Getting a better deal abroad

We all work hard for our money so it is only natural to want it to work as hard for us, be it on the amount it can buy us, or the interest it earns in the bank. But making sure that it does, takes some effort and research.

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Travel Insurance

Craig Doyle

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Booking Your Trip

Getting the best holiday deal starts right at the beginning - by doing your homework before you book anything. The internet is invaluable for this, so start surfing to find out the best prices. Don’t forget your local travel agent, as they will also offer some good deals too.

• Try contacting hotels directly as you may get a better price and find rooms available when you’ve been told the hotel is full by a travel intermediary, but remember if you book independently you are unlikely to be covered by ABTA, the travel association. This means you won’t have access to its independent arbitration scheme should things do wrong – and will have to deal individually with the hotelier for example if your accommodation is not up to standard.

• Also, it’s worth noting if you book independently, your flights and accommodation will not be covered by the Civil Aviation Authority's ATOL financial protection scheme. The advantage of booking your holiday via an ATOL registered tour operator which subsequently goes out of business is that the CAA will make a refund to you, or if you're abroad, they will arrange for you to finish your holiday and fly home.

• Use your card to book the trip if it is going to cost more than £100, as this will give you cover under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. It makes the card company jointly liable with the travel firm if things go wrong. You don’t need to pay the full amount on your card to get cover for the total cost of the trip.

• Booking early is normally worthwhile for the cheapest flights, if you’re travelling on the low cost airlines. But on the flip side you can often pick up a bargain if you leave your package holiday booking till the last minute. It depends on what type of traveller you are and whether you are happy to potentially pay a bit more for the certainty of knowing where your holiday will be.

• You are likely to get a better deal if you can be flexible on your dates and travel on a Tuesday for example rather than a Saturday.

• Car hire can be expensive so shop around – internet deals may well be the cheapest. See if you can get a discount through a service you already have. For example through a credit card linked travel service or even if you're a member of the AA.