The risks of DIY holidays

When you DIY a holiday online, you’re juggling flights, hotels, transfers, insurance, attraction tickets and reviews from strangers – often after a long day at work. One small mistake with dates, connections or baggage rules can turn into hours on hold with a call centre or a costly last-minute fix. As your personal travel counsellor, I treat your trip as if it were my own, checking the fine print, connections and small details so you don’t have to. You get one real person – me, instead of multiple websites, logins and chatbots that never quite answer the question. 

People assume DIY is always cheaper, but that’s not necessarily true once you factor in value, time and protection. I have access to a global network of suppliers, negotiated airfares and package rates that aren’t always visible on consumer sites, alongside expert knowledge of when to book, which room types actually work for families or groups, and where the hidden costs are.

Just as importantly, your holiday is financially protected under ATOL and our independent Travel Counsellors Financial Trust, which holds your money securely until you travel. If something goes wrong – from airline failures to sudden changes in plans – I’m the one untangling it while you carry on with your life, rather than you losing non-refundable elements booked separately on multiple sites. When flights change or plans go sideways, a chatbot can’t fight your corner, but I can. My clients message me directly, knowing I’m there to help before, during and after travel, backed by a 24/7 support team in the UK.

Throughout, you have my direct contact details and secure access to your itinerary via the MyTC app, keeping all your documents, payments and updates in one place.