An Amble based travel expert is urging holiday makers to check that they are covered in the event that their holiday company goes bust following the recent collapse of travel firm LowCostHolidays.
The demise of the firm left thousands of customers un-protected, losing their money and having to find new holidays, particularly those who had booked directly on the internet and had no agent available to give them help or advice.
When booking a holiday, over a third of people in the North East do not know how they are financially protected, according to Travel Counsellor Lizzie Adamson-Brown
Lizzie runs her own travel business as part of leading independent travel company Travel Counsellors, who recently conducted a survey which questioned 2,000 UK residents on their opinions and knowledge of financial protection in travel.
“Knowing exactly how you are financially protected when booking your holiday can be a minefield,” says Lizzie “Quite often travellers presume they are fully covered, only to discover they are not financially protected when something goes wrong, and more often than not, when it is too late.”
The research found that 53% of people in the region claim financial protection is extremely important when booking their holiday, but only 16% say that they are extremely clear on how they are covered. 56% of respondents in the North East believed the ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) logo means their holiday is completely covered, whilst a further 33% were not sure. 32% of people in the region are also unsure of what the ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) scheme is or how they are protected through this.
Lizzie added: “It is clear that many people are unaware of how – or even if – they are covered. While ATOL and ABTA offer financial protection, this doesn’t always extend to every element of your trip, and people are often misled into thinking that if they see something such as the ABTA logo they are automatically protected, which isn’t the case.”
The significance of care – both during the booking process and throughout their trip – was also highlighted, with 34% of those surveyed in the North East saying they feel it is extremely important to have a travel professional on hand to help, should a problem occur whilst they are on holiday.
In Lizzie’s case, she found herself helping many stranded travellers who had booked with the failed company only to find that they were not entitled to any compensation or help.
“It was really heartbreaking listening to people who had lost huge amounts of money simply because they had taken what they thought was the best option.
“I am extremely passionate about the level of financial protection I offer to my customers. In 2004 Travel Counsellors introduced a Trust which, alongside the Government’s ATOL regime, provides a unique financial guarantee that covers absolutely everything customers book through me, including hotels, low cost airlines, scheduled flights and car rental. This means that my customers can rest assured that their money is always safe, no ifs no buts.”
For more information, please contact Lizzie Adamson-Brown or e-mail lizzie.adamson-brown@travelcounsellors.com
