HOLIDAY PITFALLS
Why you should always check if you need travel insurance and the added benefits of package holidays
It’s easy to think you don’t need travel insurance for a UK break, but many people don’t realise that the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are not part of the UK. They are self-governing British Crown Dependencies with their own Government, currency, healthcare and laws.
The Isle of Man has an NHS service and a Reciprocal Healthcare Arrangement (RHA) that allows residents to access necessary and emergency healthcare when visiting the UK from the Isle of Man, and vice-versa, but this doesn’t apply to the Channel Islands.
The Channel Islands does not have an NHS service, and healthcare is entirely private including GP appointments. A standard GP appointment in Guernsey costs around £70.50 for 10 minutes. And that’s before you even consider prescriptions, treatment or emergency care.
THE BENEFITS OF PACKAGE HOLIDAYS
Many people don’t realise that package holidays are not just for holidays abroad. If you book a coach, rail or ferry trip with accommodation, that counts as a package holiday and gives you far greater protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
This means that if something isn’t provided or not as expected, the organiser is responsible and needs to sort it out for you. They must either resolve the issue, offer an alternative or provide a full or partial refund for a breach of contract and loss of enjoyment.
One reader found this out when she contacted me about a coach holiday. She was told there were no hotel rooms on arrival and had to share a double room with her friend, despite paying extra for single occupancy.
When the coach company dismissed their complaints and blamed the hotel, she sought my advice. I explained that under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, the coach company was responsible for providing what was booked – not the hotel.
After writing a formal complaint to the CEO, they both received a refund of 10 per cent of the holiday cost plus a return of the additional single-room supplement – £228.60 in total.
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