Portland Direct Holidays
Portland Direct Holidays - FAQ's
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Portland Direct Holidays.
Q. Who is behind Portland Direct Holidays?
A. It's more important than ever to make sure that your holiday booking is safe. With so many holiday companies now springing up in the holiday sector, people are naturally cautious about spending their hard earned money with anyone who is an unknown quantity. So with this in mind, you will be pleased to know that Portland Direct Holidays are owned by TUI Travel UK & Ireland. They are the people behind the market leader Thomson Holidays and First Choice Holidays. So you can see, Portland Direct Holidays is in good hands and your holiday will be safe with them.
Q. What other consumer protection do Portland Direct Holidays provide?
A. All package holidays from Portland Direct are fully backed by the UK Governments Compensation Scheme ATOL. Portland Direct Holidays are part of TUI Travel and their ATOL licence number is 2524. Check its validity here with the Civil Aviation Authority.
Q. What is ATOL in laymen's terms?
A. The ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licensing) protection scheme is operated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and is funded by a small compulsory levy on all package holidays sold in the UK. ATOL protection will guarantee to refund your money or repatriate you back to the UK in the event of your chosen tour operator getting into financial difficulties. Only book holidays that are ATOL protected!
Q. What makes Portland Direct Holidays different?
A. The difference lies within the name! Direct. Portland Direct Holidays only sell direct to the public, either over the phone or via their website. You won't see any Portland Direct brochures in any travel agent. Because the travel agent is cut from the loop, the savings Portland Holidays make are passed over to the consumer, making their holidays significantly cheaper than traditional tour operators who sell via travel agents.
Q. Do I get a cut down holiday with Portland Direct Holidays?
A. Certainly not! You will get the same excellent service that is provided to Thomson and First Choice customers. In your resort, you have the full resources that are available from the Thomson Travel Advisors (reps to me and you) including an invite within the first 24 hours to a welcome meeting with the opportunity to purchase fully insured excursions and receive general holiday help.
Q. Are Portland Direct Holidays Cheaper Online?
A. Yes. It is always cheaper to book with Portland Direct Holidays online, taking advantage of the generous online discounts that are available. Phoning in is more expensive, because someone has to pay for the call centre staff to take your call. For a typical internet user, it's actually faster to book online than it is to make your booking over the phone. Calls to the 0870 Portland Direct call centre are charged at 10p per minute plus network charges. Pretty expensive, so book online and start saving.
Q. Can I secure my holiday with a deposit?
A. Yes, for most holidays that you intend to make that are over 8 weeks away from the date of booking, a small deposit is all that is required to secure your holiday, with the final balance due 8 weeks before departure.
Q. Is it possible to book extra legroom and inflight meals with Portland Direct?
A. Yes, during the booking process, you will have the chance to book inflight meals. If any extra legroom seats are still available, they will be offered to you at an additional cost. If you always prefer to book extra legroom seats, then it really is advisable to book your holiday as soon as possible, because the extra legroom seats are very limited in number and sell out fast.