The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has stepped in to assist Holidays 4 UK customers after the company went into administration yesterday.

Holidays 4 UK Limited trading as Holidays 4 U and Aegean Flights sold charter flights and package holidays to Turkey under ATOL 4097.

An estimated 13,000 customers are currently on holiday abroad and the CAA’s ATOL protection all of them should be able to complete their holiday – the CAA will arrange patriation for all customers in line with the scheduled end of their holiday.

For more information visit: www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=27&pagetype=90&pageid=12372

A recent travel survey revealed the nation’s reluctance to give up their annual holiday. In fact, our summer holidays are seen as a necessity and a payback for working hard throughout the year. Most people, when asked, would rather give up day-to-day luxuries, and necessities than fore go their annual holiday. However, with the credit crunch beginning to bite, the volatility of oil prices and financial uncertainties, it takes a canny traveller and some good research to bag a bargain holiday.

Here’s a few tips on how to go about finding a great holiday at a budget price:

Keep an open mind about destination
Sterling has taken a battering against the Euro in the past year, so consider visiting countries that haven’t adopted the Euro. Pick a country where the currency exchange rate remains steady, your cash will go much further than if you were spending Euros.

Keep an open mind about when you want to travel
If you can be flexible about travel dates, you may be able to snap up a bargain. If at all possible, avoid travelling during school holidays as demand for flights and accommodation, along with the prices, soar at this time. Think about taking your holiday a couple of weeks earlier or later in the season.

Weigh up all the accommodation possibilities
Sometimes self-catering can be perceived as the cheapest option but, when you weigh up the costs, and the toll on your time, half-board, or full-board may work out cheaper and be more convenient.

Go ‘all inclusive’
If you’re on a tight budget and really want to nail down all your costs, consider an ‘all inclusive’ holiday.  Initially these do look more expensive, but you will be able to budget accordingly and know exactly how much your holiday will cost. When weighing up the prices, take into account the money you won’t have to spend on food and drink by staying ‘all inclusive’.

Book early
If you book early you could bag a bargain, as many airlines release seats in blocks with the first release offering the cheapest flights, then, as the planes fill up, the prices increase. The less flexible you are about destination and dates the sooner you should book. Also be aware that there has been some speculation in the media about possible shortages in the availability of flights next year due to the downturn in the economy and the grounding of planes by some airlines. If there is a shortage, the prices would certainly increase because of an imbalance of supply and demand.

Book late
Yes, this does contradict the previous section, but for couples or solo travellers who can be flexible about destination and departure dates, it could be a way to snap up a bargain holiday package.

Research
Use the internet to trawl for cheap holiday deals, but do your research in to the accommodation and destination before you book. Don’t forget to checkout what others are saying about your resort before you book, especially when choosing a brand new destination.

Haggle
Haggling isn’t possible on the internet, but if you are dealing with a high street travel agent it won’t hurt to try to haggle. It works sometimes and it’s certainly an option in the uncertain economic climate – you’ve got nothing to lose.

Yes, I know this blog is meant to be about UK airports and air travel, but I couldn’t resist this holiday:

Nestlé and MSC Cruises have joined forces to celebrate 100 years of Italian chocolate and are launching a special Chocolate Cruise.

The 8-day cruise, which departs from Genoa on 30 March, will offer a selection of chocolate-themed events and activities including a chocolate tasting workshop, chocolate massage and a chocolate themed dinner. A professional chocolatier from the School of Perugina Chocolate will also be on hand to demonstrate delicious chocolate creations that can be re-created at home.

The cruise can be booked as cruise only, or with flights included at http://www.msccruises.co.uk/ – if you do indulge, you may want to banish the scales for a few months!