Archives: Answers

In general, it is safe for Westerners to travel to India. However, like any other country, India comes with its fair share of dangers. Scams, pickpockets and sexual harassment are the most common types of safety concerns and dangers in India. So is India worth visiting? Yes! Popular tourists’ attractions in India are free of danger, the simplest way to stay safe is to opt for the services of a local tour guide in India and stay on guard at all times.

Do’s and Dont’s in India – What should I avoid in India?

● Avoid tight clothes (especially if you are visiting a religious site or travelling solo around India)
● Avoid leaving your belongings unattended while travelling around India
● Local street vendors tend to harass foreigners to sell their items, try to ignore them
● If you’re travelling alone, take all your precautions and do not trust strangers although they’re the friendliest people
● There’s little to no respect for personal space in India. In general, Indians get overly-friendly with tourists, especially if you’re of fair skin tone. Do not take it personally, respect the cultural difference and avoid getting violent.

Safest cities in India – Which part of India is dangerous?

For years, Kolkata has been titled “India’s safest city for foreigners”, including women. Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai also make it to the top of the list of India’s least dangerous cities. While Delhi is one of the most visited cities among Westerners, its crime rate remains high, but it sure is under control. That being said, some parts of India are considered highly dangerous. While North India is perceived as the most dangerous, you should also take maximum precautions if you are planning to visit the Bangladesh-bordering districts of Murshidabad and Malda due to the presence of militants.

I am a travel agent so it is my job to sell holidays and encourage people to book travel. But, more importantly, I want my clients to have a positive experience when they do book with me. This question has come up a lot over the last 24 hours since the announcement from the Prime Minister yesterday. I want to ensure that I manage the expectations of my clients and that they are fully aware of all the risks before committing to booking their holiday.  This is a summary of what I have been telling all my clients:

There are a number of factors that you need to consider when booking a holiday for the summer. Whilst many people do consider that August is likely to be open for travel from the UK, there are a number of other influences that may still limit travel options. Below are 5 important points to consider before making a booking.

We are not welcome by foreign governments

The UK has managed the roll out of the vaccine extremely well and the expectation is that we will most likely be free from Covid restrictions by August. This does not however mean that other countries will be free from restrictions. The vaccine roll out has barely started in many countries and this is particular true for many exotic long haul destinations. If your destination country is still suffering from the effects of the virus this summer, it is likely that they will still have restrictions on who can enter their country and this means you could be denied entry.

If you do book a package holiday to a destination that will not allow you to enter, you will be entitled to a full refund or a free change of dates, but that still means you will not be able to travel.

There are some countries that have suggested that they will allow people who have been vaccinated with both doses of one of the approved vaccines to enter. This however presents two striking uncertainties. Firstly, if you are vaccinated, will there be a recognised international system in place to authenticate vaccinations? If there isn’t, your destination country may not accept the small card that is currently being handed out by the NHS.

Secondly, if you are expecting to be vaccinated and have not received both doses by August, you may not be entitled to a refund if your holiday goes ahead. This is because the airline will be flying to your destination and your hotel will be open and operational. Most tour operators place the responsibility of complying with passport, visa and health regulations on the passenger and do not entitle the passenger to a refund if they fail to comply. (Booking a flexible rate will mitigate this risk- see below)

More new strains of the virus emerging

The government have made it clear that the easing of restrictions will be led by data and not dates. The road map announced yesterday is for guidance and dates may be changed at any time. One of the biggest threats to ending restrictions is the emergence of new strains. It is known that all viruses evolve to survive and these mutations can be less harmful or more deadly. The world has already seen the emergence of new strains that have been more transmissible but thankfully no more deadly. If new strains emerge that are able to evade the vaccines or that prove to be more harmful, then it is likely that the government will continue to restrict international travel to protect the domestic population here.

UK Government Regulations

Even if overseas travel is permitted, it is unclear as to whether the requirements for quarantine and testing will remain in force. You may be permitted to travel abroad in August but you may also still have to pay for the enforced quarantine in a designated hotel upon your return. This will add a considerable sum to to the total cost of your holiday.

