Sun & all-inclusive
Booking a sun holiday means trusting a company with your money and your time off. Many people worry about what happens if the hotel falls short or the flight is cancelled.
Companies in Sun & all-inclusive
77 companies
About Sun & all-inclusive
The Sun & all-inclusive category covers package holidays and trips where accommodation, meals and drinks are bundled into a single price for a stay abroad. It takes in resort-based breaks in destinations such as Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Greece and the Caribbean, along with cruises and tailor-made trips that include all-inclusive board. Companies in this area range from large high-street and online tour operators to specialist resort brands and independent travel agents who sell packages on their behalf.
Most customers book through a website, a mobile app or a travel agency, and many combine a package with flights chosen from a separate airline booking. The market is shaped by the Civil Aviation Authority, which licenses package tour operators under the ATOL scheme and protects customers if a company fails. The Association of British Travel Agents and the Travel Trade Alliance set standards for members, while the Advertising Standards Authority and the Competition and Markets Authority oversee how holiday prices and promotions are presented.
Package holidays in the United Kingdom are covered by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, which set out what companies must provide and what customers can claim when a booking goes wrong. Retailers and operators must also show total prices clearly before payment is taken. Customers reach these companies through direct channels, comparison sites and high-street shopfronts, and the sector is dominated by a small number of large groups alongside many smaller specialists.
Questions about Sun & all-inclusive
How do I choose a sun and all-inclusive holiday company?
Check that the company is an ATOL holder or an ABTA member, as this determines the financial protection you receive if the company fails. Look at how long it has traded, what its flight and hotel arrangements are, and whether it publishes clear terms, a complaints procedure and contact details that work.
What should I compare between sun and all-inclusive companies?
Compare what is actually included in the price, such as meals, drinks, transfers, resort fees and tips, and read the small print on what counts as all-inclusive at each resort. Compare the total cost including any surcharges, the cancellation and amendment terms, the baggage allowance and the financial protection offered.
Is it safe to book a sun holiday with a company that is not ATOL protected?
Booking a package holiday that includes flights without an ATOL certificate leaves you without the Civil Aviation Authority protection that covers repatriation if the company collapses. If you book flights and accommodation separately or use a non-protected provider, you may need to check whether your credit card, debit card or travel insurance offers protection instead.
What is the difference between a package holiday and booking flights and hotels separately?
A package holiday is a combination of at least two of transport, accommodation or other tourist services sold together for one price, and it is covered by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Booking flights and hotels separately means each is a separate contract, so if one falls through you must deal with each supplier yourself and the package protections do not apply.
Can I cancel a sun holiday booking and get my money back?
Under the Package Travel Regulations you can cancel before departure and receive a full refund if the company has made a significant change to the package or if there are unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances at the destination. Otherwise the cancellation terms in your booking contract apply, and most companies charge a fee that rises as departure approaches, so read these terms before you pay.
What happens if my holiday company goes bust?
If your booking is ATOL protected, the Civil Aviation Authority requires the scheme to arrange a refund or to bring you home if you are abroad. If the booking was not ATOL protected but was a package covered by the Package Travel Regulations, the company must have bonding or insurance in place, and you can claim from that provider or pursue your card issuer under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if you paid by credit card.
How do I make a complaint about a sun holiday company?
Put your complaint in writing to the company as soon as possible and give it a reasonable period to respond, quoting your booking reference and what you want done to put it right. If the company does not resolve it, escalate to ABTA or the Civil Aviation Authority if they are a member or ATOL holder, or to an alternative dispute resolution scheme such as the Chartered Trading Standards Institute's approved bodies.
What are my rights if my holiday is not as described?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Package Travel Regulations, services must match the description given, be provided with reasonable care and skill, and be fit for purpose. If the holiday does not match what you were promised, you are entitled to a remedy such as repair, a price reduction or compensation, and you should report the problem to your holiday company while still at the resort.
Can I claim compensation for a ruined holiday?
You can claim compensation under the Package Travel Regulations for loss of enjoyment caused by a failure in the package, and the amount depends on the severity and length of the problem. Claims must be made to the holiday company first, and if they are refused you can take the case to a county court or to the small claims track for amounts within its limit.
Who regulates sun and all-inclusive holiday companies in the UK?
The Civil Aviation Authority regulates the ATOL scheme, which protects customers who book flight-inclusive package holidays with UK-licensed companies. The Competition and Markets Authority and Trading Standards enforce consumer law, and ABTA sets a voluntary code of conduct for its members, which includes a dispute resolution service.
What should I look for in reviews of sun and all-inclusive companies?
Look for reviews that describe specific events, such as how a complaint was handled, how refunds were processed and what the resort was actually like compared with the brochure. Check the dates of reviews to see whether recent experiences reflect current practice, and compare how the company responds to negative reviews with the facts described by the reviewer.
Do I need travel insurance on top of ATOL or ABTA protection?
ATOL and ABTA protection cover the company failing, but they do not cover many personal costs such as medical treatment abroad, cancellation for illness or lost luggage. Travel insurance covers those risks, so buying a policy alongside your protected booking gives you cover for both the company failing and things going wrong during the trip.
Latest reviews in Sun & all-inclusive
first time using them
First time booking with them and the search was easy to follow, the hotel in Edinburgh had the lift access I needed. The payment page was…
Sorted our anniversary trip
We wanted a few quiet days away for our anniversary and the team helped us choose a small hotel in the Lake District. Booking was…
Checked a few sites before booking
Checked a few sites before booking a hotel in Nottingham and this one had the best price for the dates I wanted. The price filter is easy…
Booked a river cruise through the site
I wanted a cabin with a balcony for our anniversary cruise on the Rhine, and the site made it easy to find one. The room was exactly as…
Always the same lovely room
The room is the same every time we come, with the big window and the little balcony, and I love that. Staff remember us now after several…
Exactly what we hoped for in the mountains
Compared with the coach tours we had taken before, this was a much more relaxed way to see the Alps. The chalet was warm, the meals were…