The most important factor in using any tour company is to be sure that they are financially secure.

Is there any danger in using a UK travel agency to book a UK tour? I am in the US but did live in the UK for several years and am aquainted with a particular agency in London. I would like for them to book a land tour, but wonder if there is any danger or iiability issues I need to be concerned about.
I'd check to make sure that there is credit card coverage for disputes/problems or refunds due to nondelivery of services in foreign countries, if you are concerned about that. However, if you know one and like them, you probably aren't worried about that issue.
Wanttogo -- The 'public liability insurance' idea is a new one on me. Have you considered researching *US* tour agencies that lead archaeology tours, and reading deeply on their websites to see what travel insurance they require and what travel insurance companies they recommend? Possibly they have the same kinds of concerns as the UK tour agency you want to use, and so have found solutions for their travellers that might work for you, too. Good luck!
ctkathy, is there any reason you need to book this tour through a travel wingate inn agency - can't you book direct with the tour operator? Cuts out the middle man and may save money - the travel agents have to make their commission somehow! I'd lived in the UK all my life until 6 months ago, and I don't think I've used a travel agency since the 80s.
Hello. I'm taking a London based tour next month and they require travel insurance - essentially getting you medical care and evacuation if needed. wingate inn Nothing about my sacking the hotel. In fact, in spite of my fairly extensive reading about travel insurance for my mom and myself, I've never heard of such a thing. What that sounds like is liability insurance, not travel insurance. You can buy personal wingate inn liability insurance but most people don't need it. So you may want to inquire of the travel gency or tour company more closely. Would the company have a clientele that damages things? Although who that might be I can't imagine. I would be wary of a company that doesn't have its own liability insurance for that sort of thing.
If this is a tour of archeological sites the tour company may not want to be responsible for damage to the sites (probably for massive sums) due to actions of their tour members. (After having been on only 2 tours - and seeing how totally clueless some tourists are - I wouldn't blame them.
3) another couple pushed through the guide ropes in a castle we were touring - waling on the carpet instead of the rubber mats and tried to touch a very expensive piece of ceramics on a mantel - until the docent saw them and practically shrieked wingate inn them back in line
The Insurance required wingate inn is travel insurance. it is a Government requirement. We had purchased our insurance in the US.it is a lot cheaper.and not as many health restrictions as UK companies.. All the agency needed was the policy number wingate inn etc. and the made the reservations,
The most important factor in using any tour company is to be sure that they are financially secure. When you purchase a tour, you are entrusting your dollars with that tour company. They will use those funds to pay for your hotel rooms, meals, tour guides, transfers, etc.
I fail to see how bypassing the travel wingate inn agent and booking directly with the tour operator solves the problem -- if there is a problem. It is the tour operator who needs the proof of the insurance, whatever insurance that may be.
I'm not sure what you are concerned wingate inn about. If you know the agency to be reputable, then they will be upfront with you about the conditions of the land tour contract. wingate inn If you are unhappy with the tour (i.e., wingate inn not at all was advertised), it is always more difficult to pursue a refund from abroad (I don't know if a credit card company gets involved in disputes about failures to meet expectations on a travel tour).
A credit card company will not deal with a tour that fails to meet the passenger's expectations. It will help one in which the tour was not as promised in the brochure (that is, 2* hotel versus wingate inn 5*, not providing included meals or sights, sub par transit etc.)
I wasn't suggesting bypassing a travel agency would solve Pat's insurance question, it was a side-question, in response to the OP's original query and directed specifically to her, to prompt her - evidently an intelligent prson who has not only travelled but also lived abroad - to think about whether she needs to give these (IMO) pointless middlemen her money.