Are package holidays worth it?

Shlinky

Never booked a package holiday before - always done separate flight and accommodation. Are they worth it? And is it still worth it if you're booking alone, or are the savings in booking for 2+ people?

Thanks.

MilesT6060842

Your consumer rights in case of issues will be far better if you book a package (transport plus accommodation) from one provider.

Not a substitute for good travel insurance.

MSE_Oliver

Transcript of the video above:

There are few things to consider when you're deciding when to go for a package holiday or one that you put together yourself.  If going for a package holiday, then you'll get greater consumer protection through ATOl and APTA. If something goes wrong. So for example, if the company that you put through goes bust, then you'll get a full refund if you haven't travelled yet. If you're on your holiday then it'll sort you out with accommodation and your flight home as well.

Same applies if the airline you booked through goes bust or if there's bad weather, for instance, that means that you can't travel. So you'll get the full protection if you booked through a travel agent or if you book, let's say, a flight and a hotel on the same website, in the same transaction.

Where you won't get the full protection is if you're booking your flight and hotel on the same website in separate transactions. That's what's known as a ‘linked travel arrangement’ rather than a package holiday, so you only get limited protection in that case. 

But of course, price matters as well. So what should you go for? Well, the rule of thumb with a package holiday is usually that it could be cheaper if you're going to a popular destination such as Spain or Turkey and you're going for the standard 7, 10 or 14 nights, and usually if you're travelling as a couple or as a group, maybe you're going as a family.

But if you're travelling alone, if you're going to a less traditional destination, if you're doing multiple stops or if you're not going to go for those standard number of nights, then a DIY package can often be cheaper in that case. If you want to compare package holidays and doing it yourself, then we've got guides on MoneySavingExpert.com that can help you find the best deal for your holiday.