Package or DIY

[Pupbelly]

Originally Posted by mick

As someone who scans the T&Cs of travel insurance policies with a fine tooth comb I've found nothing in any of mine recently to suggest that the way you book a holiday has any bearing on the policy. They are all individual components covered by the policy.

You need to be careful with end supplier failure conditions though as the insurer will expect you to recover via a CC section 75 first - but it's always safer to book with a CC anyway

Mick

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Agreed. As an example, we were due to go to Italy at the beginning of April for our wedding anniversary but needless to say we didn’t! We booked a package via a U.K. based Italian specialist who conveniently refused to reply to emails or calls once Covid took a hold! We approached Direct Line about recovering our monies and whilst they said we were covered and they would refund us they said in the first instance to approach our credit card company. This has worked and MBNA have now refunded us so Direct Line has dodged that bullet, so whilst travel insurance is critical our experience has highlighted that using a credit card is a good policy.

The one time we booked a package deal too 🤦🏻 Won’t be doing that again!

[mick]

Originally Posted by Pupbelly

Agreed. As an example, we were due to go to Italy at the beginning of April for our wedding anniversary but needless to say we didn’t! We booked a package via a U.K. based Italian specialist who conveniently refused to reply to emails or calls once Covid took a hold! We approached Direct Line about recovering our monies and whilst they said we were covered and they would refund us they said in the first instance to approach our credit card company. This has worked and MBNA have now refunded us so Direct Line has dodged that bullet, so whilst travel insurance is critical our experience has highlighted that using a credit card is a good policy.

The one time we booked a package deal too 🤦🏻 Won’t be doing that again!

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Our Tesco CC was refunded inside 3 weeks when TC went bust last September. Again I couldn't rely on the ESF clause in my policy as it said something about rejection if company's financial situation was known about at the time of the policy. Always difficult to prove.

First trip in 1990 - package deal. 35 since - DIY. Guess I know where my vote goes.

Just to add though. I book nearly everything direct with the supplier - flight, villa, overnight hotel and UK airport parking. The only thing I book through a broker is car hire through DFCH - and guess who's been absolutely exemplary through these recent difficult times

Mick

[Guest]

I would do either - would certainly look at the prices on both.

I do like package protection though so even when doing DIY and multicentre I would often start with a package comprising flights and car or flights and accomm. ( It doesn't need to be for the full duration of your holiday, even one night qualifies).

Quite often I might start by looking at a flydrive (as I know I will want a car at some point) and build the rest of the internal flights and hotels myself as DIY.

For insurance I look for cover for key providers going bust (end supplier cover) and also try and find one which has or will allow consequential loss cover to be added. This means if one part of your holiday fails (like an airline for example) your hotel stays would similarly be covered if you couldn't get there. A lot of policies do not cover consequential loss.

I buy refundable bookings where I can to offset it - plus I tend to change my mind a bit anyway.

The other point is that we tend to go for a non standard duration (so not in a combination of seven days) so charter packages are often a bit limiting.

But as said above you can work out your routings and ask a TA to package it up for you which we have done too.

More often my flights may be governed by a very quick or temporary flight reduction or sale so have to act v fast so not nec enough time to get them to be packaged that way.

Lots of people do it lots of different ways. Whatever works best for you.

My only advice would be to someone who hasn't been before is do a bit of research before you book. Whatever you book.

[Pupbelly]

Originally Posted by mick

Just to add though. I book nearly everything direct with the supplier - flight, villa, overnight hotel and UK airport parking. The only thing I book through a broker is car hire through DFCH - and guess who's been absolutely exemplary through these recent difficult times

Mick

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I’ll second this advice too. We always book direct so that you have clear 1 to 1 lines of communication with your supplier. I’ll also echo the caveat with DFCH. They’re a rare exception to the rule. 👍🏼

[Florida White]

I’ve always done DIY it’s much cheaper but given the current situation and that it may return who knows I would now consider package to get the ATOL protection. If you go DIY book everything credit card and nothing as cash transactions.

[jdouds]

17 years Florida and west coast all DIY

[Buttercup1982]

Our holiday for August cost £9500 DIY. Virgin wanted 17,000 and tui wanted 12,000 for the same holiday. Although at this time I wish I would have booked a package as I think it will be a nightmare with everything that's going on x x