Hellish holidays have regularly hit the headlines this year with thousands of holidaymakers left stranded abroad due to circumstances beyond their control.

With volcanic ash grounding all UK flights and the high-profile collapse of tour operators Goldtrail and more recently Sun4U and Kiss Flights, thousands of families this year have faced days of uncertainty as they wait to hear of how and when they will be able to get safely home.

Caroline Bentley-Showell, Retail and Operations Manager of Co-operative Travel, which operates branches in Bedworth and Royal Leamington Spa, said holidaymakers would be better protected if they booked with travel companies affiliated to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) or Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) rather than direct, Teletext or internet companies.

Caroline said the collapse of Sun4U and Goldtrail, and natural disasters such as the volcanic ash only serve to prove the importance and safety aspect of booking your holiday via an ABTA, ATOL company or travel agent.

She said: "We have been quite fortunate so far in that we didn’t use Sun4U or Goldtrail.

"But like every other travel agent we can’t guarantee that one of our own ABTA / ATOL operators will never go into liquidation. For this reason it is always best holidaymakers book through agencies such as ourselves as they are better protected.

"We can keep our customers updated, personally assist clients in resort, immediately source alternative holidays for those who haven’t yet travelled, and help retrieve money from a failed tour operator. But those who book direct find they really are on their own.

"Very often they will be left with endless phone calls, extensive paperwork and much stress and uncertainty about when they will be able to travel and of course what will happen with their money. By booking through a travel agent they will receive more help at whatever stage of their holiday if such an incident occurs."