What financial protection do I have when booking with a US tour operator?

There is no single US scheme like the UK's ATOL. Protection comes from three places: USTOA membership, state seller of travel laws in California, Florida, Washington and Hawaii plus paying by credit card. This page sets out each, from the official websites. It lists 22 companies in the Uncompromised Travel tables that state one of them.

What financial protection do I have when booking with a US tour operator?

Booking with a US tour operator, your protection depends on the company and the state. An Active USTOA member posts US$1 million security for its customers. In California most registered sellers must hold payments in a trust account or a bond; Washington requires a trust account or a bond; Hawaii requires a client trust account, with waivers; Florida requires security that can be reduced. Paying by credit card also lets you dispute charges for services not delivered.

What the official websites say, read on 4 November 2026:

• An Active member is a tour operator that has done business in the United States; rules include three years in business and 18 references. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Active members must also carry at least $1 million of professional liability insurance with worldwide cover. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Each Active member must post $1 million security as a bond, letter of credit or US Treasury bill. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• The programme protects consumers up to $1,000,000 in the aggregate per member security. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• It reimburses tour payments or deposits lost if an Active member goes bankrupt, becomes insolvent or stops trading. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• It also applies if an Active member fails to refund deposits or payments within 120 days of cancelling a tour or package, or of failing to complete it. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• The programme is for Active members only; Associate members are not covered. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• If a large operator fails, the $1 million may not cover all losses. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Brands under one corporate owner can share a single $1 million security. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• It does not cover a traveller who cancels; that needs trip cancellation insurance. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• California: seller of travel registration is required by law. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• California: registration does not mean the seller is reputable or approved by the state. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• California: most sellers must put customer payments into a trust account; some hold a bond instead. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• California: the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund is run by the TCRC, a non-profit outside the Attorney General's office. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• California: to claim, the seller must have been registered and taking part in the TCRC. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• California: under the statute, a claimant is someone who lost money because a seller of travel failed to refund payments. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Florida: sellers of travel must normally post $25,000 security (bond), reducible in some cases; vacation certificate sellers $50,000. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Florida: new businesses may apply to reduce security to $10,000. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Washington: a business that sells travel services must be licensed. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Washington: customer funds must go into a trust account at a federally insured institution. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Washington: instead of a trust account, a seller may post a $10,000 to $50,000 surety bond. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Hawaii: anyone selling travel services to clients in Hawaii must register as a travel agency, with a client trust account at a Hawaii bank (waivers exist). Source, read 4 November 2026.
• FTC: you can dispute charges for things you did not accept or that were not delivered as agreed. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• FTC: your dispute letter must reach the card issuer within 60 days of the first bill with the error. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• FTC: this dispute process applies to credit cards and other revolving credit. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• ASTA is a trade association for travel advisers and agencies, founded in 1931. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• ASTA members sign up to a 12-point code of ethics. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• A traveller with a problem with an ASTA member can file a formal complaint with ASTA. Source, read 4 November 2026.

How do I check a US tour operator's registration?

Check the registration number the company shows with the state that issued it. Check USTOA's directory for membership.

• Look for the Active Member logo with the programme emblem; USTOA also publishes an Active Membership Directory (ustoa.com/resources/ustoa-active-membership-directory). Source, read 4 November 2026.
• California: registered sellers must show their registration number in all advertising. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• California: check a registration with the Attorney General's online Seller Search (sotas.doj.ca.gov). Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Washington: check a licence with the Department of Licensing lookup at professions.dol.wa.gov/s/license-lookup. Source, read 4 November 2026.
• Hawaii: check a licence with the DCCA Public License Search (mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov/public-license-search/). Source, read 4 November 2026.

Which tour operators state a US protection?

22 companies in the Uncompromised Travel tables state USTOA membership or a state seller of travel registration on their own websites; each card says which.

Luxury tour operators: 16 companies, from the luxury tour operators table.

Safari planners: 4 companies, from the safari planners table.

Local safari operators: 2 companies, from the local safari operators table.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 4 November 2026 · updated 4 November 2026