ABTA/ATOL what does it mean?

If your holiday is ATOL protected, it means that you get your money back if the tour operator or flight company goes bust. If you're already in resort when they go bust, then the CAA bring you home.

ABTA is the Association of British Travel Agents and members are bonded, so that any money you pay to them is protected if they go out of business. Some tour operators are also members of ABTA.

Not all travel agents are members of ABTA but this doesn't mean that your money isn't safe. Non-ABTA members have secure client accounts so money is protected as well.

Not sure how the Americans work, but the travel agency they had booked through may not have paid the operator which is why they had to pay again. This is not really the case in the UK as we don't hold on to your money.

Interesting thread!

What happens if you have booked and something like the current situation re volcano/ash etc occurs - what are you covered for then? Are all your flights, accommodation etc covered whether you are in the UK or stuck overseas?

We are thinking of booking something for the end of June and normally do our own thing re booking accommodation, flights etc. We are thinking of booking through an ABTA/ATOL agent this time.

Many thanks.

In the current situation, don't risk DIY unless

a) you have lots of money (to deal with potential european expedition home!!)
b) DIY is a REALLY worthwhile saving over package price
c) you are certifiably mad!

I haven't found 'b)' to apply this year, except on self catering, due to the poor value of the £ (probably due to tour operators having 'done the deal' with the accommodation providers when the £ was worth a bit more).

However, saying that, near-time package prices are going up already as a result of the volcano, probably due to re-bookings for people who have been cancelled in the last week.

South west wind please Mr God - I want to go to Lanzarote at the beginning of May!!