If you’re looking for an affordable beach holiday, you’ve probably come across On the Beach. The UK-based online travel company offers package holidays, hotels, flights, all-inclusive breaks, and holidays across popular destinations.
But are On the Beach holidays reliable? Is On the Beach legit? And what do customers say about the company?
In this On the Beach review, we’ll look at the booking experience, prices, customer service, financial protection, and real customer feedback to help you decide whether On the Beach is worth using.
What Is On the Beach?
On the Beach is a UK online travel company that specialises in beach holidays and package holidays. It has been operating since 2004 and says that more than 1.5 million customers book holidays with the company each year.
The platform lets travellers search for flights, hotels, package holidays, transfers, and other travel extras in one place.
Customers can choose from destinations across Europe and long-haul locations, including Spain, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, Cape Verde, the Caribbean, Dubai, Mexico, and the Maldives.
How Does On the Beach Work?
On the Beach works as an online travel agent, allowing customers to build and customise their holiday.
The basic process is:
-
- Search for your destination and travel dates.
- Choose your departure airport and number of travellers.
- Compare available flights and hotels.
- Select your preferred holiday.
- Add transfers or other extras if required.
- Review the booking and total price.
- Complete your payment and receive your booking information.
You can book a package holiday with flights and accommodation together or choose hotel-only options.
The website also provides filters and hotel information, which can make it easier to narrow down options based on your requirements.
On the Beach Prices and Deals
Price is one of the main reasons travellers consider On the Beach.
The company promotes cheap holidays, package deals, all-inclusive breaks, and low-deposit bookings. Eligible holidays can have deposits starting from £19 per person, while payment options allow customers to spread the cost of a holiday.
However, it’s important to look beyond the advertised starting price.
Your final cost may change depending on factors such as:
-
- Baggage
- Airport transfers
- Flight seats
- Room options
- Travel dates
- Other optional extras
Always check the complete price before confirming your booking.
Is On the Beach Legit?
Yes. On the Beach is a legitimate UK travel company, not a scam website.
The company has been operating since 2004 and is an established online travel agent. Its website also publishes customer reviews and information about its financial protection.
For flight-inclusive package holidays, On the Beach states that bookings are financially protected under the ATOL scheme. Its stated ATOL number is 11549. The company also says it is an ABTA member.
However, ATOL protection does not automatically apply to every travel service sold through the website. Customers should check their booking documents and ATOL certificate to confirm exactly what is protected.
Is On the Beach Safe to Book With?
For eligible package holidays, On the Beach provides financial protection through the ATOL scheme.
The company states that its flight-inclusive package holidays are covered by the Package Travel Regulations and ATOL protection.
This can provide additional peace of mind when booking a package holiday.
Still, travellers should check the specific protection attached to their booking and carefully read the booking conditions before paying.
On the Beach Reviews: What Are Customers Saying?
Customer feedback about On the Beach is mixed, although many travellers report positive experiences.
At the time of writing, Trustpilot shows On the Beach with a 3.8 out of 5 rating from more than 98,000 reviews. Around 66% of reviews are 5-star, while 16% are 1-star.
Positive On the Beach Reviews
Customers commonly praise:
-
- Easy online booking
- Competitive prices
- Large choice of hotels
- Wide range of destinations
- Useful search filters
- Flexible payment options
- Clear hotel and resort information
- Good experiences with flights and hotels
Recent reviewers have described the website as simple and straightforward, while others have praised the range of destinations, flight times, and hotel choices.
Negative On the Beach Reviews
Negative reviews tend to focus on customer service and problems that occur after a booking has been made.
Some customers report difficulties with:
-
- Contacting customer support
- Getting help with urgent issues
- Changing bookings
- Refunds
- Payment problems
- Airport transfers
- Communication during holiday disruptions
Recent Trustpilot reviews include complaints about difficulty reaching a human advisor and frustrations with automated support. Other customers have reported problems with transfers or booking changes.
This means the overall experience can depend heavily on whether your holiday runs smoothly or you need assistance with a complicated problem.
Pros and Cons of On the Beach
Pros
-
- Large selection of holidays
- Many popular destinations
- Package and hotel-only bookings
- Competitive holiday prices
- Low deposits on eligible bookings
- Flexible payment options
- ATOL protection for eligible flight-inclusive packages
- Easy-to-use online search tools
- Useful hotel and resort information
Cons
-
- Customer service reviews are mixed
- Some customers report difficulty contacting support
- Booking changes can involve additional costs
- Optional extras can increase the final price
- Some reviews mention transfer problems
- Experiences can vary when something goes wrong
Is On the Beach Worth It?
On the Beach can be worth considering if you want to compare a large selection of holidays online and find competitive prices.
The platform is particularly useful for travellers who prefer to search, customise, and manage their holiday online. Its wide selection of hotels and destinations also makes it easier to compare different options.
However, customer service appears to be one of the biggest areas of concern in negative reviews. If you need help with a cancellation, booking change, refund, or disruption, some customers say getting assistance can be frustrating.
Before booking, compare the total price and check exactly what is included in your holiday.
Final Verdict on On the Beach Reviews
Overall, On the Beach is a legitimate and established holiday booking website with a large selection of destinations and competitive holiday deals.
Customer reviews are mixed. Many travellers praise the simple booking process, prices, choice of hotels, and successful holidays. However, negative reviews frequently focus on customer service, booking changes, refunds, and transfer issues.
If you’re comfortable managing your holiday online and carefully checking the booking conditions, On the Beach can be a useful option.
Before paying, make sure you check the final price, baggage allowance, transfer arrangements, cancellation terms, payment schedule, and financial protection that apply to your specific booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is On the Beach legit?
Yes. On the Beach is an established UK online travel company that has been operating since 2004.
Is On the Beach trustworthy?
On the Beach is a legitimate travel company, and eligible flight-inclusive package holidays are financially protected through ATOL. However, customer experiences vary, particularly regarding customer service.
Is On the Beach ATOL protected?
Eligible flight-inclusive package holidays booked through On the Beach are ATOL protected. The company’s stated ATOL number is 11549.
Are On the Beach holidays cheap?
On the Beach promotes cheap holidays, package deals, and low-deposit bookings. However, optional extras can increase the final cost, so compare the complete price before booking.
Does On the Beach offer all-inclusive holidays?
Yes. On the Beach offers all-inclusive holidays across a range of destinations and resorts.
What do On the Beach reviews say?
Many customers praise the easy booking process, prices, hotel selection, and choice of destinations. Negative reviews commonly mention customer service, booking changes, refunds, and transfer issues.
Is On the Beach worth booking?
It can be a good option for travellers looking for a wide choice of online holiday deals. However, compare prices, read the booking conditions, and check what is included before making your decision.
