One third of UK holidaymakers are unclear on financial protection...

When it comes to travel it’s so important to know you are booking with someone you can trust, someone you can always rely on and someone who knows exactly what you need each and every time.

A study conducted by Travel Counsellors has found that over a third of holidaymakers are unclear on financial protection and how to ensure their hard earned holiday is protected.

The poll, which questioned 2,000 UK residents on their opinions and knowledge of financial protection in travel, was commissioned following the recent collapse of LowCostHolidays, which in many cases left thousands of customers un-protected, losing their money and having to find new holidays, particularly those who had booked directly on the internet and didn’t have the benefit of a Travel Counsellor to give them help or advice.

Key findings of the research showed that:

? 57% of holidaymakers claim financial protection is extremely important when booking their holiday, yet only 16% say that they are extremely clear on how they are covered
? 50% of respondents believed the ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) logo means their holiday is completely covered
? 41% of Brits are also unsure of what the ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) scheme is or how they are protected through this

While ATOL and ABTA offer financial protection, this doesn’t always extend to every element of your trip. People are often misled into thinking that if they see something such as the ABTA logo they are automatically protected, which isn’t always the case.

The significance of care – both during the booking process and throughout their trip – was also highlighted, with 40% of those surveyed saying they feel it is extremely important to have a travel professional on hand to help, should a problem occur whilst they are on holiday.

At Travel Counsellors, it’s all about putting the customer first and, as such, financial protection has always been a top priority for us. When you book with Travel Counsellors you’ll have piece of mind that your booking is 100% protected and you’ll be looked after 24/7.

For more information, or to get in touch about booking a financially protected holiday, email Marie Rowe or visit my website.