Now that spring has officially arrived in the northern hemisphere Europeans all over the continent will be considering their 2012 holiday plans. Many will holiday domestically, with some simply staying at home for the period and others going to the coast or a secluded family property. Yet large numbers will choose international holidays to destinations in Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and North America. Those who do decide to travel abroad tend to do better by choosing a package holiday from a reputable tour company.

Purchasing a luxury package holiday brings with it a lot of advantages consumers don't get when they try to put together something piecemeal on their own. Those benefits include lower cost, consumer protections, reliability, and less stress. We will discuss each of these benefits in detail as this article unfolds. Suffice it to say that once you book your first package holiday you're likely to do so again in the future. For many it's simply the easiest and best way to book a holiday.

Definition of a Package Holiday

A package holiday can mean lots of things to lots of different people, but it is a very specific term in the UK thanks to the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours and Regulations of 1992. These regulations were established to set standards for the tour industry in the UK and provide consumer protections. For the purposes of definition within those regulations it was decided that a package holiday must include of at least two of the following three components:

. accommodations

. transportation

. dedicated tourist services

In reality, most holiday packages originating from UK tour operators include all three elements plus at least a minimum dining plan. It is important for consumers to know whether or not the package they are choosing qualifies under the regulations because if not, they won't be afforded the protections the regulations offer. If there's any question, be sure to ask your tour operator for verification.

Cost Advantages

With the definition of package holidays out of the way, let's move on to benefits. Perhaps the most important benefit comes by way of the significant cost savings you can enjoy by booking a package holiday for tour operator. As a matter fact, with the economy still struggling to regain its former strength this may be the most influential factor driving consumers to use the package option. By going down this route your tour operator can take advantage of arrangements worked out between airlines and resorts to get you a better deal.

For example, you might be looking at a resort property in the Caribbean that normally charges up to £200 per night when booked directly through them. When you check with your airline you discover that you'll pay about £329 for a single, round-trip ticket to your Caribbean destination. Before you even add your meals and other expenses you're already at more than £2000 for a seven-day holiday for two people. That same holiday could be had as a package deal from a tour operator, including meals and beverages, for closer to £1800.

Of course, a lot of this depends on the time of your travel and the destination you choose. But it can't be argued that you're more lucky to find a cheaper price through a package holiday than you would trying to put one together through individual pieces on your own.

Consumer Protections

If a package holiday you're looking at is covered under the 1992 regulations you are provided with a whole host of consumer protections. All of these protections are too numerous to list here, but you can visit Parliament's legislation website and read the regulations in full. We can tell you, in summary, the regulations protect you against quite a few different things including airline bankruptcy, resort closure, flight and schedule changes, and more. When you book a qualifying package holiday you are afforded the greatest consumer protections available.

Other Europeans living outside the UK might be afforded different levels of protection according to their own country's regulations. That's something you'll want to check out with your individual tour operator. But even in countries where regulations are not as strict as they are in the UK, travel insurance is available to offer you many of the same protections. It's difficult to get those consumer protections when you are assembling your holiday on an a la carte basis.

Reliability of Package Holidays

One of the things many tourists comment on after returning home from a package holiday is the reliability of service they received. For example, when you book your own holiday piecemeal you discover you have to fend for yourself at the airport upon your arrival. You'll have to work out your own transport to the resort whether it's by taxi, bus, or private livery. When you book a holiday package you'll be met at the airport and transported by an individual or company with an already established relationship with your resort. Many times resorts even send their own vehicles driven by their own employees.

That reliability goes a step further when you're talking about activities for your vacation. If you plan to take an organised sightseeing tour you'll note the difference right up front. Through your resort you'll be able to book tours you want, on the days you want, and at times they're convenient for you. You'll go with other resort guests, receiving door-to-door service as a result. And while you can still accomplish the same thing even if you book your own resort, you find that with a package holiday all of this can be taken care of in advance. That way you don't have to worry about it when you're on the ground at your destination.

Less Stress for You

Finally, the stress factor is another big reason why people choose package holidays. If the point of going on holiday is to relax and unwind, why would you put yourself through the stress of planning your own holiday and making sure everything goes off as planned It is certainly stress you do not need.

When you book a holiday package through a reputable tour company they handle the headaches. All you need to worry about is getting to the airport on time. Your tour company arranges your accommodations, secures your airline tickets, arranges for your dining, and can assist you in planning your chosen activities for the duration of your holiday. And if something changes with any of those details, you don't have the headaches of trying to adjust everything else to match up. It all gets taken care of for you.

There may be other benefits of using package holidays we haven't listed here. If so, all the more reason for you to choose this method for your next holiday. If you've never travelled before using a luxury package holiday , you really should do so this year. You don't know what you're missing otherwise.