USA holidays 2024/2025 | ATOL protected | Low deposits (2024)

FAQs

How do I get a refund for a bad holiday? ›

If something went wrong with your holiday you might be able to get compensation from the company you booked with. If you're still on holiday, tell the company or travel agent about the problem as soon as possible. You might be able to get it sorted quicker - like if there's a problem with the room.

Top Tips On Finding The Best Deals

Either book in advance or last minute: You'll get the pick of the lot if you book early. You'll also be able take advantage of bonuses, upgrades and sales. If you're more of a spontaneous type, you'll get similar great offers by booking 4 weeks before travelling.

ATOL-protected holidays for you

Holidays are a highlight of the year, and it's important we protect them. When you book a package holiday with us, you can rest assured that your break is ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) protected.

If you booked a package holiday, it's rarely refundable – at the very least you'll probably lose any deposit you've already paid. And the closer you get to travel, or if the contract states you still have to pay the full amount, the more you could lose.

The amount will depend on how serious the failing of the holiday company. If a holiday is completely ruined it might be reasonable for you to get a full refund. If the problem just reduced your enjoyment of a small part of the holiday then your reasonable compensation will be less.

It is advisable to report the issue to the hotel management and request a resolution such as compensation or an apology. If the hotel management is unwilling to resolve the issue, you may need to take further legal action.

To snag a deal, look at booking an all-inclusive during an off period, like mid-October through mid-December. Hurricane season wraps up in the middle of October when the dry season begins, so the weather should still allow for endless beach days with fewer crowds.

Low season: September to November and April to May offer the best deals as demand is lower than peak seasons. Travel companies, airlines and hotels make their money in peak season. That's when they can afford to crank the prices up as they know many people are locked into travelling at that time of year.

Book In November And October As It's Much Cheaper

And while traveling at Christmas can really rack up the crowds and the costs, the months just before it can result in some good deals. Booking an all-inclusive resort during November and October is much cheaper because this is the "off-season."

The travel company is likely to reserve the right to cancel your booking without giving you prior notice and to apply its cancellation charges, which will usually mean you forfeit your deposit. Be aware that companies are not responsible for sending out reminders when it's time to pay your balance.

Who is Love holidays owned by? ›

Sky News has learnt that Livingbridge, the private equity firm which has owned a big stake in Loveholidays since 2018, is preparing to kick off a formal auction of the company.

If full payment is not received (for whatever reason) by the Balance Due Date, we will notify the Service Provider who may cancel your booking and charge the cancellation fees set out in their booking conditions. In the event of non-payment, the booking(s) may be cancelled – please refer to the cancellation policy.

All flights are non-refundable from the point of booking. Some hotels are refundable, while others may charge a cancellation fee. If you booked a non-refundable room, you won't receive a refund when cancelling. All transfers are non-refundable from the point of booking.

A security deposit, also known as a rental bond, is an amount of money that the guest hands over to the owner when commencing a holiday rental. The primary purpose of this deposit is to protect the owner in case of damages or breaches of the contract terms.

If you've changed your mind or can't go

You can cancel any time before the holiday starts but you'll probably have to pay a cancellation fee. The fees should be in the terms and conditions. They're likely to be higher if it's close to the departure date.

Make it clear that you're looking for compensation - but don't specify exactly what you want. End the letter asking for 'a meaningful and substantial gesture of goodwill'. You don't want to underestimate the value of your claim. Leave it up to the company and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Cancelling a holiday due to illness

If illness forces you to make a holiday cancellation, there's no legal obligation for the package holiday operator, airline or hotel to refund you. You should check the terms and conditions of your booking to understand what options are available to you.

Write to the CEO of the Travel Agent/Tour Operator to request the cash refund you are lawfully entitled to within 14 days. Ensure you include full details of your booking, so that the operator can identify you and your booking and then you should post it to your Travel Agent / Tour Operators head office address.

However, paying by credit card offers a good chance of financial compensation if your trip doesn't go ahead as planned. In some cases it may be better to make a refund claim through your card provider, rather than through your insurer. This is because some travel policies charge an excess fee for claims.