Many people are taking to the internet to book their holidays nowadays as it can be much cheaper, easier and you can do it in the comfort of your own home. However, if you’re not very confident shopping online, especially when it comes to spending a large amount, it can feel like a bit of a daunting prospect.
However, it doesn’t have to be. We’ve put some tips together for booking a holiday online safely and securely so you will have peace of mind and will be able to concentrate on looking forward to your break.
Look into what measures the site has set up to protect your money and details
The Travel Republic Blog offers this great advice: ‘One key thing to look out for on any online travel agent site is an ABTA logo. ABTA is The Association of British Travel Agents and the UK governing body in the travel industry. Websites that are registered with ABTA agree to abide by ABTA guidelines, so you can rest assured they are a legitimate business. Some companies also have an ATOL licence, which means that whatever happens on your holiday or with the travel company you are protected. You can find out more about ATOL and ABTA online’.
Shop around to get good deals but book when you can
Avoid being tempted to just book what deals seem unbeatable, as there are loads of different ones out there on loads of different sites. However, when you do see something that grabs your eye for all the right reasons, it may be worth going for it in some cases if the dates suit you as they do go really quickly.
Keep your eyes open for extra charges and see if it’s cheaper to book directly
Some websites may not get commission (or much, anyway) from the holidays they sell, so may make up their losses by charging you a lot of money for things like booking or transaction fees. Watch out t his for these as they can soon add up and can make your seemingly ‘cheap and cheerful’ holiday soon cost a fortune. Sometimes paying the flight companies/hotel companies directly can be cheaper.
Take a look at previous customer reviews
Reading reviews by previous customers is a good way to get a feel for how good the website it and their services, as long as they’re genuine, of course. Look at what they have talked about and how relevant they are to you, as not all reviews will be useful.
When it doubt, make sure they have a contact number for extra assistance
Good sites like UK Breakaways have advisers always ready to take your call which is useful if you are new to booking a holiday online and would like some more information, or would even like to pay with a different payment method. Online chat windows are useful for some extra guidance when actually booking your holiday as you can chat to someone every step of the way.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you from UK Breakaways
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