If Thomas Cook’s collapse has left you with a cancelled holiday then you might be looking into how you can still get away – after all, you’ve already stocked up on sun cream and you’ve already packed every swimming costume you own. You might have even looked out at the rain with a slightly smug feeling.
I’ve chosen a selection of the amazing holiday choices you can get from British Airways right now for some brilliant prices – all of these fly out in October. This isn’t a definitive list either – there are hundreds of different options!
I’ve also laid out some handy tips which will be useful to reduce your risks if the same thing happens again with the airline you book with – you don’t want to find yourself stranded on your holiday again.
What's Included?
I’m waiting for a refund for my holiday
If you’re due a refund for your previously booked holiday, and you are absolutely certain that you will get a refund (such as if you were ATOL protected or are covered by Section 75), then you might want to put the cost of another holiday onto a 0% interest credit card then pay it off in full when your refund comes through.
There are risks involved in deciding to do this – but if you assess them appropriately then you might still be able to get away on the week that you planned to – great if you struggle to take time off work!
A holiday in Malaga
La Cala Resort – £350pp
This resort is in Mijas and it features a spa, a gym, tennis courts, an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and a sauna.
This resort has an average score of 4.5 on TripAdvisor, which is an excellent score for such a low price. If you’re a golfer, then this is a perfect choice for you as it’s located on a golf course.
The views around the resort are spectacular and can be viewed from the private balconies that the rooms can offer you!
This price includes continental breakfast too!
Sol House Costa del Sol – £300
This is a luxurious and modern hotel in Torremolinos. It sits on the Carihuela Beach near to Puerto Marina where there is a huge selection of resturants and bars. This is an option for you whether you’re travelling as a couple, as a family, or with friends.
There are three outdoor pools as well as a children’s pool. There is also a fitness suite, live music, and DJ sessions.
This hotel has an amazing 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor, so it is rated as excellent.
A holiday in Mallorca
Be Live Adults Only La Cala Boutique Hotel – £350
If you’re not taking the children, then this could be a great option for a holiday for you. This hotel has been recently renovated. There’s both an indoor and an outdoor pool, as well as a poolside bar.
You can enjoy evening entertainment here and there’s a lounge bar for evening drinks.
All rooms have a view of the sea and a private balcony with a flat screen TV and a minibar.
This hotel has an average score of 4 out of 5 on TripAdvisor as well, a great score for this price!
A holiday in Venice
San Moise Hotel – £300
This hotel provides ‘an ideal mix of value, comfort, and convenience’. It’s family friendly but also caters to couples. It has a private, shaded courtyard and a gondola-filled canal.
If you fancy a bit of sightseeing, then it’s only a short walk away from both Scala Contarini del Bovolo and Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
All bookings with this hotel include breakfast which has some great reviews on TripAdvisor!
A holiday in Munich
Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor – £300
This is a five-star hotel and has the works! There are stunning views across the city and onto the alps. There is a rooftop bar and outdoor terraces.
There’s a health club, a spa, massage services, a hairdresser and barber, a gym, and a cocktail lounge! You’ll be sure to get a chance to relax here!
This hotel has a TripAdvisor rating of 4.5 so you get a great deal by booking a holiday here!
Some tips when booking your holiday:
Make sure your holiday is ATOL protected
If you’re booking another holiday because your holiday with Thomas Cook was cancelled, you’ll probably be aware of how important ATOL protection is.
ATOL protects customers flying from the United Kingdom when (or if) the travel company that they booked through collapses. This ensures they are not out of pocket and don’t become stranded abroad.
You should be ATOL protected if you book a package holiday.
Get insurance
It’s fundamental to take out travel insurance whenever you go abroad. You never know what could happen.
Your holiday could be cancelled, you may need medical attention, or your luggage might be lost. Insurance can be really cheap, but it can save you a lot of money in the long term should you need to claim.
Make sure you assess how much you could feasibly pay out in excess fees if something does go wrong. You’ll spend more on zero excess, but it keeps your peace of mind when you are travelling.
Put some of the cost on your credit card
Credit cards are great for high-cost purchases like holidays as you’ll be covered by Section 75 if something was to go wrong.
You don’t have to put the entire cost on the credit card – you could just pay a deposit. As long as the total cost of the holiday is between £100 and £30,000 then you will be covered for 100% of the holiday costs even if you only put £100 on the credit card to start with.
Don’t put a holiday on a credit card if you can’t afford it, however, as you’ll likely end up paying a lot more in interest costs.
Book in incognito mode
Holiday booking sites use cookies – this means that they put something on your browser which tracks if you come back to the site. If you’ve been shopping around for holidays then you might notice that the prices are going up when you visit a site for a second time.
If you go into the browser on incognito mode then they will not be able to track your previous visits, so it looks like you are visiting for the first time – they will, therefore, show you the cheaper prices. When you book your holiday, do it in incognito mode so that they will give you the cheapest prices for your holiday.
Take enough medication for a few months
You might feel like it’s excessive to take more than enough medication for the time that you are travelling – but if you end up on a delayed flight you could find yourself short.
A lot of travellers who were impacted by Thomas Cook’s collapse did not have enough of their prescription medication to allow them to be delayed by a few days. Make sure you take enough for a couple of months and split it between your hand luggage and your hold luggage. You’ll be bringing most of it home with you, but you won’t run out!
Carry a copy of your prescription as well just in case you are asked for it at the airport.
Take a credit card
It’s always useful to have a credit card for emergencies. If you’re in need of more money, you’ll be able to access it quickly and without too much hassle. You can find credit cards with no fees to use abroad so just make sure one of them is in your hand luggage and tell yourself it’s for emergencies -not another round of Margaritas.
Now, book a holiday and get away from all of this rain!
To read more advice about holidays click here
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Updated by Oliver Macmillan July 2022
