Travel: Tour Operators

The Acid Test

Our suggested question: "Does the operator provide total peace of mind and freedom to enjoy the open road?"

Accompanied or Unaccompanied?
Whether you want to ride in a group with or without a leader or on your own – the choice is yours. But you need to be quite clear what you expect and what the operator is offering.

What level of support does the operator offer in emergency?
God forbid, falling ill, suffering a breakdown or having an accident is the last thing you want to think about whilst on holiday. However occasionally these things do happen and it is good to know that help is at hand. One or two brochures that we have read could be prefaced "hard cheddar – get out of it yourself". Others, whilst they may not offer insurance and breakdown cover directly, do offer a rather more benevolent attitude.

Other support:

	Will you be required to transport your own luggage?
	Are there any other arrangements in place for first aid and emergency repairs?

Your financial peace of mind:
As history shows, economic vagaries over the years have shown that even the multi nationals do occasionally go under. All the more important, for your bank balance, to know that your money is secure before your holiday is delivered. Security through ABTA is not feasible for most small to medium sized operators. But alternatives need to be adequate. Many offer (and we suggest that this should be the very minimum expectation) the basic provision under EEC regulations of monies being held in a trust fund until you return from holiday. Whilst many offer this, do ensure (by asking the right questions) that in the event of the operator going bust, the monies are available to you and not to the liquidator or trustee in bankruptcy. A handful of operators do go a stage further and become members of the Travel Trust Association. One or two are even licensed by government through ATOL thereby enabling them to organise flight inclusive packages or arrange tailor made flight itineraries and tours. Our friends at HC Travel are members of both the Travel Trust Association and ATOL licensed.

Finally:
Whatever is on offer, however hard you work in order to read the small print, at the end of the day the proof of the pudding is in the eating. As with any business, an operator's best form of advertising is recommendation. Never be afraid of asking to see references.