Even if enforced quarantine is no longer a requirement, there may still be a requirement to pay for testing on the 2nd and 8th days following your return to the UK in addition to obtaining a negative PCR test prior to your return. There could also be a requirement to self isolate upon your return. These are risks that you should be mindful off prior to booking.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance companies have been notoriously underhand in their approach to dealing with claims as a result of Covid 19. In many cases, they have rejected valid claims that should have been covered under their policy wording. Most companies have adapted their terms in response to the pandemic and are being much more restrictive with the cover they are offering. You need to be sure that your travel insurance policy provides you with cover if you book now before more definitive guidance on overseas travel has been issued by the government. You must also ensure that your policy provides effective cover for when you do travel if travel is permitted in August. The last thing you would want is to be stranded and ill in a foreign country without cover for your medical expenses.

A silver lining- flexible price options and free date changes

Where my clients have properly understood all the risks and are still looking to book, I am recommending that they go for the pricing options that offer greater flexibility.

Some people may have the urge to go for the cheapest deals and self package online but they should remember that when you book a restrictive non-refundable, non-changeable flight on its own, you will only have rights to refund if the flight does not operate. If the flight does operate, you will not be entitled to any refund even if the UK government prohibits overseas travel on the date of your departure. Similarly, if the authorities at the destination you are travelling to have any restrictions of foreign nationals entering, you will not be able to cancel or obtain a refund if the flight still operates.

For hotel only bookings, your only rights under your contract will be for the services you have paid for. If the hotel is open, operational and accepting guests, you will not be able to obtain a refund even if you can’t feasibly enter the country where the hotel is located.

I am only booking my clients with operators that offer free cancellation up to 10 days prior to departure. I am only using airlines and hotels that allow free date changes (at worst) or refunds (at best) up until the date of departure. This ensures that my clients will either have their money back or a deferred holiday. None of my clients will be at risk of losing their money.

Waiting until 12th April?

This would be the sensible option for those that want to eliminate most risks. The government has said they will provide detailed guidance in relation to international travel on 12th April 2021. By this time, we will have a lot more data on the vaccine roll out both here in the UK and abroad. We will also see have more information on how effective the vaccine has been against new strains and also how the virus itself and the spread of the virus is evolving globally.

The pandemic has been unpredictable and undoubtedly will continue to throw surprises at us. Waiting until 12th April 2021 may reduce risk, but, until a new normal has been established, there is no travel that will be completely free of risks.

I have been able to re-book or refund or my clients that have been impacted by the pandemic and will continue to ensure that I am able to do this for new bookings. The best risk mitigation when booking travel at this time is to use an experienced, competent, reputable and independent travel agent that works for you and protects your interests above all else. I am one of an army of independent agents across the UK. Feel free to contact me or one of my very many respected industry colleagues who will be able to offer you invaluable advice, guidance and support.

Dubai gets hot in the summer. Really hot. We’re talking up to 50c / 122F. But is it still worth planning a stopover, or even a longer holiday in Dubai over the hot summer months?

Yes, it’s going to be sweaty hot, but it’s also a city built to deal with the extreme temperatures. A summer stopover in Dubai may not be as unbearable as you think.

Dubai Temperature – How hot does it actually get in Summer?

Whilst summer averages are reported at 45c/113F, it is quite typical to experience day time maximums up to 50c/122F. The hottest month of the year is August in Dubai.

“Summer” in Dubai realistically runs from May until October.

What you feel in Dubai and what is actually reported in the peaks of summer can also be two different things! You need to take into account not only the temperature but the humidity too. It helps if you have a weather app that gives you the “feels like” temperature as well!!

The humidity tends to be more noticeable in the latter half of summer August to September.

It’s also important to note that overnight, although you don’t get the powerful heat of the sun, the temperatures really don’t drop really below 30c/86F. You can certainly see and do a lot more after dark without the glaring sun and heat, but be realistic about what can be done at night time too.

Let’s agree, it’s hot.

Dealing with the heat in Dubai

Dealing with the summer heat in Dubai for most tourists is not nearly as difficult as it might seem, First up, nearly everything is airconditioned to the max – even too cold. You will arrive in an airconditioned airport, transfer to an airconditioned car or Metro train and arrive at airconditioned accommodation. Even bus stops are air-conditioned in many locations!

