One of the nicest things about travel is that you never quite know what is going to happen next. You could have the whole trip planned down to the minute or just have an idea of a few things you’d like to do while you’re there but no matter what, there will always be something that you weren’t expecting. Anything from a local carnival taking over the town you’re staying in or some unprecedented weather patterns that you and your holiday wardrobe weren’t quite prepared for. Usually these things won’t ruin your trip and they might even make it take a turn for the better, making it even more memorable! But, every now and again, things go wrong.
One example of this is having your flights or package deal cancelled. If you travel enough, at some point it is likely to happen to you and likely when you’re least expecting it. Natural disasters, extreme weather events and travel providers going bust can all lead to cancellations and are all completely out of your hands. So, unfortunately, that is something that you need to be prepared for. If you visit this site or read through the infographic below, you will be. Both sources of information explain what to do if you suddenly discover that your holiday or flights have been cancelled.
It is also a good reminder of the need to think carefully about who you book your flights, accommodation or all-inclusive package through. As you will see, who you choose will make a big difference to how easy it is to get your money back. If you are using a UK travel firm, searching out those that are ATOL or ABTA members could save you a lot of time and trouble. There is a small fee to pay when you book. I know acronyms can be a bit confusing so to clear things up ABTA is the Association of British Travel Agents so look out for this as this gives you protection if the travel company you’ve booked with goes out of business before or during your trip and is especially important if your travel to and from your destination is made up of non-air travel such as a cruise or heading to your destination on trains because you won’t be covered by the other organisation ATOL. ATOL is the Air Travel Organiser’s Licence so look out for this if your trip includes any flights. So it might be the first thing you’re thinking about when you’re planning your annual trip to the sun with your besties or before you head out interrailing all over Europe for a summer of adventure, especially if you’re on a budget. But if it’s the choice between the cheapest deal and they don’t have these protections and something slightly more that does, I promise the extra is worth it as without you could end up stranded abroad and having to pay out of pocket to get yourself home if something does happen.
You may be lucky and never need to rely on this advice but you’ll be so happy you were prepared if it does so check out the infographic below for more.
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