IF we thought that our holiday would end in disaster, and the demise of Thomas Cook has demonstrated how devastating the unexpected can be, we probably wouldn’t go.

Abta (Association of British Travel Agents), report that 38 per cent of British holiday makers leave home without travel insurance, making them vulnerable should the worst happen. However, travel insurance rarely covers curtailment or cancellation due to airline, tour operator or travel agent failure.

Abta provides protection for holidays booked with UK travel companies that include rail, cruise or self-drive transport; Atol (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) covers holidays which include flights. Both exist to protect us from losing our money or becoming stranded abroad should a travel company collapse.

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Top tips to protect you and your holiday booking

1. Always look for Abta and Atol logos before booking.

2. Pay by credit card, even if it costs a little more, it may be worth it.

3. Invest in quality travel insurance that meets your needs*.

CHECK THE SMALL PRINT

1. Does the policy cover your destination?

2. Does the policy cover all modes of transport such as a cruise ship?

3. Does the policy exclude potentially dangerous activities such as climbing or skiing?

4. Does the policy include cover for high value items such as golf clubs, jewellery, cameras, laptops etc.

5. Most importantly, what is the upper limit should you need to claim? Experience tells me that an emergency return flight can cost far more than the entire original holiday did.

*Policies offered by some banks or as part of salary packages etc. rarely offer the range of cover that a dedicated travel insurance policy will.