Plan holidays now to avoid scams and protect payments

With the January lull prompting many to think about holidays, travel companies are predicting a 5% rise in bookings this year despite the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze, the report said. Experts argue a package holiday often offers more protection than assembling your own trip. All UK companies selling holidays that include flights must be signed up to the Atol scheme, but Atol protection requires booking a combined flight-and-hotel package with a UK-based firm and is not travel insurance.

Guy Hobbs of consumer group Which? warned there are risks to DIY bookings: “In the summer of 2024 and spring 2025 we searched Booking.com reviews for the word ‘scam’ and found hundreds of people from the past few months complaining that they’d paid for accommodation that didn’t exist.” Booking.com provided a detailed response and said cybersecurity was a top priority.

For non-flight packages look for cover from trade bodies such as Abta or the Travel Trust Association. The Package Travel Regulations also make operators responsible for many problems. Some online agents such as Expedia or Lastminute.com can sell Atol-protected packages, but you should read their policies carefully; Lastminute says only products listed on an Atol certificate are protected.

If you prefer to book elements separately, paying by credit card is advised because section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act can make the card provider jointly liable for purchases between £100 and £30,000.

Key Topics

Business, Atol, Package Travel Regulations, Booking.com, Abta, Costa Blanca