Holiday booked, don't want to go

I think you can expect your holiday to be cancelled and you can breathe that sigh of relief. We have had two cancelled holidays so far a cruise in March (still waiting for the refund) and another family week in Somerset which the company will not cancel (they say they are still open if the government changes its policies) but offered us the same week next year at the same price which we accepted as they are a small concern and need to keep going. We have a cruise booked in September and still need to pay the full money for that, not sure what will happen with that one, its a wait and see. Hope you get the result you want, I for one feel safe at home.

Jane43, thank you. It’s an odd situation though as she used to work in Geneva and traveled internationally for many years I am used to being separated and getting on with my own life. But there was always a return date to look forward to and nice things planned for when we were together. It’s an unconventional relationship but one that has always worked. But now there is no end date and my favourite UK travel in my small Campervan has been stopped as well. Just having some idea as to when this awfulness will be over would be wonderful and motivational.

I very much doubt if you would be able to go in any case as most countries are staying closed for the rest of this year and not welcoming tourists, from overseas, in case they take the virus to them.
I would not go anywhere for the rest of this year just enjoy our own country for a change

Easy jet are cancelling flights one week at a time. We were due to go to Greece on 5th May and as our outward and return flights have been cancelled we have been granted a refund. You need to wait till the airline cancels rather than cancelling yourself to be sure of a refund. We had also paid a deposit to a hotel in Guernsey and they have agreed to roll this balance over till the same time next year which is fine

We have a one week cruise booked, pre virus, for the first week in October. Deposit paid, balance due early June. When I checked our cancellation insurance (I know I don't want to go anyway, too risky) it said under what is covered if '....the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issue a directive advising against all, or all but essential travel to your trip destination because of an earthquake, fire, flood or hurricane'. No cover for a virus..... I'll wait to see what the travel company offer before paying out several thousand pounds for the balance.

Don’t go if you don’t want to

I've booked a holiday in the isle of Wight for end of March. It hasn't been cancelled yet,. But I don't want to go. Hopefully we will be able to defer it until a later date. As I don't want to be getting on trains, ferries, as we haven't got a car.

I had a holiday booked for early June. Tui cancelled it yesterday and offered me a credit note plus a bonus, or the option to claim refund. I'm very undecided.....

Our next foreign holiday is booked for May 2021 on a river cruise, but I understand I can defer nearer the time if necessary.

I am hoping our lodge booking in England next month will be cancelled, but even if it is I will have a fight on my hands with Hoseasons. I do not want a deferral via unprotected
voucher if the site is closed when we are due to go. NEVER book with Hoseasons. They are getting an incredibly bad press, even taking into account the mess holiday companies find themselves in .

Canal holiday (UK) booked for mid-September. If we’re allowed, we’re going! I think it’s really important to have something to look forward to.

We have a holiday booked in September with an independent travel company to Greece. I have contacted them and asked if, in the event of travel restrictions not being lifted, then could we transfer our deposit and provisionally book the equivalent two weeks next year, which they have done.

wow, seeing all these posts, I am glad that I am not a holiday person... used to years back when we had two boys, but since then... and I wondered also at the huge number of people having to be brought back to the UK, from holiday destinations.. and the cruise ships! not for me.. but I do hope that you all get settled as to money refund etc.

@henetha what is the expiry date of the credit note? That might help you make a decision

Hi Noname. October 2021... that is why it's difficult.
We don't yet know what will happen with this virus. Will it return? Will it all be gone away by next year? It's a really difficult decision.

We were booked for a week in the south of France mid May. Thankfully our Airbnb host has refunded our money and as BA have cancelled our flights, we wait for a refund from them.

Quite honestly I am relieved not to have the fuss and bother of travel. We are going to use the money we have saved to spend on making our garden and outside areas more attractive to spend time in.

P.S, They also said that the re-booking with the credit note would be ATOL protected. So that's good.

We have a large family gathering booked in UK in July - to celebrate some special birthdays and wedding anniversaries. But it is not looking like we will be able to go. Looking at the cottage booking site - there is no mention of getting money back, so I guess we will just lose our deposit as we wont want to rebook another time. The date was important to us all as much as getting together.

Of course being safe is the top priority - so losing a deposit is much less important. I just need to make sure they dont automatically take the huge balance in June!

I don't think you are likely to be able to go on holiday in July, but leave it up to the airline, hotel etc to cancel.

Otherwise you may not qualify for a refund.

You are not obliged to accept a credit note, but can request a refund instead.

Have hols booked for June and Sept, airline have already cancelled flight for June hol and we don't want to risk the Sept one. Even if restrictions are lifted neither of us really want to be sitting on a plane in Sept or to visit a European country.

I don't think your July holiday will happen. I don't think my September one will, come to that. Yes, I'll be a little bit sad but it's a tiny thing in the scale of what is happening to other people.

I had a cruise in March cancelled ...so far have only received a refund of over £1,000 for the excursions I booked (it was going to be a once in a lifetime thing ...the Arctic, with helicopter flights, etc etc ….and another in July across Russia which I was asked to pay in full (over £4,000) they must be joking and I told them so ! Russia has said it is going to keep its borders closed for the foreseeable future, so no one will be going ! I know this could be said that I am in breach of contract if I don't pay …..so tell me, if the borders are closed and the tour operator is unable to fulfil its part of the contract, it is not my fault !! Also lost out on Andre Reiu in Maastricht and two concerts in the UK ….I am NEVER going to book in advance again ….did manage three one week breaks to Andalucia (awful place !) but nice hotel ! one to Cologne, and another to Prague …...I booked Friday, flew on Sunday ... late booking, no single supplement which makes a change !!!! I am now waiting to see if I will get a refund for the other trips ...apparently travel experts say you are NOT obliged to take a voucher ...and as I pointed out to the travel agent (working from home) if the over 70's are to be incarcerated for much longer and my annual Ins (which I paid over £1,000 for and is up for automatic renewal in October ) has new wording which I don't find acceptable, I shall not be going anywhere ! I booked all these as it may be my final chance to travel for various reasons …...luckily I bought a caravan to escape my first floor retirement flat ….but now I can't even go there ...and the garden here is out of bounds !.... shame I'm not an MP who can be chauffeured to my 'country estate' ...one law for some ! ps ..don't cancel before your tour co or the British government advises against travel to certain places or you could be classed as having 'a disinclination to travel' in which case you get nothing...

All I want to do is visit my daughter in France to see my GC (aged 5&3) . I usually go every 8 weeks or so. Can’t see how this is ever going to be possible. I’m also ‘shielded’ so huge complications with health insurance cover etc. To say nothing of Brexit implications. Despairing really.

We booked a med cruise to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in June. We only paid a small deposit and the large balance was due the beginning of March. I cancelled the excursions first and got a full refund then I called the cruise line and cancelled. They offered to transfer the deposit to next year but we declined. We have since had an email saying they will still honour the deposit next year anyway. I feel relieved that we didn't pay the balance, as they say "cash is king". However in comparison to those families who have lost loved ones to this dreadful virus a lost holiday is nothing.

The CMA (Competitions & Marketing Authority) were on Radio 4 earlier today and were talking about this. They have some info on their website that people can refer to when going for a refund. Also the opportunity to report companies who are not behaving fairly.