DIY holiday

dont_use_vistaprint

citygirlblue said:

I'm looking at booking my own flight and hotel on separate websites. I know doing this is a bit of a risk. My worry is, if my flight gets cancelled/heavily delayed or my hotel goes bust, would I get my money back if I buy insurance with cancellation cover? Expedia are ATOL covered - is ATOL better than cancellation insurance? Thanks. 

It’s the only way I’ve ever traveled!!

Airlines and hotels rarely go out of business and hotels don’t usually take payment until you arrive.

the risks are almost always with travel agents that take money up front. 

Use booking dot com for accommodation. Use sky scanner to find the cheapest flights , even via a 3rd party you get a PNR with the airline within 24 hours.

if your flight is delayed or cancelled the airline will ensure you get to the destination as quickly as possible, lose a few hours or a day at most and they will compensate you.

Using travel agents as a huge risk in my opinion and  almost always grossly over priced . 

35 years of travelling 150+ countries, I’ve never once taken travel insurance.

Transfers - local bus  recently from airport in Turkey cost me 150 TRY and dropped me outside the hotel , £3.39 and a taxi to the hotel in Samarkand was less than £1, travel agents charge about £50 for a transfer 

Grumpy_chap

dont_use_vistaprint said:

35 years of travelling 150+ countries, I’ve never once taken travel insurance.

I, too, have travelled many times booking flights and hotels separately and arranging all ancillaries (transfers and such like) locally.

I am not so sure that I'd go for the "no travel insurance" approach, though.  I do agree there are a lot of things that you can carry the risk / self insure but the big part anyone (IMO) really needs to have travel insurance for is health cover.  Anyone can fall ill at any time with no notice or reason, or anyone can suffer an accident.  Health costs can spiral very rapidly.  There is also the "comfort" factor that if you are unable to locate suitable health facility easily, the insurer's 24-hour contact centre might well have health facilities that they can get you booked into more swiftly.

thegreenone

We travelled to the US in September and I booked airport hotels on arrival and night before departure to create a package with the airline.  I've done similar before but I almost always book individual elements.

I would never, EVER, travel without insurance.

NoodleDoodleMan

Going anywhere without travel insurance is self inflicted negligence IMO.

Doshwaster

dont_use_vistaprint said:

35 years of travelling 150+ countries, I’ve never once taken travel insurance.
 

I almost always book DIY and can't remember having any serious problems but not taking out travel insurance is reckless in the extreme. You may be able to cover the cost of a missed flight from your own pocket but the insurance is really there for the medical cover - break your leg (or worse) when travelling and you could face a bill of many thousands especially if you need to be repatriated (dead or alive).

comeandgo

NoodleDoodleMan said:

heatherw_01 said:

I have booked flight and hotel separate for hundreds of trips over 20 years.
No issues.
I use reputable companies and have travel insurance that covers the things you mentioned, for all trips.

Presumably you've never had a flight cancelled with late notice and subsequently abandoned by the airline ?

At the moment I’m on a 9 week self arranged holiday to three different countries, this is the fifth one I’ve organised. In the past  I have had flights cancelled at late notice  or delayed but never been abandoned by the airline.  We make sure there is plenty time allowance if changing planes at an airport .  Always book directly with airline.  Also, be aware if not in Europe there may be no requirement for an airline to arrange anything for you or any compensation if flight late or cancelled.

NoodleDoodleMan

comeandgo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

heatherw_01 said:

I have booked flight and hotel separate for hundreds of trips over 20 years.
No issues.
I use reputable companies and have travel insurance that covers the things you mentioned, for all trips.

Presumably you've never had a flight cancelled with late notice and subsequently abandoned by the airline ?

At the moment I’m on a 9 week self arranged holiday to three different countries, this is the fifth one I’ve organised. In the past  I have had flights cancelled at late notice  or delayed but never been abandoned by the airline.  We make sure there is plenty time allowance if changing planes at an airport .  Always book directly with airline.  Also, be aware if not in Europe there may be no requirement for an airline to arrange anything for you or any compensation if flight late or cancelled.

We've been effectively abandoned after short notice cancellation - Easyjet at Amsterdam airport this July.

Many Easyjet passengers in similar circumstances.

citygirlblue

Thanks everyone. I've booked flights (direct with EasyJet) and an Airbnb. I'd never travel without insurance, so can anyone recommend a provider that would cover my hotel costs if EasyJet cancelled at short notice or vice versa. Cheers.

jimi_man

UK and EU airlines won't leave you abandoned - or at least at the worst you might have to find your own accommodation and claim it back later - as they have a duty of care in respect of delays/cancellations irrespective of the reasons why. Other airlines, unless departing from the EU/UK, not so much. In the US there are no rules and it's down to the carrier. The better the carrier (in general) the more chance there is that they'll look after you.

Incidentally it's generally better to sort your own accommodation out and claim it back later, rather than waiting in line in a long queue to get a hotel room. BA for example, will pay most hotel bills up to around £200-250 a night and would probably rather you did it than they have to. As long as you're sensible they'll pay everything and I've never had a claim queried or refused. 

I've had annual travel insurance for around 35 years and I've never yet claimed on it. I'd hate to think how much I've spent. 

NoodleDoodleMan

"UK and EU airlines won't leave you abandoned"

I beg to differ.

Easyjet did just that to us (and all the other passengers) on a flight from Amsterdam to Edinburgh on Monday 15th July 2024.

I can go into detail if needed.

There is a Facebook site dedicated to complaints against the airline.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/192989321777