Financial protection is also offered on your booking, ensuring you do not lose your hard earned money on what is an important purchase for you and your family.
Do not rule out holidays in this country either, as there are some fantastic offers from well known family companies and holiday sites. Despite what we might remember from childhood, the likes of Butlins, Haven, Centreparcs, Hoseasons have vastly improved facilities with contemporary rooms. As well as the attractions for the children, many offer modern features such as spa facilities and restaurants, giving those affected by the credit crunch a genuine possibility for that much needed break away.
You will find a lot of agents are offering credit right now, with many; ‘buy now pay later’ offers. When paying a deposit, it is advised that you pay with a credit card, as any money paid, will be better protected than if paid with a debit card. With most bookings, you will only ever lose the deposit if you have to cancel 12 weeks before travel. Insurance companies today are obliged to sell insurance in compliance with FSA guidelines. This is why you’ll see more and more policies being dropped from our supermarkets, as they need to comply with a this new code of conduct.
In today’s tough financial climate, we all love unearthing a bargain, especially when it comes to holidays – and let’s face it, as mums we could all do with a fantastic holiday break right now.
he key for any successful holiday break is planning. A good place to start is considering the ideal date, destination and budget. Also, assess how flexibleyou and your family can be around these three keyareas. For those of you with smaller children under the age of 4, look at dates that avoid the
school holidays if you can, as these are nearly always more expensive times to travel. Why pay peak prices if you don’t have to?
If you’re children are of the age where that are now at school, consider an early break up time for their school summer holiday. Most schools allow 14 days time out of the school term time and together with the inset days in autumn, these days are worth taking advantage of. These days are the prime time for you to pick up a bargain. Consider what time you are prepared to fly, as night flights are cheaper than those in the day. Most children, (with the exception of my son), often sleep for the duration of the flight, making the whole journey less fraught for us as mums and dads.
When looking for your next break away, I advise utilising the internet as your primary source of information. Gather prices and destination advice by using consumer websites such as 'Holiday Watchdog' or 'Trip Advisor'. These sites provide useful customer reviews from people like you and I, offering first hand opinions on any given country or hotel. Use this information along with advice from high street agents, who face to face, can offer great advice and recommendations. Although agents’ primary motive is to try and sell you a holiday, they do provide professional advice and peace of mind - at what can be an uncertain time.
In addition, you will need to make sure the insurance cover for your family is adequate. The E111 only covers the NHS equivalent in the country you are visiting - I recommend you check the equivalent treatment available before travelling to your destination. If in doubt, banks offer some comprehensive insurance products that are really worth checking out.
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