This month's disaster in the Travel industry, involving the volcanic ash from Iceland, has probably provided the biggest wake-up call to holiday-makers about the importance of "protection" when booking a holiday.

Changes in the way we book
Over the last 3-4 years, there has been a huge trend toward people booking their own holiday flights, accommodation, airport transfers and insurance (see "How the web has transformed travel"); effectively building their own holiday 'package'.  In the industry, this is called "dynamic packaging".

We are a nation of shoppers and love to think we can get a better deal if we 'd-i-y'.  What most shoppers are probably completely unaware of, is the lack of protection that this affords them in the event of things going wrong, compared to buying a tour operator package holiday.

Who's responsible?
The basic rule of thumb is simple - if YOU arrange and buy your holiday components separately, then it is YOU who has to deal with any problems that you may encounter in the course of your holiday.  This can include cancelled flights (argue with the airline); a failed airline (remember the Excel episode last year); problems with the hotel room and facilities (argue with the hotel owner); illnesses (sort yourself out and argue with your insurer), etc.  Remember, you have no 'holiday rep' to turn to.

Alternatively, if you buy a package holiday from a UK Tour Operator, THEY are responsible for solving any problems; they will sort out replacement flights; they will argue with the hotel owner about your complaints; their representative is always available for advice and assistance for any problem.  Of course you may be paying a little more for this comfort.

What about regulations?
With "dynamic packages", it is true that your flights are covered against airline business failure (ATOL licence scheme), plus there are some regulations protecting your entitlements with airlines, but do you know what these are?  However, it is almost certain that the other components of your dynamic package will NOT be covered, unless you have specific insurance for this.  

The fact is, that the industry and its regulations are very complex, to the point that they are not always fully understood by people within the industry, so what chance do you have?  Add to that the variation in Travel Insurance company terms and conditions - what you might be covered for and what you are not - and it becomes a minefield for a consumer.

So which is best?
Now, I'm not advocating one method of booking your holiday over another.  It is possible to get a great deal by buying flights, hotels and other items separately, but you have to be prepared to deal with the consequences if they occur.  It is also possible that, with a traditional Tour Operator package, due to their bulk buying, along with the fact that sometimes the Tour Operator owns the aircraft, the final price of a traditional package holiday is actually cheaper, but it will be less flexible than your d-i-y version.

There was a time when you would trust the Agent or Tour Operator to help you make the right choices and decisions, now it seems we are all prepared to spend hours online to find advice and bargains for ourselves.

We hope that AwayWorldwide.com goes some way to helping!