Bankrupt agency, hidden hotel tricks, last overnight train to Split — how do you protect yourself when traveling this fall?

Prompted by a travel agency's summer bankruptcy, hotel pricing tactics, and a soon-to-end overnight train route, we're asking: how do you plan and protect yourself against risk on your autumn trips?

1. The Robinson Tours travel agency went bankrupt this summer, leaving many travelers bound for Bulgaria stranded before their trip. What would you do most to protect yourself from this risk when booking?
2. According to a recent report, hotels deliberately shape their prices before you book. How do you try to get a better deal?
3. How much would you spend on a long weekend — flight, accommodation, food and drink combined — in a nearby European capital like Berlin?
4. The Adria InterCity is running for the last time this year, until early October, taking passengers from Budapest to the Croatian coast in a single overnight journey. If you could, would you choose an overnight train over a flight for a trip like this?
5. Which lesser-known autumn destination appeals to you most right now?
6. What matters most to you when planning your next trip?
7. Emirates closed out a record summer season, and winter bookings are also looking strong. How true are the following statements for you?