With the recent surge in online booking platforms available, there has been a significant increase in holidaymakers looking to organise their own arrangements for upcoming vacations. Users will find an enormous amount of choice and variety online, with endless travel packages, flights, hotel deals, and holiday coupons of which you can take advantage.
That said, if done incorrectly, there are certain risks to booking a holiday online that you might not encounter when working with a traditional travel agent, such as travel scam situations.
That is why our team at AllClear Travel Insurance have put together seven top tips to ensure your online travel booking experience is a positive one.
Why Should You Learn How to Book Holidays Online Using a Travel Website?*
It should come as no surprise that the world is moving online. The added convenience and functionalities just make the traditional avenues second-best. What’s more, booking your holidays online via a travel website or an online travel agent is safer than it has ever been before**. In fact, secure and safe payment methods and official bookings for a hotel or flights have further increased the trend of booking holidays online, as it ensures faster confirmations and lets you keep digital copies of all pertinent records.
All of this, plus the ability to enjoy flexible travel packages, travel scam protection services, easy access to a price comparison website, and attractive special offers, is why everyone should be learning how to book their holidays online!
Our Tips on How to Book a Holiday with an Online Travel Agent*
- Set a Budget for Booking a Holiday Online with Safe Online Payment Methods:
When exploring different options online, things can quickly spiral out of control. All the exciting travel opportunities you encounter can find their way into your check-out cart before you even give yourself a chance to assess the total cost and how this affects your overall travel budget.Having a number in your head before you search for flights, hotels, or other travel packages online will ensure you stay within your payment limits. You will also have greater confidence browsing the various products and comparing the prices on your chosen travel website.Another benefit of setting a budget is the ability to complete safe online payment transactions for flights, hotel accommodations, and more. In turn, this limits opportunities to open yourself up to a travel scam campaign or mistake when booking holidays online. - Research Group Itineraries, Flights & Hotel Packages with an Online Agent or Travel Website:
If you are planning to take part in an organised tour, knowing how to book a holiday online can save you hundreds, if not thousands, in total costs.Using a well-known travel website or online travel agent that has membership in recognised travel associations like ABTA, ATOL, or IATA to compare packages will help you find the best options for your travel needs, including elements like flights, hotel bookings, and transport.Consulting with a reputable online travel agent or website will also help provide further confidence and peace of mind when you explore various packages and payment methods. Even if you do not intend to be part of a group itinerary, you can use these packages, hotel recommendations, and flights as a blueprint for your travels, looking at the locations they visit and the experiences they offer. As you become more confident booking travel packages online, you can build your schedule that works perfectly with your established budget. - Get Advice from a Booking Website or Travel Agent:
Even if you are not planning on booking with an online travel agent, it always helps to get some advice. These professionals will have expert knowledge surrounding booking a holiday online and can likely support you with all your questions. From knowing how to secure the cheapest flights to sourcing hotel packages, the information an agent can provide is invaluable when booking holidays online.Alternatively, you can explore a travel website like TripAdvisor or Booking.com and research their articles, topic threads, and FAQs to find out more about how to book holidays online safely and securely. These public website forums will also allow you to identify current trends and popular activity concerning hotel booking options, flights, tourist companies, travel destinations, and more. - Organise Secure Payment Methods for Safe Online Travel Bookings:Safe, reliable payment methods are crucial for booking a holiday online. In fact, one of the biggest stigmas still associated with booking flights and holidays over the internet is the risk of insecure payment connections.Even if you send money locally, you must ensure that each payment you make for your holiday passes through secure channels with the appropriate cyber protections in place.For example, when you work with an online travel agent, more often than not, you will be required to pay a deposit to complete your booking. Most platforms offer a safe online payment method through a debit card or a credit card, but you may have to contend with possible transfer or currency exchange fees that may arise.
Again, when booking a holiday online, it is essential that you remain vigilant in identifying a potential travel scam when organising a safe online payment. Always confirm with your chosen travel agent or company and ask for written confirmation and any extra information you need to feel confident in purchasing your travel packages.