Whilst the outside air temperature is extreme, most hotels will chill their pools in the summer months to make them a refreshing retreat. Swimming is still best tackled early morning and late afternoon/evenings.

The same cannot be said for the ocean, however! You will need to mindful that the salty waters of the Gulf can be too hot for swimming in over summer (32-35c/90-95F); it will feel more like spa water than a refreshing break.

And in case it isn’t obvious, sand becomes excruciatingly hot in the summer. It only takes burning sand becoming trapped in your sandals or flip-flops once to work this one out, let alone if you dare attempt to walk on it with bare feet!

Dressing for the heat in Dubai

You should always dress sensibly for the heat. Please don’t have any misconceptions though that ladies need to be wearing a full head covering or burkha! This means ideally wear loose cotton clothing that is still respectable.

We have a full guide on what you should expect to wear in Dubai here.

A couple of important summer clothing observations:

Tourists need to note is the difference between “resort wear” and what you wear in public. Although this seems to have relaxed over the years (maybe too much?), as a sign of respect, keep the skimpy clothing and bathers only to the pool & beach.
When walking through hotel public areas, on public transport, in malls and restaurants, you should ALWAYS dress respectfully for the Muslim country you are in. At a minimum, think covered knees and shoulders for both sexes and nothing too clingy and revealing – yep, you will see a lot of people flaunting this “rule”.
Stick with cotton/rayon and breathable materials. Man-made materials will leave you in even more of a hot sweaty mess.

Temperature drops between outside and indoor air conditioning can be extreme. Make no mistake you will still want to pack a wrap or cardigan for those indoor blasts of cold!

My esteemed industry colleague has provided very useful information when answering her question. On the ultimate question of which airline is superior however, my respected colleague has said that her first choice is Virgin Atlantic.

I have had the pleasure of flying both the on Club World seat and the new Club Suite on British Airways. I have also flown the old Upper Class reverse herringbone seat and the new Virgin A350 Upper Class. I would agree with my colleague that the old Upper Class is superior to the old Club World seat with every passenger having direct aisle access, a more comfortable bed and a generally more inspiring cabin. However, when it comes to the new Upper Class seat and the new Club Suite, I believe the Club Suite is a winner.

So I would say Virgin is better when comparing the old product to the British Airways old product but British Airways is better when comparing the new product from both airlines.

Holding an ATOL license is a legal requirement any Tour Operator (also known as the Principal) that combines flights with other services and sells to the comsumer. Travel Agents do not sell the package- they act as an agent of the tour operator. Therefore a travel agent does not need to hold at ATOL license.

When a travel agent sells you a flight inclusive holiday that must be covered by ATOL they are not actually selling to you. They are selling on behalf of the Principal who is the ATOL holder. When you pay the travel agent, they are collecting that money on behalf of the Principal. Your contract is therefore with the ATOL holder which is the tour operator or principal. When a travel agent sells on behalf of an ATOL holder, they must provide you with a booking confirmation issued by the Tour Operator together with the terms and conditions of the Tour Operator. When you make payment to the travel agent, they must provide you with an ATOL certificate which is issued by the ATOL holder.

The purpose of ABTA membership is twofold. Firstly, ABTA members adhere to a code of conduct that is designed to protect consumers and ensure the highest standards of service. Secondly, ABTA membership provides security to the Tour Operator. At the moment the travel agent collects the money from you for your ATOL booking, it is as if the Tour Operator has received the money even if they physically have not received it. If the travel agent went bankrupt before paying your money to the tour operator, you as the consumer have nothing to worry about because as far as the law is concerned you have paid for your holiday to the tour operator and the tour operator must fulfill their obligations to you under the contract. The Tour Operator will however be out of pocket. In this scenario, ABTA will cover the Tour Operator for the amount the travel agent had to pay them.

In summary, you can book ATOL protected holidays through your travel agent who does not have their own ATOL as long as they are acting as an agent for an ATOL holder. As soon as you receive your ATOL certificate you benefit from all the financial protections that are guaranteed by the ATOL scheme.

