within 28 days of receipt. Should you not hear from them within that time, please let us know in writing.
If you remain dissatisfied after two letters have passed hands, you may wish to take the matter further. All copies of your correspondence should be sent to our Consumer Affairs Department, who will assess your complaint and advise you accordingly. The Association is pleased to offer an independent arbitration scheme administered by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, which is quicker, easier and cheaper than taking a company to the small claims court. This year, you can process your claim entirely on-line at www.arbitrators.org, which will make the system even easier. However, it must be remembered that an arbitration application can only be requested once ABTA has seen the correspondence.
As an alternative, claims for £5,000 or less may be dealt with by the Small Claims Procedure of your local County Court, from whom further details may be obtained. You may wish, in addition, to seek further advice from your Citizens' Advice Bureau or Solicitor, before issuing proceedings.
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