The travel company was founded back in 2011 and operated three separate websites offering chalets, skiing breaks, and spa holidays. ATOL has now offered advice for any consumers who had breaks booked
The firm has gone bust after trading for 15 years(Image: Giuseppe CACACE / AFP via Getty Images)
A UK travel firm that offered a range of ski and spa holidays has ceased trading, with customers who have booked a package holiday being urged to take action.
Travel Bespoke Ltd was launched in 2011, and traded under three names: Chalet Bespoke, Ski Bespoke, and Spa Bespoke. The firm’s websites are now unavailable. The company was based in an office in Midhurst, West Sussex.
Ski Bespoke’s X page, which is currently still active, described the firm’s operations as offering bespoke ski trips to resorts in Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and USA.
Financial protection scheme ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing), confirmed in a statement that the company had ceased trading as an ATOL holder as of May 29. It said: “We have contacted the affected ATOL protected consumers directly. If you have not been contacted and believe you are entitled to a claim against an ATOL protected booking, please supply your booking details with supporting documentation by email to claims@caa.co.uk.”
The time limit for making a claim to ATOL is May 28, 2027. Its statement went on to explain: “Bookings sold as accommodation only, non-flight Packages & Cruise Only bookings which do not include a flight element are not covered by the ATOL scheme. Please contact your travel insurance or card issuer for further assistance.”
ATOL also has a claims information page where customers can check whether the holiday they’ve booked would come under ATOL protection, or whether they’ll need to look for alternative ways to claim their money back.
Travel Bespoke is not the only travel firm to go bust in recent weeks. Long-running firm Groupia Ltd recently went into administration after 24 years in operation. The company who operated brands including Groupia Golf, GoHen, StagWeb, Groupia School Trips, and Company Away Day, served over 750,000 holidaymakers before going bust.
By law, any UK travel company that sells holidays or flights is required to have an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) number, so always check your holiday is booked with a reputable firm.
This means that if the holiday firm you’ve booked with goes bust before you travel, you can apply to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a full refund. If you’re already on holiday, the CAA has a responsibility to get you home.
However, you should also make sure you have travel insurance that covers a travel firm going into administration, as this can also cover additional expenses from having your holiday cancelled or being stuck abroad. Credit card protection can also be helpful in this situation. If you’ve paid for your holiday or flights on a credit card directly with the holiday company or airline, and spent over £100, you may be able to claim the money back through your credit card company.
Mastercard and Visa debit cards also have a chargeback scheme which is available for most UK high street banks. You can request your card provider reverses the transaction, giving you your money back.
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