How to make sure your dream holiday stays that way

The web is a great place to find your perfect holiday, whether you’re after value for money or that unique destination. However, where there is money to be made, the fraudsters are sure to try and cash in. Use the Get Safe Online Travel Essentials Checklist before booking your holiday and you can relax knowing you’ve made all the right checks.

What are the risks?

• Bogus holiday scams – fraudsters using fake websites and email offers for holidays or villas that don’t exist – you handover your deposit and never see it or the holiday again
• Unreputable providers not providing properly secure web pages to make payments online
• Lower quality holiday than what was promised on the website

Developed in collaboration with ABTA, The Travel Association, here is our Travel Essentials Checklist:

1. Take your time & shop around – It’s important you take your time with entering your holiday requirements onto a travel website, just as you would when booking face-to-face in a travel agency. Double check all details before entering your payment details. This will help ensure you’re buying the holiday you want and that is ‘right’ for you, whilst protecting yourself and your money.
2. Be vigilant - Check the track record of any holiday retailer unfamiliar to you. Don’t reply to unsolicited bogus emails from retailers you don’t recognise. Legitimate companies will never send an information request via a pop-up advert. If you don’t recognise the sender, don’t reply.
3. Check for approval - Make sure you know that your holiday company is a member of a recognized travel authority, such as ABTA. Find out also whether it provides financial protection for your holiday. ABTA members have to sign up to a strict code of conduct which governs the relationship between you and the company. ABTA also has a consumer helpline if you have any queries about an ABTA Member, and an independent arbitration service if you have any complaints.
4. Don’t fall for fake competition scams – A common trick by fraudsters is an email or phone call claiming you have won part of a luxury holiday, but need to pay a small fee to secure it. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
5. If renting a private villa speak to the owner/agent directly via telephone; if the number isn’t provided email and request it. Ask for references from other people who have visited the property and make contact with them directly.
6. Do your research – Get the full address and find it on Google maps, and ask for a full contract which should set out all the terms and conditions of the rental, deposits, payment terms etc.
7. Ensure the site is secure – On any web pages where you are entering personal or financial details, look for the signs that tell you if the site is secure. Look out for a padlock symbol in the bottom right of the browser window or for the payment pages to begin with ‘https://’. It’s also important to use your common sense and be wary if you suspect something is wrong. When making a payment to an individual use a secure payment site such as PayPal – never transfer the money directly into their bank account.
8. Always log out of sites which have asked you to log-in or to register details.
9. Keep your purchase records - Keep receipts of all online holiday or travel orders. Print off any confirmation pages and emails and keep them in case you are charged incorrectly.
10. Monitor your payment – Be sure to check your credit card and bank statements carefully once the holiday is booked, and notify the bank as soon as possible if you notice anything is wrong.
11. Don’t advertise your home to thieves by posting details of your holiday dates on social networking sites; stating when you are going away highlights to everyone the fact your home will be empty for a significant amount of time.
12. Trust your instincts – Five-star holiday at a two-star price? If something doesn’t seem right, take additional steps to verify the offer and if still in doubt, stay away.

Shop safely

• Shop online safely. See: Shop online safely for more advice.
• Only use safe websites.  Learn to spot dodgy ones and make sure you use secure sites when entering private information. See Avoid fake websites.
• Make sure your computer is protected against viruses, spyware and so on by following the advice in the Protect Your PC section of this website. See: Protect your PC (or if you are a Mac user: Protect your Mac).

More information

• There is more information about your rights and making complaints from ABTA: 
  • Consumer Direct
  • ABTA: Association of British Travel Agents
  • ATOL: Civil Aviation Authority
  • AiTO: Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Check out the FCO website for essential travel advice and information.
• Visit the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) website for airline passenger advice