Consumer advice – travel tips – travel news

Atol Consumer advice: Did you know? If you book with an Atol bonded company you can be confident that your money is protected.

Plus you get all the consumer protection below as part of your package, whether it be a cruise or a package holiday or a flight. It could be a costly exercise if you booked with a non Atol bonded operator.

If a tour operator goes out of business, the CAA will ensure you do not lose the money you paid over, or if you’re abroad, we’ll arrange for you to finish your holiday and fly home..

Top Atol bonded travel companies.

• Cosmos Monarch
• Thomson
• Firstchoice
• Jet2holidays (northern airports)
• Virgin
• Portland Direct
• Direct holidays

ATOL protects you from losing your money or being stranded abroad. It does this by carrying out checks on the tour operators and travel organisers it licenses, and requiring them to take part in a financial guarantee scheme managed by the Air Travel Trust (ATT) which provides the funds to protect customers should a firm fail.

In some cases a licence holder will also provide a bond, which is lodged with the ATT and provides additional funds.

Its interesting to note that Travel Republic and OTbeach on the beach holidays do not hold an ATOL licence – buyer beware…

For more see Atol Advice CAA