ctkathy

Is there any danger in using a UK travel agency to book a UK tour? I am in the US but did live in the UK for several years and am aquainted with a particular agency in London. I would like for them to book a land tour, but wonder if there is any danger or iiability issues I need to be concerned about.

nytraveler

As long as you can pay via credit card you should be protected - so don;t see any reason not to if you know the people.

wanttogo

What a coincidence! I really really want to take a specific
tour through a British archeology tour company to Sicily.
Sicily is one of those areas where public transportation is
awkward and renting a car is not appealing to us. The tour company has a ten day tour that is perfect for us-the problem
is that the company requires travellers to have 3 elements in
a travel insurance policy one of which is "public liability" to protect the travel company in case I caused damage at a
museum or at a hotel. The tour company even forwarded the names of two insurance companies that its US travellers have
used in the past. I have talked to both of these insurance companies and USAA and none of them include "public liability"
in their policies and will not sell a special rider to do so. So, we are out of luck unless we white lie which is probably not a good idea when it comes to insurance.

Moral of the story-check all requirements before you sign up
for travel services with a British company.

Pat
.

Moral of the story

Christina

I'd check to make sure that there is credit card coverage for disputes/problems or refunds due to nondelivery of services in foreign countries, if you are concerned about that. However, if you know one and like them, you probably aren't worried about that issue.

tahl

Wanttogo -- The 'public liability insurance' idea is a new one on me. Have you considered researching *US* tour agencies that lead archaeology tours, and reading deeply on their websites to see what travel insurance they require and what travel insurance companies they recommend? Possibly they have the same kinds of concerns as the UK tour agency you want to use, and so have found solutions for their travellers that might work for you, too. Good luck!

caroline_edinburgh

Two different beasts being discussed here, it seems. The OP is talking about a travel agency, whereas Pat is talking about a tour company - yes? Those are the terms used.

ctkathy, is there any reason you need to book this tour through a travel agency - can't you book direct with the tour operator? Cuts out the middle man and may save money - the travel agents have to make their commission somehow! I'd lived in the UK all my life until 6 months ago, and I don't think I've used a travel agency since the 80s.

Shanna

Hello. I'm taking a London based tour next month and they require travel insurance - essentially getting you medical care and evacuation if needed. Nothing about my sacking the hotel. In fact, in spite of my fairly extensive reading about travel insurance for my mom and myself, I've never heard of such a thing. What that sounds like is liability insurance, not travel insurance. You can buy personal liability insurance but most people don't need it. So you may want to inquire of the travel gency or tour company more closely. Would the company have a clientele that damages things? Although who that might be I can't imagine. I would be wary of a company that doesn't have its own liability insurance for that sort of thing.

nytraveler

If this is a tour of archeological sites the tour company may not want to be responsible for damage to the sites (probably for massive sums) due to actions of their tour members. (After having been on only 2 tours - and seeing how totally clueless some tourists are - I wouldn't blame them.

On one tour:

1) one tourist dropped his wallet and passport overboard from a canal boat in Amsterdam - then didn't understand why the whole tour group wouldn't stay there an extra day while he had it replaced

2) another tourist put his shoe up on what appeared to be an antique table in a hotel lobby in order to more easily tie the laces (and when told to remove it said huh?)

3) another couple pushed through the guide ropes in a castle we were touring - waling on the carpet instead of the rubber mats and tried to touch a very expensive piece of ceramics on a mantel - until the docent saw them and practically shrieked them back in line

I'm not suggesting that the OP wold do any of these things. But in a place with irreplaceable antiquities I can understand they might want insurance.

jean253

The Insurance required is travel insurance. it is a Government requirement. We had purchased our insurance in the US.it is a lot cheaper.and not as many health restrictions as UK companies.. All the agency needed was the policy number etc. and the made the reservations,

travelhorizons

The most important factor in using any tour company is to be sure that they are financially secure. When you purchase a tour, you are entrusting your dollars with that tour company. They will use those funds to pay for your hotel rooms, meals, tour guides, transfers, etc.

If you entrust your funds with a company that is not financially sound, and it goes under - you'll be stuck. Yes, travel insurance will refund the money you lost ... after you get back.

So - just make sure as best you can that the tour company is sound.

pizzocchieri

I fail to see how bypassing the travel agent and booking directly with the tour operator solves the problem -- if there is a problem. It is the tour operator who needs the proof of the insurance, whatever insurance that may be.

ckathy,

I'm not sure what you are concerned about. If you know the agency to be reputable, then they will be upfront with you about the conditions of the land tour contract. If you are unhappy with the tour (i.e., not at all was advertised), it is always more difficult to pursue a refund from abroad (I don't know if a credit card company gets involved in disputes about failures to meet expectations on a travel tour).

nytraveler

A credit card company will not deal with a tour that fails to meet the passenger's expectations. It will help one in which the tour was not as promised in the brochure (that is, 2* hotel versus 5*, not providing included meals or sights, sub par transit etc.)

That's why it's so important to see what is actually promised int he the brochure versus what you think is promised.

caroline_edinburgh

I wasn't suggesting bypassing a travel agency would solve Pat's insurance question, it was a side-question, in response to the OP's original query and directed specifically to her, to prompt her - evidently an intelligent prson who has not only travelled but also lived abroad - to think about whether she needs to give these (IMO) pointless middlemen her money.