COVID-19 ruined travel plans in 2020, so how can you book with confidence this year?

Australians are in the fortunate position of being able to contemplate domestic travel but, even in a country with very little COVID-19 transmission, bookings are not a sure thing.

We have seen how quickly a hotel quarantine leak can lead to a snap lockdown, hotspot declaration, border closures, cancelled flights and, when it comes to the hopeful traveller, the eventual request for a refund.

In 2020, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) received 126,412 complaints about travel companies and airlines as Australians were forced to abandon itineraries they had already paid for.

Among the most common gripes were problems getting refunds or credit when travel was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Unfortunately, not everyone…