I'm nervous about travelling during a war. Can I cancel my holiday without losing my money?
It depends where you are going. In general, travel companies will change your holiday only if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises British nationals not to travel to the destination you have chosen. If you have booked a week in Majorca, you won't be allowed to cancel without penalty. But if you were due to travel to Petra in Jordan, your tour operator will offer you an alternative holiday or your money back.

Where else is off-limits?
There are two levels of warning. The FCO advises against all travel to eight countries including Iraq and Kuwait. Israel and the Occupied Territories are also on this list. The second level is advice against travel "unless on essential business". Jordan is the most recent country to be added to this group, which includes Bahrain, Qatar, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Certain areas of other countries, such as south-eastern Turkey, are also specified.

Is the Middle East completely out of bounds?
No. Egypt and Dubai, the two most popular holiday destinations are not on the list. The FCO says that regional tension could affect the travel advice to Egypt and suggests that it should be checked daily (www.fco.gov.uk); visitors to Dubai are told to exercise "a high level of vigilance".

Are they not a little close to the action?
If you are concerned, you could approach your tour operator and ask them to postpone your holiday without penalty. Most tour operators are holding to the official line and only making changes when the FCO warns against travel. If you aren't due to travel for eight weeks, you might only have to pay an administration fee to change the date or destination of your holiday.

Are any companies allowing such switches?
Travelbag has promised free changes of travel date for all bookings made before March 31 for departures up to August 31. Its sister company Travelbag Adventures is allowing changes on trips to Turkey, India, Thailand and Malaysia booked before March 31. The Gambia Experience is allowing changes of departure dates up to 48 hours before travel up to June. And Lunn Poly, the travel agency chain, is allowing changes on summer holidays booked with Thomson Holidays and Skytours; these must be made within six weeks of booking,

Does the ban on south-eastern Turkey affects holiday resorts?
No. The south-eastern provinces of Turkey, which border Iraq, are 1,400 miles from the south-western coast favoured by British holidaymakers. Tapestry, a specialist in holidays to Turkey, says although the phones have gone quiet now that the war has started, few of its clients have cancelled or switched to Greece.

What about Cyprus?
Bookings to Cyprus have also dried up. Yet the FCO says: "Cyprus is not directly affected by the situation in Iraq. We therefore see no reason for holiday plans to be changed." Both Cyprus and Turkey have a long tradition of welcoming British tourists: it is likely that there will be bargain offers to both to entice visitors back when the war is over.

I am only going as far as Paris but I'm still nervous.
It is unlikely you will be able to persuade a tour operator to cancel a short-haul booking without a charge. If you have bought a low-cost flight, you can change it for a fee: they all have different tariffs for such changes. And if you booked direct, you could ask the hotel to defer your booking. They are not required to return your deposit but some may be sympathetic.

Will I be able to change a booking for a flight?
Usually, only full fare economy or business class tickets can be changed without penalty. Most of the popular (and cheaper) tickets are restricted and cannot be changed. British Airways is allowing long-haul passengers with World Traveller or World Traveller Plus tickets to change the date, destination or class without cost. This applies to tickets bought after February 14 for flights up to March 25. This is likely to be extended.

What about flights routed over the Gulf?
BA has re-routed flights to the Middle East to avoid flying over northern Saudi Arabia. Emirates flies in to its Dubai base via Libya and Egypt. The war-time flight exclusion zones will have little effect on the many long-haul eastbound flight routes.

What about budget airlines?
None of the European budget airlines flies long-haul routes. The furthest you can fly from Britain on a low-cost carrier is Athens, a long way from the Gulf. With most of them, you can change your ticket - at a price.

If bookings have slowed down, is there a danger that a travel company might collapse?
The next two months are going to be a testing time for tour operators and travel agencies as vital cashflow from early-season holidays and deposits for summer bookings dries up. Intasun, on of the biggest tour operators, collapsed during the Gulf War in 1991. It is quite possible that companies will collapse this year.

Will I be protected?
Make sure that the tour operator or travel agency you book with is bonded. The bigger companies should be members of the Association of British Travel Agents (you can check their membership on the Abta website - abta.com) and/or have an ATOL licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (www.caa.co.uk). Smaller companies may be bonded with the Association of Independent Tour Operators (www.aito.co.uk) or the Travel Trust Association (www.traveltrust.co.uk). In all cases your money will be protected or you will be repatriated from abroad if the company collapses.

What happens if an airline collapses?
You will have no protection if you have bought your ticket directly with a scheduled airline. Not only would you lose your money, but you could be stranded overseas and have to buy a new flight home.

How can I secure protection from an airline's collapse?
You will be protected if you book through a bonded travel agent. Another form of protection is by booking with a credit card; the issuer will cover losses. Remember that many budget airlines and some travel companies charge extra for a credit card booking. You could also ensure that your travel insurance covers an airline collapse, though again this may cost extra.

Will travel insurance cover me if I am caught in a war zone?
Most travel insurance policies exclude claims "occasioned by war, riot and civil commotion", not to mention acts of terrorism. But this is why travel companies take heed of the FCO advice. They have no wish to take you to a war zone.

Should I book my summer holiday now?
Many people, especially families, have put off booking in the run-up to the war. There is no reason why you shouldn't book for the summer now, especially if you know where you want to go. You will have the pick of the properties and time to talk through your choice with the tour operator or travel agent. There may well be bargains to stimulate demand at the end of the war. But travel companies have cut back on their capacity for the summer peak. And there will be a pent-up demand as the summer nears. Then, as after the 1991 Gulf war, you may find sold-out signs at the travel agent.