THIS month's York & District Citizens' Advice Bureau advice column will deal with holiday problems, from booking them to actually being there. Remember: always try to book through reputable agencies - those with ABTA or ATOL. This can help if you have problems later.

Q I booked my holiday in October last year, the final payment has been made and the booking was confirmed in February. I have now been told by my travel agent that my booking has been cancelled. Can this be right?

A Once your holiday booking is confirmed, there is a binding contract between the travel agent and you. If this agreement is broken, you will be entitled to compensation.

Q The price of the holiday I have booked has now been substantially increased. Can the travel agent do this?

A Whether or not you have to pay any increase will depend on whether or not your holiday has been booked and confirmed. If the booking has not been confirmed, no agreement has been reached and the price can be increased.

Q When we arrived at our hotel, the accommodation we had booked was unavailable, and the alternative offered was unsuitable. We tried to sort it out at the time, but were not satisfied. What can we do now?

A You may be able to get compensation if your accommodation is not what you asked for, or if it is not what you were led to believe. What was said will form part of the agreement between you and the accommodation provider. If the accommodation is not as described, you can claim compensation for the broken agreement.

Q I had specified on booking my holiday that I would need ground floor accommodation (due to being in a wheelchair) - this was booked and confirmed. On arrival, the only thing available was on the sixth floor. Can I claim compensation?

A Yes - if "special requirements" are booked and not provided, then you can claim. When booking, you should make sure that all your requirements are told to the travel agent. Written confirmation of your requirements should also be requested.

Q My holiday has been fully paid for and we are due to leave in three weeks. However, due to a serious family illness, we will be unable to go. Will we get any of our money back?

A You would normally lose any deposit and you may have to pay a cancellation charge. Depending on when you cancel, this can almost be the full cost of the holiday. The terms of the agreement will usually specify what charges may be payable. It may be that the cost of the cancellation will be covered by your holiday insurance.

Q I am on medication - will I have any problems taking my tablets on holiday with me?

A As long as the medication is for your own use, was obtained legally and the amount taken on holiday is "reasonable", then there should be no problems. Take a copy of your prescription with you if you can.

- Contact CAB at 3 Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AU, telephone 01904 636066, Fax 01904 620571, email mailto:admin@yorkcab.org.uk Full details of all of CAB services are on its website at www.yorkcab.org.uk

York & District CAB is a registered charity (No 509600) offering free impartial, independent and confidential advice on a whole range of subjects.

Updated: 09:36 Thursday, May 09, 2002