A Government Survey has found that each man, woman and child spends nearly £13 per week on Package Holidays abroad. Such a purchase, for that precious 2 weeks, is often a major investment for most families. When HolidayTravelWatch was first formed it was quickly realised that holidaymakers needed a checklist to guide them when they encountered holiday problems. Such problems can range from holiday food poisoning claims, holiday accidents, sudden changes to holiday arrangements, flight delays and cancellations, sick aircraft syndrome. Read More

So, you have had the ‘holiday from hell’, or was your holiday less than satisfactory? You have a holiday complaint - what can you do about it? Do you put it down to ‘just another experience’? You may have a holiday food poisoning claim, the facilities in the hotel or cruise ship were not up to standard, or your suffered at the hands of an airline! Did you suffer from a holiday accident? Read More

It is estimated that some 60 million visits abroad are made by Britons each year, with some 20 million package holidays being sold The range of destinations is as wide as it is varied. In the same way the range of complaints are varied, the principle area of concern relates to holiday food poisoning claims. Read More

This edition proudly announces the launch of the new website of HolidayTravelWatch, and of its sister brand Ceeviews.  HolidayTravelWatch has redeveloped its own website to take account of the growth in digital technologies and to create a true global online travel community.  The website offers a clear structure and search facility to access travel advices for the British Travel Consumer, new features includes an expanded campaign and petition area, with extra free complaint letters to help the Consumer to ‘Whistleblow for Safety’.  We have introduced our news blog; ‘The Crows Nest’ which will feature short but challenging views on travel related issues.  Ceeviews introduces a new Holiday Review area, which is Independent and encourages verifiable reviews, good or bad, from Consumer of members of the Travel Industry.  Ceeviews will develop further by introducing its own brand of podcast travel advices during the latter part of 2008. Read More

The launch of the Airbus A350 aircraft, preceded by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner are set to usher in a new era of travel luxury, space and eco-friendly aircraft, following the development of innovative technologies. Read More

Mrs W booked with a mainstream Tour Operator, which was subsequently taken over by a major Tour Operator.  She purchased a Package Holiday to the Maldives, staying in Herathera.  Mrs W, looking forward to her holiday, travelled without concern to Male.  When she arrived on Male, she was advised by the Travel Representative that they would not be traveling to Herathera.  Why? Because the island she had chosen and paid for was not ready!  She was offered another destination, Kuramathi, some 500 miles further away from where she wanted to be!  Mrs W endeavoured to resolve this difficult situation by requesting travel to another island, one that was closer than what was being offered.  The Travel Representative advised her that this would not be possible.  She was told that there was no availability anywhere else, only on the island that she was being offered.  Mrs W was not deterred, she requested that she be flown back to the UK.  The Representative advised her that that there were no flights available; she had no choice, she had to go to Kuramathi.  Mrs W did not want to take this option, it was not the destination she had chosen, and the resort being offered, did not have the same facilities they had originally booked.  She was advised by the Travel Representative that if they decided to stay, then it would be evidence that they had accepted the changes that were being made.  Mrs W and her family decided that they would not accept the change, and given that they were not being offered a return flight, they decided that they would return to the UK using their own money, and purchased their return flights.  Understandably, Mrs W and her family considered that they had been treated unfairly. They believe that as their chosen resort was not ready, the Tour Operator must have known of these difficulties for some time before they left the UK.  Why were they not informed before they travelled to the Maldives?  Mrs W decided that she would write to the Tour Operator to complain at how they had been treated.  She received 2 acknowledgements followed by a formal letter of response.  The family were offered £100 in compensation, and advised that there would be no further correspondence, the matter was closed!  2 further letters have not been responded to! Read More

We are often asked how travel providers can adjust their prices; where do they get their powers from?  The answer is contained within Regulation 11 of The Package Travel Regulations.  Firstly, no price revision can be made unless the contract specifically allows, and in particular such a revision must not only be upwards but also downwards.  It must also satisfy several conditions.  The contract must set out how the revision must be calculated, secondly the revision must relate solely to transportation and fuel costs.  Revision can be made for dues and taxes for services, such as landing fees or embarkation and disembarkation fees at ports and airports.  However, whatever revisions may be possible, no such revision ‘may be made in a specified period which may not be less than 30 days’ before the departure date.  In addition, ‘no price increase may be made in respect of variations which would produce an increase of less than 2%, or such greater percentage as the contract may specify’.  It is normal practice for ABTA members to seek approval for such price increases from their trade body; the decision to approve the rises are published on their website. Read More