You've spotted a cracking deal on On the Beach, hovered over the 'Book Now' button, and then thought... hang on, what happens next?
Booking your first beach holiday online can feel like ordering furniture from IKEA — you know it'll probably be fine, but you'd quite like someone to walk you through the instructions first.
On the Beach is one of the UK's largest online travel agents, with a 4.2 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot and 69% five-star reviews. This guide covers everything from what you'll need before you click 'book' to checking in for your flight — plus the smart moves that'll save you money and the rookie mistakes that won't.
In this guide:
Is On the Beach Legitimate? Your Protection Explained
First things first: is it safe to hand over your holiday money to a website? Yes. All flight-inclusive package holidays on On the Beach are covered by the ATOL protection scheme, which is the government-backed safety net for package holidays.
Your Money's Protected: What ATOL Means
- If the company goes bust before you travel, you get your money back
- If you're already abroad when things go wrong, you'll be brought home at no extra cost
- You're covered for the full package price, not just the flight portion
- This only applies to flight-inclusive packages — accommodation-only bookings aren't ATOL protected
Still feeling nervous? We've covered On the Beach's legitimacy in detail, including how they compare to other online travel agents and what real customers say about them.
What Makes On the Beach Different
On the Beach isn't a traditional travel agent — they're a holiday packager. Think of them as the middleman who's already done the legwork of pairing flights with hotels, negotiating deals you wouldn't get booking separately. It's like buying a meal deal instead of grabbing a sandwich, crisps, and drink individually. Same components, better price.
What that means for you:
- Pre-negotiated packages at rates that beat booking each bit separately
- Flexible payment options with deposits from £19pp and fee-free monthly plans
- ATOL protection on all flight-inclusive packages
- One-stop management with everything in one place
The trade-off? Customer service works differently than high-street agents. You won't find a phone number to ring — it's primarily Live Chat through your account. Which? gave them a 71-72% customer score but only two stars for customer service. It's not worse, just different from what you might be used to.
Before You Click 'Book': What You'll Need
Right, you've found your dream holiday. Before you start the booking process, gather these bits — it'll make everything run smoother:
- Payment card with sufficient funds: They'll check your card has enough for at least the deposit (from £19pp). If it bounces, your booking won't go through
- Full names exactly as they appear on passports: Not nicknames, not shortened versions — exactly as printed. We're talking "Elizabeth" not "Liz"
- Dates of birth for all travellers: You'll need this for everyone going, including kids
- Contact email and mobile number: This is where all your booking confirmations and updates will land
- Passport numbers and expiry dates: You might not need these immediately for booking, but you'll definitely need them for check-in later
Screenshot This: The Passport Name Rule — Your booking name must match your passport exactly, character for character. "John Smith" on your passport but you book as "J Smith"? That's a £100+ amendment fee per person, or worse, being turned away at the airport. Double-check before you confirm.
The Booking Process, Step by Step
The booking journey from search to confirmation:
Enter your departure airport, destination, dates, and number of travellers. You'll see a list of package deals with flights and hotels bundled together. Filter by price, star rating, board basis (room only, half board, all-inclusive), and customer reviews.
Once you've picked a hotel, you can tweak your flights (different times, airlines, or airports), choose your room type, and add extras like airport transfers, car hire, or baggage allowance. This is also where you'll see the option to add travel insurance. If you're trying to decide between family-friendly, all-inclusive, luxury, or adults-only, now's the time to compare what each type includes.
Fill in full names (exactly as on passports), dates of birth, and contact information for everyone travelling. This is where that prep work from earlier pays off — you're just copying from your list.
On the Beach offers three ways to pay, and this flexibility is one of their best features:
| Payment Method | Deposit Amount | When You Pay the Rest | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low deposit | From £19pp | 10 weeks before departure | None |
| Spread the cost | From £19pp | Monthly instalments | Fee-free |
| Pay in full | Full amount | At booking | None |
That "spread the cost" option is useful if you're booking months in advance. You can spread the cost with fee-free monthly plans, which beats sticking it all on a credit card and paying interest. Payment plan eligibility may vary depending on your booking value and departure date.
Review everything one last time (seriously, check those names), tick the terms and conditions, and confirm your booking. You'll get an immediate confirmation email with your booking reference.
Should You Add Travel Insurance?
The practical reality: travel insurance covers things ATOL protection doesn't — like medical emergencies abroad, lost luggage, or needing to cancel because you're ill.
On the Beach offers insurance during booking, which is convenient because it's one less thing to sort out separately. You can also get quotes elsewhere if you prefer, but booking it at the same time means it's all in one place. Just don't skip it entirely — that's a false economy that could cost you thousands if something goes wrong.
What Happens After You Book
You've clicked confirm, your card's been charged, and now you're staring at your inbox wondering what comes next. The timeline:
Immediately: You'll get a confirmation email with your booking reference and a summary of what you've booked. Save this — you'll need that reference number for everything.
Within 24 hours: Your booking appears in your My Bookings account. This is your holiday command centre from now until you get home.
Closer to departure: You'll receive your flight tickets, hotel vouchers, and any other documents you need. The exact timing varies by airline and hotel, but it's usually a few weeks before you travel.
Your My Bookings Account
This is where everything lives. You can access it through the On the Beach website or their app. What you can do there:
- View all your booking details: Flight times, hotel address, confirmation numbers — it's all in one place
- Download documents: Boarding passes, hotel vouchers, booking confirmations
- Make payments: If you're on a payment plan or need to pay your balance
- Request changes: Though be warned, this usually costs
- Access customer support: Live Chat is available through this portal
- Check in for flights: When your airline's check-in opens, you'll find the link here
The app is particularly handy because you can access everything offline once you've downloaded your documents — useful when you're at the airport and the WiFi's rubbish.
