Travel question: Is it safe to book a year ahead with Thomas Cook?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

Sunny Cyprus is one couple’s wedding destination (Shutterstock)

Q My wife and I are off to Cyprus in May 2020, because our son is getting married there. We would normally book online via Thomas Cook, paying monthly as Thomas Cook offers a 0 per cent deal. But we are worried about booking due to the uncertainty with them. Do you think we should be looking at changing to Tui, or should we carry on as normal? We don’t want to end up with no money and miss the wedding.

Nick K

A First, let’s talk about timing. I assume the wedding is not taking place during the main half-term next year – the last week of the month, beginning 23 May. If that is the case, then you are in the happy position of being in a buyers’ market, with plenty of choice and availability at good prices. I can also see no point committing very far ahead.

While I would be happy to book as late as a couple of days before departure, I can appreciate that in the circumstances you would probably want to have some certainty a little earlier. Even so, I suggest you forget about “0 per cent deals” – while they are tempting, I recommend that you put away some money every month (your personal 0 per cent deal) and start looking in the new year – when package-holiday firms tend to cut prices to stimulate demand.

I am confident that Thomas Cook will still be operating normally, and would also look at other excellent tour operators including Tui and Jet2. But if I am wrong and Thomas Cook were to fail, then there is no prospect of anyone with a package holiday losing their money – either the credit card firm or the Atol scheme will make sure you get your cash back.

Every day our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder