What to consider before making holiday plans
Without doubt, the question I’ve been asked the most in the last few weeks is: Can I book a holiday this year?
I’d love to be able to give you a definitive answer, but the fact remains that with the situation with the pandemic still so volatile – both at home and abroad – I can’t do that. But there are a few things you can potentially do to ensure your holiday plans don’t come apart at the seams due to events in the future.
I’m afraid this advice comes with the Covid caveat. With so many potentially different situations on the horizon, the most important thing you can do is watch the news, be prepared to adapt and think before you spend.
FUTURE BOOKINGS
The most important thing to remember with future bookings is spontaneity is so over. You can’t just click and book – you need to check everything before you commit to pay.
CHECK BEFORE YOU BOOK
If you spot a holiday you like the look of, you need to check with the business before you book. Firstly, make sure you can actually contact them if something goes wrong! Look for a phone number or email address – and if they only have an online form, send them a message and see how quickly they respond.
Send the business a message and ask them what will happen if you can’t travel because of:
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Government advice; Travel advice in the country you’re going to, and Lockdown restrictions
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Ask if you’ll get a refund, if you can move the holiday forward and, if you get vouchers, how long do they last and can you cash them in.
These are the main problems people have encountered with refunds in the last year – and a good holiday firm or airline should have clear and fair solutions and answers.
WATCH HOW YOU PAY
If you paid for goods or services you couldn’t use due to lockdown on a plastic card, you’ll have thanked your lucky stars in 2020! It’s easier to get refunds if things go wrong with payments made this way – but there are catches. Here are the best ways to pay, in order.
■ Credit card: If you pay for goods or services with a credit card and the cost is over £100 you can potentially claim the cost back from your card provider if the firm goes under, it cancels or changes the holiday or it’s patently not as advertised. You have to buy direct from the provider of the holiday though, so some online booking firms might not be covered.
■ Debit card: If there’s a dispute over a refund and the firm isn’t following the rules, you may be able to ask your bank to ‘charge back’ your money. There are time limits though – often around 120 days from the point of payment.
■ E-payments: Using a payment system like PayPal means you have some protection from the buyer/seller agreement.
■ Cash, bank transfer, cheques and others: It’s unlikely your bank or the transfer company can get your cash back.
TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE
The news that the old EHIC card is being replaced by a new GHIC card is good – but you can’t risk travel without insurance. The good news is that there are a range of policies that cover Covid, but only if you are diagnosed (not just isolating because of symptoms).
The most important thing with travel insurance is to make sure it covers you from the point you take out the policy – not the point you travel. Most claims are likely to come from things that happen before you travel.
A FINAL WARNING
Realistically, you have to factor in breaking news, quarantine restrictions and hotel costs, vaccination passports (possibly) and tests leaving and entering the UK and abroad. So build in a healthy dose of emergency cash if you want to travel, just in case.
■ For help with all things travel, contact resolver.co.uk