Travel

Directory of holiday and travel auction sites, including charity auctions, in the UK, US and Worldwide.

Tips on bidding for travel and holidays on an auction site there are some great bargains to be had when buying a holiday, flight or villa rental by auction, but there are some things to watch out for too some of this advice sounds obvious but it's easy to get carried away with the lure of a bargain.

Always read the small print! Before you start bidding read the auction site T Cs as well as any conditions dictated by the sellers themselves. If these are not displayed ask to see them before you bid.

Where the auction site provides it, check the sellers feedback ratings No feedback ratings? Then ask yourself how reputable the site is.

Know how the site works before you start to avoid getting hit with unexpected fees. On some you'll just need to be registered to bid, others charge a fee sometimes for each bid. If you're new to bidding it's worth just watching a couple of auctions all the way through to get the hang of things before you start yourself.

Always pay by credit card, if there are problems after your purchase then a credit card offers some degree of protection.

Watch out for travel vouchers masquerading as actual holidays, read the wording of the listing carefully!

Look out for timeshare sellers auctioning off holidays that come with a condition that you attend a (long and very hard-sell) presentation during your stay.

When it comes to travel, there's no reason not to bid on auctions in other countries, in fact it can be a good way to get local bargains, just remember to check each site's T Cs to make sure they accept overseas bids and are happy with your payment methods. Also check the holidays you bid on for travel arrangements that don't fit with the fact you'll be coming from another country.