UK Travel Firm Great Little Escapes Collapses: What Customers Need to Know and When Refunds Open

Thousands of British holidaymakers have been left reeling after one of the UK's leading travel firms, Great Little Escapes (GLE), abruptly ceased trading, cancelling summer plans and raising urgent questions about consumer protection.

As of 13 June, operations by the Berkshire-based agency are no longer protected by an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (Atol), a financial safeguard overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The firm, which once boasted of offering 'holidays to the most iconic cities in the world', has now gone bust, leaving many stranded without refunds or clarity.

End Of The Road For GLE

According to the CAA, the company—trading under various names including Your Holidays, Tunisia First and Great Little Escapes—also operated a number of websites, including www.themaldives.co.uk and www.thecaribbean.com. In a statement, the authority confirmed:

'We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible. Whilst waiting for further information, please do not submit a claim as these will be rejected.'

The CAA also warned travel agents holding customer payments not to issue refunds until official instructions have been provided by the Air Travel Trust.

'Travel agents will be individually contacted by the CAA with specific instructions for these bookings,' the statement added.

GLE's sudden collapse comes just weeks before the UK and EU are set to implement a post-Brexit travel agreement allowing British tourists to use e-gates at European airports, streamlining the airport experience for holidaymakers across the continent.

Another One Bites The Dust

The shuttering of GLE adds to a worrying trend in the UK travel industry. Just earlier this year, budget holiday and cruise firm Jetline Travel went into administration, appointing Alan Clark of Carter Clark and Neil Bennett of Leonard Curtis to handle its affairs.

This followed the March 2025 closure of Balkan Holidays after nearly six decades of trading. The company offered summer getaways to popular European destinations including Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia, as well as winter ski trips.

Cruise lines such as Princess, Cunard, and Holland America were also impacted after the operator failed to uphold its contractual obligations.

'We recognise how disappointing this news will be for affected guests and express our sincere apologies for the disruption caused. This decision was not made lightly,' a spokesperson for the Carnival cruise brands said.

Reactions From Disappointed Travellers

While some consumers expressed sympathy for those affected, others voiced frustration at the risks taken when booking heavily discounted packages.

'Feel sorry for those who will lose their holidays, but then again, they clearly took their chances to get a cheap deal,' one disgruntled traveller commented online.