In today’s sales driven environment, where agents are on targets and customer service can be at its minimum, you need to be an expert to get value for your money. Offers can range from self-catering properties (SC) to a five star (5*) all inclusive (AI) hotel. Without a few guidelines you may well find yourself in accommodation not suited to your taste, possibly a hotel with no leisure facilities and sharing your room with the rats or cockroaches. On the other hand you may scoop a great deal and find yourself in a 4 or 5 star hotel offering all you need to make a great holiday. Ensure you get value for money and have a great holiday by asking the right questions.

QUESTIONS TO ASK:-
• What meals are included?
• What activities are included?
• Which Airline do I fly with?
• How far is the hotel from the airport/Are transfers included?
• Are Airport taxes included?
• Which terminal does the flight leave from?
• What time is my flight?
• What protection do you have for my money?

YOUR ACCOMMODATION DETAILS
What meals are included?
For self-catering (SC) deals, you need to take into consideration the cost of your daily meal, whether eating out at restaurants or preparing your own meals each day. Other meal plans are as follows:
• Bed & Breakfast (BB) - Breakfast only
• Half Board (HB) - Breakfast and dinner
• All-Inclusive (AI) - All meals included
• Room Only (RO) – No meals

Ask your agent about restaurants and other eating facilities local to your accommodation. Alternatively you may wish to visit the tourist board in person or online to get such information on the country you are visiting.

What activities are included?
If you are taking your family on holiday, find out if there are organized activities at the selected hotel and if so, are they included in the price or at extra cost.
• Some hotels have daily activities for different age groups.
• Nannies are also available upon request at an additional cost.

For the seekers of beach holidays/sport fanatics:- Water sports such as scuba-diving, snorkeling and windsurfing are not always included in the holiday price. Charges may apply depending on whether the property uses a public or privately owned beach.

YOUR FlIGHT DETAILS:-
Which Airline do I fly with?

• Knowing which airline you’re flying with can help you prepare better. On a charter/ budget airline like ‘Ryannair’ or ‘Easyjet’ you will incur additional cost for onboard services such as snacks and drinks.

• Going with one airline does not guarantee coming back on the same. Equally, a flight may depart from one airport (i.e., London Gatwick) and return by another (such as Stanstead or Luton airport).
How far is the hotel from the airport and are transfers included?

• It is possible your flight may land in an airport at one end of an Island while the hotel is on the other end of the Island. With no prior knowledge of this and no transfers arranged, you could easily be stranded at an airport overnight – this could spell the beginning of a nightmare holiday.
• You can upgrade your flight to fly into your desired airport.
• Transfers can also be arranged separately from the package where you pay the driver directly.

Are Airport taxes included?
These taxes are compulsory – always check if they are included in the cost of your ticket or will be collected at the airport?

Which terminal does the flight leave from?
Make a note of the terminal your flight leaves from - this can save you time where airports have many terminals. Last-minute holidays are generally non-refundable so missed flights means loss of money.

What time is my flight?
• For early morning/ late night flights – change can be made for a small charge.
• Cannot change flight? - check-out airport parking and overnight hotel stays (great ways to start your holiday)

YOU'VE BAGGED A BARGAIN ON A HOLIDAY – NOW CHECK IT BEFORE YOU BOOK IT
Extended flight delays: - These can sometimes result in overnight stays on a less than cozy chair in an airport lounge or at its worst delays by days. It could happen to you!!!



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Case Study:
Name: Janice Ramkissoon
My Journey took me from London (Gatwick) to Montego Bay (Donald Sangsters) in Jamaica. After checking in and going through the immigration procedures, the excitement of travel kicked in. According to my ticket, I only had 45 minutes before my flight was schedule to depart. Three hours later I was still in the airport lounge awaiting news of the new boarding time while my eyes ached from constantly watching the screen above my head. I wished I had a good book to read or a few magazines to pass the time. Having nothing to do prolonged the hours. On the return, after paying the equivalent of £30.00 for my taxi to get me from one end of the Island (where I was staying, to the other end where the airport was), I was faced with an unexpected US$25 (approx £15.00 at the time) for my departure tax and another flight delay. After the experience in Gatwick this delay was anticipated and so, the time was used to do some souvenir shopping. What I didn’t prepare for was a cancelled flight and a further three days away from home.

Compensation included a phone call home, meals and accommodation arranged and a letter for insurance company and workplace supplied. At the time, the delay was a welcoming one; I had recently completed a four year degree and went straight into a work regime. So this was both rest and a well deserved break, I was in no hurry to end my holiday. However, presenting that scenario today (being self-employed, having a family of my own) could have damaging financial and emotional effects and my story would be a very different one.

Advice: Prepare for the worst case scenarios (Don’t let the unexpected ruin your holiday)
• Pack a few snacks
• Grab a good book to read
• Invest in a cd / mp3 player
• Put aside some emergency cash
• Try to avoid booking the return flight on the last day of your leave – Short of natural disasters, work may not be pleased with the extra days off if your flight doesn’t return as scheduled.
• Get advice from relatives and friends who have been in similar situations.
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What protection do you have for your money?


Your chosen holiday provider should hold an Air Travel Organiser’s licence (ATOL) provided by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or a similar body for total financial protection. According to the CAA 28 million people are protected each year, so don’t be the odd one out, check that your operator has a licence. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) urges consumers to make sure their travel organiser can provide sufficient evidence of security for the refunding and repatriation of consumers in the event of insolvency. This security must be in place by one of the following:

• Travel agency – ABTA (directly or via a franshise)
• Tour operator – ATOL or CAA; AITO
(See table below for links)

If you check the relevant sites and do not find your agency or operator listed, your money and consequently, your holiday, may be unprotected.

SOME HELPFUL TIPS AND USEFUL CONTACTS:
• At present booking online often provide further savings
• Never enter Credit Card (cc) details more than once – you may be charged for each entry (Always take down the reservation/customer service telephone number so you can call to proceed with the booking – you should not lose your online status due to technical errors so claim your online discount).
• For a travel checklist visit the Foreign and Commonwealth website at www.fco.gov.uk (your one-stop site before and after booking your holiday)
• Check with your GP for necessary jabs



Contacts: (Telephone and/or Website address)
Lastminute:- www.lastminute.com
Cheaper Holidays:- www.cheaperholidays.com
Late Deals:- www.latedeals.com
Charter Travel:- www.chartertravel.co.uk

ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority):Tel: 0845 045 0238; www.atol.org.uk Tel: 020 7453 6424; www.caa.co.uk

AITO (Assoc. of Independent Tour Operators):Tel: 020 8744 9280; www.aito.co.uk
Holiday Extras: www.holidayextras.co.uk

FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office): Tel: 0870 606 0290; www.fco.gov.uk This site also provide a list of other companies that provides similar financial protection.
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*ABTA recently redefined their rules, please check with your agent to see how this affects your booking.