More than half (51%) of UK holidaymakers don’t always check whether their holiday is financially protected, according to new research by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Costs and location take priority when people are researching holidays.
But less than half of people stop to think about what happens if their travel company, airline or hotel goes bust, the latest figures show.
The findings from a poll of almost 4,200 people come ahead of the busiest holiday booking period of the year, between Christmas and January.
The CAA is reminding those looking to book a holiday over the Christmas and New Year period to look beyond the price and always ensure a holiday package has Atol cover.
Head of Atol Andy Cohen said: “We are entering the year’s busiest booking period, so consumers need to know how to keep themselves protected and ensure peace of mind when booking a holiday during the festive period.”
The CAA issued five top tips for consumer to protect their holiday:
1. Check for ATOL protection: Look for the logo on your travel company’s website, brochure or shop front.
2. Pay on credit card: If you are not booking a package holiday, always pay for your trip with a credit card. By doing this you will be protected for up to £30,000 under section 75 of the UK Consumer Credit Act.
3. Watch out for hidden costs: Use a foreign currency pre-payment card to avoid high transactions and bank fees. Make sure you also check the airport and resort fees, such as baggage allowance and hotel transfers, to avoid any surprises.
4. Check financial protection if booking with foreign-based travel companies: There are some foreign-based travel companies which offer holidays to UK tourists, but these will often not be ATOL protected. Do your research and check what financial protection they provide.
5. Get travel insurance as soon as you book: You should consider taking out a policy as soon as you’ve booked your trip to ensure you’re covered should anything go wrong before you take off.