*Your deal of the week pricing below is accurate as of August 21, 2019. Family deal was selected based on London school holidays for children between 0-5 years. Prices are subject to change. Deals are subject to the partners’ T&Cs.

*All deal pricing below is accurate as of July 30, 2019. Prices are subject to change. Deals are subject to the partners’ T&Cs.

Package holidays

So, what exactly is a package holiday? It might sound simple – you’ve probably booked plenty of them over the years – but actually, the definition is quite important, especially when it comes to your rights. Here’s what you need to know about your package holiday.

If you booked your holiday on after July 1, 2018, then a package holiday is defined as a combination of any two of the following:

• accommodation (a hotel, apartment, villa etc)
• transport (most commonly flights, but trains, coaches and ferries are also included)
• car hire
• another service (for example, a tour that forms significant part of the holiday)

In addition, the package must involve an overnight stay or at least cover a period of 24 hours.

They can also be sold in different ways:

• a holiday that has been pre-put together by a travel agent – for example, flights and accommodation – for a single price
• a tailor-made trip – for example, where you choose from a range of services and pay for them as one

What about payment?

Bear with us, this part can be a little tricky. How you pay for a holiday also plays a big part as to whether it’s a package or not.

So, if you paid a single price in one payment, were charged an inclusive price for all of the services you bought, or agreed to pay for a combination of services that you selected, then it’s a package.

Additionally, if your travel company sold you a service – for example, flights – and then transferred your payment details to another company, with whom you booked another service within 24 hours, this also counts as a package.

And last but not least, a holiday is classed as a package if it was advertised or sold using the term “package” or similar wording.

One more thing…

If you booked before July 1, 2018, the definition is slightly different. Your holiday must still combine at least two features from the first list above (for example, flights and accommodation) and include an overnight stay or cover a 24-hour period; however, the holiday must have been sold to you at an inclusive price.

What is ATOL?

Ever wondered what ATOL – that funny little acronym that appears on most reputable holiday sites – stands for?  Well, it’s Air Travel Organiser’s Licence, a financial protection scheme run by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that covers package holidays.

Most UK tour operators and holiday companies should have a valid licence. Without it, they might not be able to legally sell air travel. This means that if your holiday company fails – for example, ceases trading suddenly – you are entitled to support and financial cover through ATOL.

Basically, it ensures:

• you don’t get stranded abroad if your holiday company fails while you’re away
• you don’t lose out financially if your holiday company fails before you travel

Rest assured that when you book a package holiday through TravelSupermarket, you are covered by ATOL. We compare thousands of individual package holidays from more than 25 leading travel companies and all of the holiday companies on our site are protected by ATOL.

All-inclusive holidays

The ultimate in stress-free holidays, with an all-inclusive break all you need to worry about is deciding on your dream destination. When you arrive, all of the essentials are included allowing you to budget before you’ve even boarded the plane. Get ready to relax!

Search and compare all-inclusive holidays.

Summer holidays

The classic summer holiday is almost a must for many Brits. But if you need to travel at peak times, it can be pricey. Fortunately, we make comparing summer holidays side-by-side and snapping up a deal simple. So shop around now to find a bargain.

Search and compare summer 2019 holidays.

City breaks

For a dose of culture and a slice of adventure, you just can’t beat a city break. From Rome and Paris to New York and Dubai, we compare breaks to the world’s most exciting cities, no matter what your budget is. Get ready to explore!

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Family holidays

Family holidays are the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with those you love. Whether you want to splash about in the sea, show your budding historians the sights or discover the fun side of a new city, make booking your next family break child’s play.

Search and compare family holidays.

Couples holidays

Whisking the other half away on a romantic city escape? About to book your first beach holiday together or an anniversary adventure? Whatever you’re after, we can help you to make it super. Get ready to earn some serious brownie points.

Search and compare couples holidays.

Book your holiday with confidence

We advise looking out for companies that provide ATOL protection. This ensures that you will be looked after if either all or part of the travel you have booked goes wrong. All of the holiday partners on TravelSupermarket are protected by ATOL.

Looking for more deals? Check out our variety of self catering, cheap, half board, all-inclusive and luxury deals.