'My deposit is gone' - Major warning to Irish people over 'issues' booking holidays

Irish people have been hit with a new warning over booking holidays after thousands of people encountered issues and even lost deposits.

New research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) shows that 16% of Irish holidaymakers experienced issues with foreign holidays between May and August of last year. The research also showed that holidaymakers spend almost €2,500 on flights and accommodation so it pays to check what their rights would be in the event they run into a problem with their holiday.

As January is a popular time to plan a holiday after the festive season, the CCPC is warning consumers to expect the unexpected not just while away, but also in the period before their holiday. In the event of a strike or an extreme weather event if a traveler tries to buy insurance after this comes to light, they may find they are not covered.

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In 2025, the CCPC helpline received almost 2,700 contacts about travel related issues. For context, the CCPC receives around 45,000 contacts per year. Here are some of the issues faced by consumers:

“When I picked this hotel there was a photo with a beautiful beach which was the only reason I booked it - it was a 4-hour round trip from the beach to the hotel!”

“My son and his friends decided to rent a villa in Ibiza through what looked to be a legitimate website. He ended up paying over €4,000 to secure the booking. It turned out to be a scam”

“The airline lost my suitcase for my skiing trip in Switzerland. I paid for two lessons, but I couldn’t go because I didn’t have my ski gear.”

“I booked a package holiday to Spain and had been paying it off in installments. I missed a payment and now my holiday is cancelled, and my deposit is gone.”

“I booked a flight to Wales to attend an event. My flight has been rescheduled to a later time meaning that I will miss it.
Package holidays

"23% of holidaymakers booked a package holiday last summer. Package holidaymakers can rely on their agent to make alternative plans for them if something goes wrong, but if you’ve organised your own trip, a missed flight or cancelled accommodation could be costly," a CCPC statement said.

Overall, 30% of holidaymakers travelled uninsured, rising to 48% among those under 35. 18–24-year-olds were the most likely to holiday (58%) but the least likely to have travel insurance.

Orla Delargy, Deputy Director of Communications said:

“CCPC research shows that Irish holiday makers are spending €2,500 on average for their foreign summer holiday. That’s a considerable amount of money, so travellers should think about potential pitfalls that could ruin their plans. Three in five of those who travelled abroad either have insurance or buy it with the holiday. If you’re travelling uninsured you need to expect the unexpected, and bear in mind that late insurance purchase may not cover you for some events."

Tips for before you book

Outside of travel insurance, there are other ways that holidaymakers can protect themselves when planning a trip including:

Be wary of unexpected offers, especially from unsolicited emails or social media ads.

Do your research, check Trustpilot or Reddit for reviews, and don’t rush.

Review the cancellation and refund policies before you book.

Pay securely. Don’t make payments through bank transfer– use your credit or debit card instead.

Check out the CCPC website for more travel tips and information on your rights as holidaymakers: What to do if things go wrong