holiday and coronavirus

My son and daughter in law are booked to come over in July from NZ I am gearing myself to the fact that they may not be able to come I haven’t seen him for four years so a cuddle would have been nice

We are booked for Lake Como, Italy in mid May but as it's an escorted tour we will get a full refund.
We won't be going anywhere. Let this all settle and then have a think.

I live in Cornwall.

Supermarkets, like those around UK, have none of the essentials. Restaurants and cafes starting to close.

We were going to Scilly Isles for a short break at end of April. Celebrate me being 70. Cancelled it today. Only 50% covered with insurance but hotel said they would meet the other 50% or let us use the booking (all paid for) next year. Accepted 2021 booking.

UK gov are saying only essential travel. We've regarded driving and the skybus non-essential. Yes, holiday could be thought as a essential but the hotel have been so understandable. Also, being in an "at risk" category I'd sooner stay at home and wait till we can go and enjoy it thoroughly.

I have a holiday cottage that I let through Airbnb. Their current policy is as follows:

^Reservations made on or before 14 March 2020 for stays and Airbnb Experiences, with a check-in date between 14 March 2020 and 14 April 2020, are covered by the policy and may be cancelled before check-in. Guests who cancel will receive a full refund, and hosts can cancel without charge or impact on their Superhost status. Airbnb will refund all service fees for covered cancellations.

The host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual to reservations made after 14 March 2020, and to reservations made on or before 14 March 2020 with check-in dates after 14 April 2020.^

I'm sure that if the crisis continues, the policy end date will be extended. So far I have had two cancellations, but some guests are still choosing to stay.

Do you not still have to pay the balance anyway if they can't re let it? I had to pay the full amount for the cottage I rented for my son at Easter. Even if I'd taken out cancellation insurance I don't think I would have had a refund unless someone was ill. I never dreamt, when I booked it last year, that we would be in a situation like this. I, too have been planning to go back to Cornwall this year. I'm so angry with all of the things I've been planning to do 'someday soon' being out of bounds now.

catlover we have a cottage booked early July I think it is. I’m sort of thinking that we may still be in lock down (assuming it’s brought in) so no chance of going, but I suppose there is a outside chance that things will have calmed down by then but I seriously doubt it.

We also have a holiday booked in Sardinia and Corsica - no chance???

We are actually away at the moment - arrived before the no movement recommendation - so really isolating ourselves here whilst walking along the cliffs and beach, but no visiting or going out to eat in nice restaurants. Due home Friday morning, but think we may leave tomorrow afternoon after a last walk.

Would have thought that travel within the U.K should be ok?

I would image 100’s of people are in the same position. We have thing booked for Easter, end of May and July. I suppose we will have to wait and see.
We are hoping they will allow us to take the bookings forward to another date.

When do you have to pay the balance? Assuming it is mid June you have a few months yet to see how things progress. We are going to wait a bit, we just have to be adaptable.

Perhaps you could contact the owners or whoever is letting the cottage (by email, so you've proof, if you need it, and be guided by them.

Ask them what the procedure is to cancel, whether you'll lose money, and if they want you to wait and see for now.

Well that's going to require a crystal ball I think. I doubt anyone can give advice at this stage.