Booking a holiday with an internet firm - anyone heard of them?, do overseas firms have a abta number

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Am booking but just wondered if anyone has heard of the following before i part with our hard earned cash?

www.sardinia.net/index.html

do overseas firms have to have a abta number?

I haven't heard of them but I would imagine not as it stands for Association of British Travel Agents.

I'd be very careful if I were you. Why not get contact travel counsellors to see if they can get the same holiday for you but with the assurances of bsing an ABTA bonded company.

I've always used Christine Power and she's brilliant!

travelcounsellors.co.uk

I booked a few years back with a company I thought was local in Majorca (to book accommodation direct) but turned out to be part of one in the Midlands - think, when i looked into it after booking, it had an ATOL number but not ABTA iirc. However I don't think ABTA would have covered us anyway as we had n't booked a package or flight with them and ATOL only relates to flights. You really need to catch tiredemma who works as a travel agent .

let me have a look for you. hang on!

that was quick !!

I always look at the travel threads! Low and behold here I am!

camera - although they are not associated or affilated to any uk tour op, they are a reputable company and have been used as an accom agent for the company I work for.

Hope this helps

agree with tiredemma

If you book with a UK agent or operator you will have more financial cover. If you booked your accommodation for Sardinia through a UK agent you 'should' (check it out before booking with the agent) be covered by UK laws. Travel agents should provide protection for your money, but this doesn't always apply. If you book direct online with an overseas company, that is outside of UK law, check their T&Cs before booking.

ATOL = Provides protection for flight only and holidays with flights. Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) is a protection scheme for flights AND air holidays, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Most firms who sell air travel in the UK are required by law to hold a licence called an "ATOL".

NOTE that ATOL cover / protection doesn?t apply if you buy flights directly from an airline.

ABTA = Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is a travel trade association that has a bonding requirement for non-air holidays as a condition of membership.

There are lost of other Travel Trade Associations aswel as ABTA. Listed on the CAA website. whats this all about

As www.sardinia.net is not a UK company I doubt they have to abide to UK laws. The contact address is in Italy. I cant find any T&Cs on their website either.

The best way to make sure you have cover is to buy through a UK Operator or Travel Agent and purchse a package holiday. You should get and ATOL Receipt from them as proof of your holiday booking. This is a holiday that consists of two or more elements, e.g. transport and accommodation, that are sold to you as a package at an inclusive price.

Get Holiday Insurance.

Clear as mud isn't it????!!!!

google this as i dont want to advertise. I have no links with them.

columbusdirect

Not used them but know of others who have.

Also the post office sell it aswell as lots of high street stores now.

hope that helps.

As soon as you book a holiday, all passengers should ensure they purchase a policy which covers their personal requirements: ie: emergency medical expenses, loss of personal belongings, cash and passports, delayed departures, personal liability, legal costs, cancellation and curtailment of your holiday due to unforeseen circumstances by you.

If you are driving make sure the RAC (or similar) cover you while you are abroad.

Where are you going?