Travel advice | Package holidays, flights and ferries | Passports | Health | Insurance | Timeshare | 

You've got your ticket, your passport and your travel insurance - it should be plain sailing. But if not, there are plenty of places to turn to on the internet for help in planning your travels and advice on what to do if things don't work out as you expected.

Travel advice

The website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides a wealth of useful information for British travellers planning to go abroad including travellers tips specifically for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) sector.  There are individual travel advice notices for over 150 countries covering: personal safety, the political situation, local healthcare arrangements, driving conditions, visa requirements and consular assistance.  Also listed are contact details for all British missions worldwide.

Package holidays, flights and ferries

Companies selling air travel in the UK are required by law to hold Air Travel Organiser's Licences (ATOLs). ATOLs protect you from losing money or being stranded abroad when travel firms go bust. This protection is included in the price of your holiday if you book with an ATOL-holder. The Consumer Advice pages of their website has a useful leaflet explaining what ATOL protection means to you.

The Air Transport Users Council (ATUC) is the consumer watchdog for the airline industry. You can find out from their website what your rights are as an airline passenger and how to complain if you're not happy with the service you received. ATUC can also take up your case if you think you've been badly treated by an airline and are not satisfied with the way your complaint has been handled.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) offer an arbitration service and may be able to help you if you have an unresolved dispute with one of their members. However, if you do go through ABTA and you're still not happy with the outcome, you may not then be able to take legal action.

The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) also offer an independent (but not free) dispute settlement service which you can use if your holiday was run by one of its members.

The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) website also has some useful general advice on holidays and the law and how to complain. The site also has specific advice for travellers with disabilities covering topics like insurance, holiday helpers and facilities you might need if you are flying. It also includes some useful contact numbers.

There is detailed information on package travel contracts and your rights, as well as advice on how to complain about your travel organiser, on the Department of Trade and Industry website.  

Passports

The UK Passport Agency can tell you what sort of passport you need, how to get a new passport or renew an old one and what to do if something goes wrong. However, whilst applications can be completed on-screen, there is no on-line service - forms must be printed off and posted.

Health

If you want to find out what health precautions you need to take for each country you are travelling to and advice on what's safe to eat and drink, visit the ABTA website.

Insurance

For advice on holiday insurance and insuring your car for driving abroad, visit the Association of British Insurers (ABI) website. It covers a whole range of insurance-related subjects like cancellation and delay, medical expense and car accidents and breakdowns.

Timeshare

The Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE) provides useful information on timeshares and The Association of Timeshare Owners Committees (TATOC) have information and advice on owning, buying and selling timeshares.

The Vacation Owners Independent Coalition in Europe (VOICE) is a non-profit making organisation formed by OTE and TATOC to provide help, advice and information for timeshare consumers.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) publishes a leaflet entitled Timeshare - Making The Right Choice.   It also produces a Timeshare Guide which highlights the pitfalls of buying timeshares and outlines the current legislation in the UK and in other EU Member States. 

Last updated: 26 May 2004