Holiday booked, don't want to go

We should be going to Turkey in 10 days time booked as a package. Not heard anything from TA yet but expect a refund in near future, fingers xd. We also booked a house in Wales for a week in June for all the family. Holiday rental company want full payment in next couple of weeks but wont be getting it. Looked at their feedback and they aren't refunding only offering vouchers to be used this year so will write off deposit.

I should have flown to Australia yesterday. I usually book directly with the airline.This time a got a better price through an agency. The flight was cancelled, and I have had a email from the agents saying that I am in a queue to be dealt with, but they are still sorting out trips from the end of March!
I am legally entitled to a refund, but will I get one? I have a lot of sympathy for holiday companies, and the huge problems that they must be having. I just hope that my money doesn’t vanish, as I have no insurance. It’s a pity that I booked so early. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

We haven't got any holidays abroad booked this year due to my DHs ongoing health issues. We have a holiday booked with wider family in late July and August to the NE and another to Wales, and for one night 40 miles away for my "big" birthday in mid August. I'd happily go to all of these. However, I wouldn't consider going abroad for at least a year.

Lots of very sensible Gransnetters posting here. Living in a country that is also a holiday destination as I do I am surprised how many people post on Portuguese pages on FB saying they have flights booked for May, June etc and if the flights are running then they are coming. They are most put out because many replies are please stay away because we dont want the virus coming here as the country is doing well at the moment. Also the holiday countries are not looking at having foreign tourists this year. Many beaches are closed as are restaurants, bars and attractions and are unlikely to be back to normal this year. I havent seen my family for 17 months but I couldnt even think of of taking a flight this year even if my health was perfect.

We've had our weekend with friends in June cancelled but our main holiday is to Guernsey in July.
I'm torn, I'd love to get away for a bit of r and r as we are both still working but I definitely don't fancy a plane.

Pretty sure it won't be my decision though.

@vickymeldrew I was very interested to read your post earlier and thoroughly understand your worries. My daughter is planning to move to France with her husband and my 2 beautiful GD's aged 5 & 3 so very similar situation. I was encouraged that you normally get over there every 8 weeks or so, something I would hope to do too, but can imagine this is all very worrying and changes everything we took for granted before. Let's hope a vaccine is found before too long so that grannies like us can visit our families and life can continue. As for Brexit, let's hope there's some positive outcome that can enable us to travel as before. Thanks for your message and keep smiling!

I also had a holiday booked for July to Spain I’ve just changed it free of charge to 2021 just not going to risk it this year

We booked a Fred Olsen cruise to Greenland for August 2020 and it will probably be cancelled. However, my wife is one of 1.5 million most vulnerable and does not want to go. Fred Olsen offer the option of transferring your booking to a later cruise with no loss of monies. However when you try to follow up this it is impossible to speak to them which ever phone line you use, the caller is diverted through a series pre-recorded messages until you fimally get a terse message saying they are not taking phone calls.

We went to India at the start of February and there was no government advice about travelling then. In India we had no problems thuogh there were basic checks at Delhi airport. As part of our package we had a 7-night Gulf states cruise towards tghe end of which restrictions were beginning to be applied. We got home on schedule but at Heathrow there as no checking at all aside from the usual security testing.

My next step is to Email Fred Olsen saying which cruise we want for 2021 and asking them to contact us.

Tui have cancelled our holiday to Mexico which we were due to go to on 8th July . We have carried the deposit over and have booked Greece for the following year x

We’ve booked a week in Cornwall in July, a week in November for the family and a week in December, all to celebrate our 50th anniversary year. This is one we won’t forget.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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 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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.