Making Changes or Asking Questions
On the Beach's primary contact method is Live Chat through your My Bookings account. There's no phone number to ring, and email responses can take a while.
Live Chat works well for straightforward questions, but it's not 24/7, so don't expect instant responses at 3am. For complex issues, you might need to be patient — this is where those Which? customer service ratings come from.
⚠️ Heads Up:
Common Changes and What They'll Cost: Name changes, date changes, and flight amendments all come with fees — often £50+ per person, plus any difference in holiday cost. Cancellations are subject to the terms and conditions you agreed to at booking. The closer to departure, the more you'll pay. This isn't On the Beach being difficult; it's standard across the industry because they're passing on charges from airlines and hotels.
The Check-In Process
Your holiday's booked, paid for, and you're counting down the days. About a month before departure, it's time to think about check-in. This is where a surprising number of first-timers get caught out.
When online check-in opens: This varies by airline — some open 30 days before departure, others just 24 hours. You'll find specific instructions in your My Bookings account as your departure date approaches.
What you'll need: Passport details for everyone travelling. Not just the numbers — you'll need full names (exactly as on passport), passport numbers, expiry dates, and sometimes nationality and place of issue.
Where to check in: Your My Bookings account will have direct links to each airline's check-in portal. Don't go hunting on airline websites — use the links provided, as they'll have your booking reference pre-filled.
The process:
- Log Into My Bookings: Access your account through the website or On the Beach app. Your upcoming holiday will be displayed on the dashboard.
- Find Check-In Instructions: Look for the "Check-in" section or link. This appears when your airline's check-in window opens.
- Complete Airline Check-In: Click through to the airline's portal and enter passport details for all passengers. You'll also choose seats here if they're not already allocated (some airlines charge for this).
- Download Boarding Passes: Once check-in's complete, download your boarding passes. Save them to your phone and email them to yourself as backup. Print them too if you're the belt-and-braces type (some budget airlines still prefer paper).
Documents to Have Ready at the Airport
On departure day, you'll need:
- Boarding passes: Digital or printed, for all passengers and both outbound and return flights
- Passports: Valid for at least six months beyond your return date for most destinations (check passport validity requirements for your destination on Gov.uk)
- Booking confirmation: Your On the Beach confirmation email or the details from My Bookings
- Hotel voucher: Usually available to download from My Bookings closer to departure
- Travel insurance documents: Proof of cover, policy number, and emergency contact numbers
- Any health/visa requirements: These change regularly, so check current requirements for your destination
Pro move: Screenshot everything and save it in a folder on your phone. Airport WiFi is notoriously unreliable, and you don't want to be frantically trying to load your boarding pass while the queue behind you tuts.
Smart Moves That'll Save You Money
Use Price Drop Protection: On the Beach offers a Price Drop Protection policy. If you find the exact same holiday cheaper on their site after you've booked, you can claim the difference back. The key word is "exact same" — same hotel, same room type, same flights, same dates. It's not a universal price match, but if prices do drop, it's worth checking. You'll need to submit a claim through your My Bookings account.
Book early for payment flexibility: Those £19pp deposits are available on most holidays, but the further in advance you book, the more flexibility you have with payment plans. Booking six months out means you can spread the cost over more months than booking six weeks before departure.
Download the On the Beach app before you travel: Set up your My Bookings account and download the app (available on iOS and Android) while you're still at home with decent WiFi. Download all your documents offline so you can access them even without signal at the airport.
Check what's included in your flight: Budget airlines charge for everything from baggage to seat selection to priority boarding. Your On the Beach package might include some of these, or you might need to add them. Check before you get to the airport and face surprise fees.
Rookie Mistakes to Avoid
- Misspelling names on the booking: This is the number one costly mistake. A single wrong letter can mean a £100+ amendment fee per person, or being denied boarding. Triple-check against passports before confirming.
- Forgetting to check passport expiry dates: Many countries require six months' validity remaining on your passport from your return date. An expired or soon-to-expire passport means you're not flying, and you won't get a refund. Check everyone's passports when you book, not the week before you travel.
- Not downloading documents before you lose WiFi: Don't rely on being able to access your My Bookings account at the airport. Download everything — boarding passes, hotel vouchers, insurance documents — while you're at home.
- Assuming customer service works like a phone helpline: There's no number to ring. It's Live Chat through My Bookings. If you need help, log in and start a chat — don't waste time searching for a phone number that doesn't exist.
- Skipping travel insurance: ATOL protection covers you if On the Beach goes bust. It doesn't cover you if you break your leg skiing, lose your luggage, or need to cancel because of illness. Those are travel insurance jobs, and they're not optional unless you've got thousands sitting around for emergencies.
- Leaving check-in until the last minute: Some airlines close online check-in a few hours before departure. If you rock up to the airport without having checked in, you might face fees or even be denied boarding. Check in as soon as the window opens.
Quick Answers
Can I make changes to my booking after I've paid?
Yes, but it'll cost you. Changes to names, dates, flights, or hotels are subject to amendment fees (typically £50+ per person) plus any difference in the cost of the holiday.
The closer to departure, the higher the fees. Request changes through Live Chat in your My Bookings account.
How do I know my booking is confirmed?
You'll receive a confirmation email immediately after payment, containing your booking reference and summary. Within 24 hours, your booking will appear in your My Bookings account with full details. If you don't receive the email within an hour, check your spam folder, then contact Live Chat.
You're Ready to Book
Booking your first On the Beach holiday is straightforward once you know what to expect. Double-check those passport names, don't skip travel insurance, and download the app before you travel. Do those three things, and you're already ahead of most first-timers.
Looking for the best deals on On the Beach holidays? Check out the latest On the Beach discount codes and offers on Groupon.
