Do you book your holidays online or through a travel agent?

We have covered the story of Freedom Travel in Douglas closing its doors with holidaymakers having their trips cancelled. Its boss, Jan Wozniak, insists he is doing his best to help customers.

Taking to Strand Street, in Douglas, the Examiner asked shoppers how they tend to organise their getaways and whether the collapse of Thomas Cook has changed their mindset.

For Valerie and David Cowley of Douglas, they still believe travel agents save ’a lot of hassle’.

’Our last holiday was to Lake Garda in Italy. It was direct through Freedom Travel and it was very good,’ Valerie said.

Her husband continued: ’It’s a tragedy to see them go because their service was brilliant.’

Valerie added: ’We were going to go through Thomas Cook next year with our family who we are taking to Turkey. It sounded like a really nice holiday with a beautiful hotel.

’Luckily my son-in-law had heard about Thomas Cook ahead of it collapsing and said we have to hold back and see what the situation is. Now we know the result.

’We’ve left the booking with our son-in-law who will do it online.’

When it comes to booking through travel agents, David said: ’The older generation has always done it that way.’

Ramsey resident James Bishop, 54, has never booked a holiday online.

He said: ’I get it all booked through Keith in Ramsey from MannLink.

’He’s been spot on every time.

’You go in, you know you’re going to pay a little extra but you don’t need to faff around and worry about getting a date wrong.’

Jonny Harding, 33, from Peel, and his family get it all done online.

’As a family it’s easier to find more bespoke options that may not be there through travel agents.

’My wife loves looking at all the options and variables.

’It’s just way more convenient now having everything there; your payment options, no additional costs and you can make a decision the way you need it.

’We went away during the TT to France and booked it all ourselves.

’We stayed at a campsite and you can book it all directly through their online facilities.’

Carole Henry, 77, from Port Erin, said: ’My husband and I sometimes go online to book it ourselves, but we do go to Thompson Travel in Port Erin. They’re very very good there.’

Using a mixture of both online and travel agents, couple Andrew and Kellie Corrin, 39 and 32, from Ballamodha, said it depends on the type of holiday they are going for.

Kellie said: ’If you’re going for a more extravagant holiday it’s more complicated. The travel agents have more knowledge.’

Andrew added: ’It also saves the hassle.’

Kellie said: ’We went on a big holiday last year to Dubai and Australia.

’We booked it through Thompson Travel in Port Erin. It was really good!’

When talking about the public’s trust in relation to the Thomas Cook issue, Andrew said: ’If you’re going to book through an agent you would go for the big companies because they seem more secure.’