| A package holiday is, by definition, a pre-arranged | | | | package holiday; the price advertised doesn't always |
| holiday comprising of at least two components | | | | include all the non-essential yet rather important |
| booked together, such as the flight to the destination | | | | extras such as airport transfers, in-flight meals, and |
| and the accommodation itself. While package holidays | | | | even the privilege of being able to sit with your |
| can sometimes be more expensive than booking | | | | family on the plane. The 'from' price is more often |
| each part individually yourself, there are more | | | | than not the price for the absolute basic flight and |
| safeguards in place should anything go wrong. | | | | bed package - made glaringly obvious to lure the |
| The law states that a package holiday which is | | | | unsuspecting tourist into a holiday which, in reality, |
| offered by a tour operator must be of a reasonable | | | | could work out much more expensive. |
| standard, and match the description given in the | | | | Fortunately, once you've sorted out exactly what |
| brochure. For example; if the brochure states that | | | | you're paying for and have handed over the money, |
| the hotel has a sea-view from each room, then this | | | | you should be protected if the price was to rise |
| must be so. If the hotel is classified as a luxury hotel, | | | | significantly. This means that if you book your holiday |
| then it must not be of a basic budget standard. If | | | | a while in advance, and the price rises in the |
| the hotel is a budget hotel, common standards of | | | | meantime, your travel agent cannot charge you |
| hygiene must still apply - sharing a suite with half the | | | | extra to cover this, unless it specifically says this is |
| local insect population and 3 varieties of fungi are not | | | | allowed in the booking conditions. Even then, if the |
| classed as common standards of hygiene. | | | | increase is due to anything other than rising fuel |
| Once you have booked your holiday with the tour | | | | costs, landing fees or the exchange rate, you cannot |
| operator, you have entered into a legally binding | | | | be charged. The first 2% must also be absorbed by |
| contract and both parties must adhere to certain | | | | the agent and anything over 10% increase will |
| terms and conditions. The travel agent must make | | | | automatically entitle you to a refund without a |
| you fully aware of the booking conditions, usually | | | | cancellation penalty, or a replacement holiday at the |
| printed in the brochure, and provide you with any | | | | original price. |
| information you may require which relates to your | | | | Be aware that some tour operators try to push |
| holiday. This includes notifying you if there are any | | | | travel insurance on you at the time of booking, and |
| dissimilarities between the brochure description and | | | | may make you think this is compulsory. It isn't. While |
| the current state of the resort i.e. if the hotel is | | | | travel insurance is always highly recommended, you |
| having building work done or the swimming pool is | | | | can usually get a better deal looking for it yourself, |
| closed for some reason. If this is the case, you are | | | | as agents tend to charge a fee on top of the |
| entitled to an alternative holiday of comparative | | | | premiums, meaning you could be paying much more |
| value, or a refund. | | | | than necessary. |
| There is often confusion about the price of a | | | | |