Twin-centre trips are often long-haul, such as Dubai with the Maldives or Mauritius, but they can also combine two places in the same country. They need more than one hotel and a way of travelling between the centres, such as an internal flight, train, ferry or transfer. They also often use open jaw flights.

They are usually packages

Sold at one price or in one booking process, a twin-centre holiday that includes at least two types of travel service, such as flights and hotels, is a package. The business that puts it together is the organiser, while an agent selling a tour operator’s twin-centre holiday is a retailer. The organiser:

• is responsible for every part of the trip, including the journey between centres, for example if an internal flight is cancelled

• needs ATOL cover if the trip includes any flight. The CAA says flight-inclusive packages sold to UK consumers are covered whatever the flight’s departure point, so a package whose only flight is an internal one abroad still needs ATOL

Example: four nights in Dubai and seven in the Maldives, with flights from London to Dubai, Dubai to Malé and Malé to London and seaplane transfers, sold as one holiday under the organiser’s ATOL.

Worth knowing

A twin-centre holiday is not the same as a fly-drive, a touring holiday or an escorted tour, although they can overlap.