- Look for Hotel Deals & More When Booking Online Travel:When you are learning how to book a holiday online, regularly checking your favourite hotel and airline websites can be a great way to discover new deals.In doing so, you may come across what is known as ‘dynamic deals.’ These travel packages will have their price determined by the level of demand they experience. This means that prices can rise or drop at a moment’s notice, and if you happen to be checking your online holiday details at the right time, you could take advantage of some considerable savings in one simple, safe online payment.There is also a range of holiday coupons available when booking online. Locations like tourist sites, restaurants and amusement parks offer competitive hotel package deals using vouchers that can save you hundreds when totalled together. Taking the extra time to source and explore these deals and packages when booking a holiday online may feel tedious. Still, it can considerably impact everything from flights to hotel reservations.
Remember, these holiday packages and deals should always include a safe online payment option which will help to prove their legitimacy. A travel website or agent offering flights or hotel deals that asks for payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency should be treated as suspicious and reported as a potential scam.
- Find Competitive Insurance When Booking a Holiday Online:Finding the right travel insurance policy is a great way to ensure you feel protected and confident when booking a holiday online. However, this does not mean you should select the first policy you see. For example, if you are planning to hire a car for part of your travels, then a policy that includes rental vehicles will be of interest.Items like injury cover, potential scam involvement, cancelled flights, and loss of luggage are also popular components of a travel insurance policy. The good news is that there is a wide variety to choose from! At AllClear Travel Insurance, for example, we offer a tiered selection of insurance policies ready to cover individuals of all ages and backgrounds that best meet their travel needs.
- Be Aware of the Signs of a Potential Travel Scam:When booking a holiday online, there is always the possibility that you are interacting with a potential travel scam website. As such, knowing how to book online and identify such a scam is imperative. Some scam indicators to look out for when booking your holiday packages online include:
- A lack of specific details about your travel package or flights on the scam website
- Payment methods that use only wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency for a scam
- A scam agent who puts pressure on quick decisions to secure a vacation package or deal
- Premium flights, hotel properties, and holiday locations for suspiciously low prices on their scam website
To avoid these scam traps, never sign or pay until you are fully aware of the terms and conditions associated with the travel package or deal you are exploring. Be vigilant in your research, using only trusted sources and licenced agents. If you are ever in doubt, confer with a professional travel agent or a government body to avoid being taken in. Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry about potential scams.
Protect Yourself When Booking a Safe Holiday Online with Quality Travel Insurance*
At AllClear Travel Insurance, we know how important it is to understand how to book a holiday online with clear information and reliable sources.
Our team offers everything from comprehensive insurance packages to safe online payment methods to ensure each of our clients feels comfortable working with us to find the perfect travel insurance policy for all their holiday needs.
To get in touch with a member of our insurance team today, submit an online application, or call us at 1800 78 58 70 for a free insurance quote. Alternatively, if you have any specific questions, comments or concerns regarding travel insurance for your upcoming holidays, you can browse our contact page, which offers an accessible breakdown of all our contact details and departments.
We look forward to helping you find the information and policies you need for booking holidays this year.
Important Notice
Any advice provided is general in nature and does not take into account of your particular needs and circumstances. Before purchasing the insurance, decide whether this product is right for you by reading the combined Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide available here. A Target Market Determination for this product is available here. We also recommend consulting with relevant governmental and local authorities, including checking the Smart Traveller website, before making any travel decisions – https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/disclaimer
This insurance is underwritten by the insurer Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited (MSI), ABN 49 000 525 637, AFSL 240816. Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd (EAA) ABN 71140219594, AFSL 552106 holds a binding authority from the insurer, MSI to issue contracts of insurance and to deal with or settle claims on MSI’s behalf and as MSI’s agent.
AllClear Insurance Services Pty Ltd, ACN 165 270 066, trading as AllClear Travel Insurance, is an Authorised Representative (AR number 1311154) appointed by EAA to distribute and administer this insurance product.