The recent unfortunate events have made many people ask the simple question, ‘Is my money safe?'

The main problem has been caused by the fact that airlines are not financially bonded. If you book directly with an airline, then you have no financial protection, although you may be able to make a claim with the credit card issuer. A bond does cover people who have booked their flights through travel agents or tour operators. This may seem absurd, but the travel trade has long been asking the Government to close this loophole.

Gemlaus Travel, trading as holidaysbycoach.co.uk, is a member of the Global Travel Group, based in Chester. Your money does NOT go into our bank account. All monies paid to us go directly into a trust account, administered by the Global Travel Group, to pay for your holiday and absolutely nothing else. We are paid our commission from the trust account when they pay the balance of your holiday to the coach company. It operates in the same way and is bound by the same laws as when the money of your house sale is given to a solicitor. To be blunt, if Gemlaus Travel ceased trading, your money is sitting happily in the trust account to be paid to the coach company for your holiday and you would still receive your travel documents and go on holiday. It makes absolutely no difference how you paid for your holiday.

All the coach companies that we act for as retail agents are fully bonded. If the coach company ceases to trade, you will get a full refund from their bond.

Coach Holidays not involving air travel are usually bonded under the ‘Bonded Coach Holiday Scheme of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK or with ABTA. Coach Holidays involving air travel will be covered under an ATOL bond.

This means your money is 100% secure.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to speak with us.