Christmas for grown-ups

Plenty of Christmases are planned around children. Some adults go away instead, or book a night out with friends, or spend the day on their own. A booked break or night out comes with some rights, and a few checks help before you pay.

Check who you are booking with

Hotels, coach-tour operators and venues that trade as limited companies are on the Companies House register. You can search it by a company's name or number. Each company files its own details, and Companies House publishes them without checking them.

For a trip that includes a flight, the Civil Aviation Authority keeps a search of the businesses that hold an ATOL. Its ATOL website also lists websites that have falsely claimed to hold one.

ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers' Licensing. It is financial protection when you book a package trip that includes a flight. The Civil Aviation Authority runs the scheme. When you buy an ATOL-protected trip, you should be given an ATOL Certificate.

When a break is a package holiday

If you booked at least two different parts of your holiday with the same company at the same time, it is probably a package holiday, says Citizens Advice. The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 set out the rights that come with one.

If the booking is changed or cancelled

A holiday company sometimes makes a significant change to a package after you have booked. You do not have to accept it. You have the right to cancel without charge and get your money back.

A company can only put the price up if its terms and conditions allow it, and only because of fuel costs, taxes or fees charged by others, or exchange rates. It must tell you about the rise at least 20 days before the package starts and explain why. If the increase is more than 8%, you can cancel without paying a fee.

The company should pay any money you are owed within 14 days of cancellation. If you change your mind yourself, you can cancel, though you will probably pay a fee. Citizens Advice's page applies to England, with separate advice for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Drinking and the law

Drinkaware, the alcohol charity, explains the law on buying alcohol, including which forms of ID are accepted.

Drink spiking is a serious crime. Drinkaware has a short guide on what to do if you think you have been spiked.

Useful links