Two terms appear again and again in the media: package travel and individual travel. What did the two terms actually mean? What are the differences and what do you have to pay attention to? Aviation.Direct answers exactly these questions on this page and provides valuable tips that you should consider when booking your trip.

First of all, the most important tip: Compare the prices! The internet is not always the place for the best prices. Sometimes you get a bargain at the travel agency around the corner or if you book directly at the hotel (for example by telephone) they have a great deal for you.

Travel completely individually

As the name suggests, individual trips are trips that you put together and book yourself. You book your flight with an airline, if you want yours Rental car with one of the many providers, your hotel directly in the accommodation or via a booking platform and, if necessary, transfers or tickets directly from the service provider or via an agent.

The advantage of individual trips is of course that you can choose and book every detail yourself. You can get hold of the cheapest airline tickets and are absolutely free to put together the building blocks of your trip. You can save a lot of money compared to a package tour, but sometimes you can also pay heavily, because the organizers often have very good contracts with airlines and hotels. It depends on the individual case, so you should definitely compare the prices.

However, individual trips also have a decisive disadvantage: You have no insolvency protection. If the airline or hotel you booked goes bankrupt, your money can be gone. If you book within 24 hours of purchasing the ticket via the airline's links, this can result in a connected travel service, which must then be insured against insolvency in accordance with the package travel guidelines. Pay close attention to the small print as there are hooks and eyes.

Especially in times of Corona there are valuable tips that you should consider when putting together an individual trip:

• Check whether you are allowed to enter the country at all.
• Keep an eye on the current situation in the destination country, but also bear in mind that the government of your home country could declare your holiday destination a risk region and you may have to be quarantined after your return.
• If possible, book a rebookable or, even better, a refundable rate with the airline. Sometimes it is more expensive, but you are on the safe side if you cannot travel at short notice due to COVID measures.
• Only reserve rooms in the hotel that you can cancel shortly before you travel. If possible, choose the payment at the hotel option.
• Reserve services such as rental cars, tickets or transfers just before you start your journey. Don't worry, you will get a rental car. If possible, do not pay a deposit for rental cars, but book tariffs with payment on site. More tips on rental cars at this link.
• Make sure that you have all the documents you need for entry and, if necessary, QR codes with you. Otherwise you run the risk that your vacation will end at the airport and the airline will refuse you transport or you will be refused entry in the destination country.
• If you want to take out travel insurance, please find out exactly what is actually covered and under which circumstances the insurer is completely free of benefits. This can be the case with travel warnings of the highest levels. Have your most important questions answered in writing or by email before you close.

Travel all-inclusive and get everything from a single source

It is a little different with package tours because you buy your trip from a single source and only have one contractual partner. At the same time, you benefit from the fact that your money is protected in the event of the organizer's bankruptcy.

One of the biggest advantages of package tours is that there are extensive legal regulations. These are quite consumer-friendly. Your money is - as mentioned - secured and under certain circumstances you can withdraw and get your deposit back. There is also the possibility that you can subsequently assert various travel deficiencies and request a price reduction. Especially in times of Corona, the package tour is the better choice, because you can invoke your rights at home, have only one contact person and do not have to deal with many individual service providers and local law. More details here.

The main disadvantage, however, is that the trip cannot be put together quite so individually. However, many organizers offer attractive modules and no one prevents you from organizing excursions or tickets yourself. Please note, however, that if you book through your organizer, there is cover, what you book elsewhere is not covered.

With package tours, it makes no difference at all whether you book at the travel agency around the corner, through an internet broker or directly with the tour operator via the web or by telephone. Your rights remain the same. Tip: Compare prices and don't think that everything is always cheaper on the internet. Especially when it comes to package tours, the good old travel agency around the corner often has the cheapest offer for you and that has another advantage for you: you have a personal contact who you can turn to if you have any problems.

Pay attention to the following points when booking package tours, especially in times of Corona:

• Check if you are allowed to enter the country and keep an eye on the situation. Also make sure that your home country declares the holiday region a risk area and that you may have to be in quarantine when you return.
• Don't cancel too early! Only shortly before departure (about a week in advance) can you object to the free withdrawal with full refund can claim. Before that, it can happen to you that you have to pay hefty cancellation fees.
• Make the final payment shortly before your departure. In order to avoid any reminder fees, explain your reasons for this to the organizer. Preferably in writing by registered mail.
• Always compare prices. The travel agency around the corner could be cheaper than online providers.
• Do not buy any travel insurance that is offered to you immediately! Compare the prices and services and please find out exactly what is actually covered and under which circumstances the insurer is completely free of services. This can be the case with travel warnings of the highest levels. Get answers to your most important questions in writing or by email before closing.
• Make sure you get your security certificate from the organizer, agent or travel agency. On this you will find important data on how you can get your money in the event of bankruptcy.
• Be sure to read the cancellation clauses and the costs due in the event of cancellation. Some organizers have very customer-friendly conditions, others more like gag contracts.