Five things you MUST check before you book a holiday, including insurance and cancellation policies

BRITS have been rushing to book December holidays, hoping coronavirus restrictions will be lifted in time to get some winter sun.

But if you’re planning on jetting off, there are some important things to consider before you book, including whether you can get insurance and cancellation policies.

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As the virus continues to spread, future travel policies and restrictions remain uncertain.

Despite this, travel website Skyscanner says that searches for December holidays have spiked by 30 per cent over the past three weeks.

Here’s the five things you absolutely must check before you buy your next holiday.

Can you get insurance?

The FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) is currently advising against all overseas travel for an indefinite period of time.

This means that travel insurance policies will only cover you in extremely limited circumstances.

In fact, lots of companies have stopped selling travel insurance altogether for new customers.

And Gocompare.com and Moneysupermarket.com have even stopped comparisons on travel insurance until the FCO restrictions are lifted.

You need insurance to cover you not just because of coronavirus, but also in case you can’t travel, get sick or the holiday is cancelled for other reasons.

Ideally you should get insurance from the moment you book in case something goes wrong between now and your departure.

If you look online, you may be able to find some specialist insurers still offering travel cover.

It is likely to be more expensive than usual, and it almost certainly won’t cover you for any coronavirus cancellations or disruptions.

If you can’t find insurance, legally you can still book your holiday, but you need to be aware that if lockdowns or other restrictions continue you could lose your money.

Fortunately there are other ways to try and protect your cash.

Do you have ATOL and ABTA protection?

Holiday firms and airlines are struggling due to coronavirus, so you need to make sure you are covered in case yours go bust.

ATOL protection means that if your travel company or tour operator fails, you’ll get your money back.

You should also get your hotel and return flights covered if the company collapses while you are abroad.

Book with a company that is recognised by the UK travel trade association ABTA for more reassurances.

But be aware that some companies are stalling refunds meaning customers have been left out of pocket, while other operators are offering vouchers and rebooking instead of cash.

If you do book anything, you need to be prepared for having to move your holiday without being able to get your money back.

Can you pay with a credit card?

If you’re booking a holiday, you should pay for at least part of each element using your credit card.

A handy consumer protection called Section 75 means that people who pay this way can get their money back if something goes wrong.

Under the act, your card provider is jointly liable if you don’t get the service you paid for.

For instance, if you book a flight or accommodation and it gets cancelled, you can claim.

To be eligible, the total cost of the item needs to be between £100 and £30,000.

To avoid getting stung by hefty interest payments, make sure you pay off the credit card straight away.

And if you’re worried about debts, you don’t have to put the full amount on credit.

Even if you only put £1 on the credit card and pay the rest through debit you will be covered.

However, there is some confusion in the rules about what happens if your travel company offers you an alternative to a refund.

For instance, lots of airlines are offering vouchers instead of cash leading to some banks blocking Section 75 claims.

So you should only book a holiday if you would be comfortable with some or all of your refund taking the form of vouchers or credit notes.

What are the cancellation policies?

Lots of holidays are super cheap right now as travel companies look to secure revenue for once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

If you want to take advantage, another option is to look at the cancellation policies of the individual elements of your holiday.

For instance, some accommodation will give you a refund as long as you cancel more than 24 hours in advance.

And some airlines are offering free rescheduling.

If you choose your elements carefully and read all the small print, you may be able to cancel your holiday without losing too much cash.

What restrictions might be in place?

Even if we are allowed to travel, there may still be certain restrictions on what you can and cannot do.

For instance, restaurants might still be closed, there could be social distancing a schedules on beaches and you might not be allowed in certain shops.

Check the country you want to travel to and research their coronavirus exit strategy.

This will give you a good indication of what the country is planning to do.

You should use this to inform your travel plans.

For instance, booking a trip where you will have to rely heavily on local restaurants could be extremely frustrating if they are all shut.

Some countries may also require safe to travel certificates, or may not be allowing holidaymakers from the UK.

The restrictions are likely to change significantly over the coming months and it’s impossible to know for certain what is ahead, but researching will mean that you are as prepared as possible.