You are covered under EU261/2004 which obligates your airline to provide you with transportation. You may not be entitled to compensation under the regulations, even if the cancellation was within 14 days because the airline can argue that the cancellation was as a result of extraordinary circumstances. But the airline MUST provide you with transport. Contact your airline and remind them of their obligations under article 5 and article 8 of the regulations. If they continue to refuse to pay, you should buy new tickets and then claim the money from your airline on your return. If they still refuse to pay, you should issue a claim in the county court for your losses and you should win with relative ease.

This is still a grey area as the The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018 (PTRs) are unclear as to what the tour operators obligations actually are. The PTRs are clear on the fact that if the Tour Operator cannot not provide the services, they must issue a refund. The regulations are however silent on what happens when the services can be provided but government restrictions prevent the services being taken.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) take the position that you are entitled to a refund if you can’t travel as a result of government restrictions. But, the problem is, they have not tested this in court. The CMA have no enforcement powers and must initiate a test case to determine what the law actually says on this matter.

My advice is push your Tour Operator to refund you, and keep pushing until you get a response. If you have paid by Credit Card, you can probably get them to process a chargeback, but this is not guaranteed. Your final option is to take the company to the small claims court.

What are your options?
Flight cancellations are governed by EU law EU261. These regulations will continue to apply following the end of the Brexit transition period on 1st January 2021 as they have been subsumed into UK law.

You can read the full text of EU261 here. Article 5 of EU261 deals with cancellations:

1. In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall:

(a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8;

Article 8 outlines the duty of care an airline has towards you in the case of cancelled or delayed flights, including the right to reimbursement or re-routing.

Here is the relevant extract from Article 8:

Article 8: Right to reimbursement or re-routing
1. Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between:

(a) – reimbursement within seven days, by the means provided for in Article 7(3), of the full cost of the ticket at the price at which it was bought, for the part or parts of the journey not made, and for the part or parts already made if the flight is no longer serving any purpose in relation to the passenger’s original travel plan, together with, when relevant,

– a return flight to the first point of departure, at the earliest opportunity;

(b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity; or

(c) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at a later date at the passenger’s convenience, subject to availability of seats.

As you can see, there are three clear options: a full refund (clause a), re-routing as close to the original flight timings as possible (clause b) or re-routing at a later date (clause c). It is your choice which of these you choose, not the airline’s.

There does not need to be Avios seat availability if your cancelled flight is an Avios redemption and you would like to be rerouted.

What if British Airways no longer flies there?

EU261 is clear that the right to re-routing is not dependent on whether a particular airline flies to the original destination.

For example, British Airways has cancelled its Kuala Lumpur flights permanently. Malaysia Airlines is now the only airline offering direct flights between London and KL.

In this case, you could reasonably argue that “comparable transport conditions” include re-routing onto the only direct flight available with Malaysia Airlines, rather than a connecting flight.

Some agents will claim they cannot reroute you on another airline because they do not have an agreement with each other. This is unlikely to stand up in court: EU261 does not make such a provision.

That said, you cannot pick what alternative airline you wish to fly. BA can put you on any flight as long as it gets you to your final destination at the “earliest opportunity” and under “comparable conditions”.

Can I switch to a different airport?

Yes. BA’s policy is to let you rebook to airports within a 300 mile radius of your original destination.

In our example where British Airways has cancelled its Kuala Lumpur flights, it is still flying to Singapore which is less than 217 miles away. In this case, you may prefer to be rerouted to Singapore.

BA have also said that they will allow re-routing to Vancouver for Calgary bookings and Riyadh for Jeddah bookings in this specific case.

EU261 is a little more vague about your rights in this case. Here is Article 8 (3):

3. When, in the case where a town, city or region is served by several airports, an operating air carrier offers a passenger a flight to an airport alternative to that for which the booking was made, the operating air carrier shall bear the cost of transferring the passenger from that alternative airport either to that for which the booking was made, or to another close-by destination agreed with the passenger.

It is not entirely clear how EU law defines ‘region’ here. It is debatable whether Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are in the same ‘region’ – they certainly aren’t the same city!