How to avoid that holiday nightmare - Irish Independent
WE'RE barely midway through summer -- and already two Irish travel agents have gone to the wall.
One of the country's biggest travel agents, Toolin Travel, went bust earlier this month. Greystones Travel in Co Wicklow collapsed in mid-May. With the Irish recession now a year old -- and showing no signs of abating -- the list could get longer. Many travel agents, tour operators and airlines are struggling to keep their heads above water.
You may still be determined to get your holiday in the sun -- but with holiday money tight, the last thing you'll do is take any chances with it. So is there anything you can do to make sure your hard-earned holiday doesn't go up in smoke or burn a larger hole in your pocket than you can afford?
Use a licensed travel agent
Although special flight offers are very tempting, remember you are not entitled to compensation if you book directly with an airline that goes bust. Flights booked directly with an airline are not covered by any consumer protection or compensation scheme.
