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Going on holiday should be the best way to unwind. But from booking flights to getting to the airport on time, there are plenty of potential pitfalls that can send us into a tailspin. And it turns out it’s worse for women. According to research from travel firm Momondo, women find going on holiday much more stressful than men, with 33% of us worrying about the planning process and a further third agonising over the journey time. So which questions should we be asking ourselves – and which answers will ensure a blissful break?
Q HOW CAN I GET THE BEST DEAL? ■
If you book several months early you’re likely to get a good price, but if you don’t have to fit in with school holidays and can be more flexible, then it can pay to hold your nerve. Many destinations may offer huge last-minute discounts if they’ve over-estimated the demand. Use comparison sites like Skyscanner.net and Kayak.co.uk to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. These sites compare prices from lots of different airlines, so you can work out the cheapest way to fly. For a broader overview of worldwide costs, check the Post Office’s travel cost barometer – head to postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/ worldwide-holiday-costsbarometer-2016. And it’s still worth actually going to a travel agent to book your trip. Often the cost is no more expensive than booking online and it’s a lot less hassle because someone else is organising it for you.
Q HOW CAN I PROTECT MY HOLIDAY ONCE I’VE BOOKED IT?
■ All UK travel companies offering package holidays must have ATOL protection. This means that if your holiday company goes bust, you will either be compensated or brought home for free. But be aware that the only way to guarantee your holiday is protected is if you book more than one element with a travel company: for example, combining flights and car hire or buying an all-inclusive package deal. If you book only one part of the holiday, such as just flights or your accommodation, you won’t have the same protection. Buy insurance before you book. Many policies provide cancellation cover for flights, accommodation and other pre-booked essentials. This means that, if the Foreign Office declares a country unsafe to travel to because of a terror threat or a pandemic scare, you’ll be able to get your money back.
Q WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HOLIDAY?
■ Your legal rights depend on whether you went on a package holiday (ie, a holiday with transport and accommodation included) or organised the holiday yourself. It’s harder to get compensation if you have travelled independently, because it’s likely that you’ll have different contracts with different companies. If those companies were based abroad, you won’t be protected by UK law – of course, you can always give it a try. Gather as much evidence as you can at the first sign of trouble so you can support any claims.
If you booked your holiday with a credit card you may have some protection, so it’s worth trying your card provider if the holiday company won’t pay. This only applies to purchases between £100 and £30,000. For more details about your rights, visit citizensadvice.org.uk/ consumer/ and click on the holiday section.