Holiday bookings....bargains and refunds.

Love Haven we go as a large family group every year. They have big bells and whistles sites and much quieter sites. We don’t use a lot of the amenities but do like to use the swimming pool but I’ll take a look so thanks for the heads up.

Well apart from admiring your optimism for booking a holiday this year, I’ve tried to join a group going to Haven holidays for 2 years running, they all had a great time but each time I was ill and had to cancel, so I think that someone is trying to tell me something!

You are not top most on my list for booking a holiday in May I think it’s a tad (understatement) foolhardy to imagine we will be back to holidaying that early in the year

Our family booked for 10 last year. They paid the £2500 only to have a text five days before they were due to go, cancelling them because Haven had overbooked. They were offered a refund on a holiday this year and had to fight for the cash back.

I can't recommend Haven highly enough, they've been a brilliant company to deal with in my experience. DS and his young family go to various sites around the UK, for mini breaks or long weekends and he's said that the same high standard is across every site they've used. They'd booked one particular short break a few years ago, but just 3 days before they were due to leave, DIL suddenly went into a very premature labour and of course they couldn't go. I phoned to cancel the break, not expecting anything to be refunded but they did! The whole booking was put back until the following Spring and they didn't even have to pay any "admin fees" etc. Good company to book with ime.

I booked an activity holiday abroad ( not Haven) for september 2020 (booked it November 2019). I’m trying to get a refund for the deposit I paid. Looks like I shall have to do it via my debit card/bank. I feel bad for the holiday company but I can’t afford to lose that money really.

Bluebelle...we originally booked this holiday last September when we were being told that things were under control. We thought that by May 2021 things would be sorted. Haven have a Covid refund system.

I know vampirequeen it’s a buggxx isn’t it my son was due from NZ last June they said he could change it to this June or money back, he got his money back as this June is just so unknown as yet
I m just not sure any of us should look forward to holidays this year as I think it could be really disappointing

Many of us book holidays well in advance, some year on year, otherwise we wouldn't get the choices we want. I guess it stands to reason some of us will have bookings for 2021 already in place.

Not haven related. But our Spanish holiday which was cancelled for last September was £650 per person, same holiday for this September is now £830. I understand they will try and recuperate there losses but I think they are cutting there nose off to spite there face as families etc will struggle to find the extra cost and they will be forced to bring there prices back down.

I think that's where Haven have come up trumps (not the orange toddler type). This idea of two levels of payment really suits us. Even the full price Stay and Play holidays are lower than previous years and Covid cover is included.

I just need something to look forward to. I'm finding it hard to drag on day after day especially atm when I'm still recovering from Covid and it just won't go away. Today we tried to go for a walk (first time since before Christmas. We managed about 500m altogether and I had to go back to bed for an hour. The upside is that either I get a holiday or money back in my bank account. Either will make me happy.

I only stay here in N.Ireland for my holidays and go up to the North Coast near the Giants Causeway, etc. I'm not even booking it this year cos last year it was booked for June and we couldn't go cos we had to stay in our area and with no idea what's really happening yet, it's my back garden 2021. Plus I'm only 54 so my jab is way down the line by the look of it so it's probably better I stay home.

Son always books haven as we did years ago and have always been happy with them.

Have just booked a UK holiday this morning, a large cottage to share with our two AC and families in late August. Optimistic yes but also sorely need something nice for us all to look forward to. I find the anticipated enjoyment is a big part of the joy of holidays anyway so happy to run the risk of cancellation. Need to have faith there is life to be enjoyed beyond our current situation.

Could anyone recommend any particular Haven sites they’ve been happy with? We’ve never been to any, but DS has tried a couple that were a bit disappointing. It’d be good to book something to look forward to.

We do have a big family cottage holiday booked for April (a rebooking from last April), but I’m not feeling optimistic that it’ll go ahead.

In 2020 my son booked with Haven and got a refund with no trouble, whereas Hoseasons led people a merry dance for month, flatly refusing cash refunds. I was lucky that the "fat lady was singing", in the form of the regulatory body and Martin Lewis, by the time ours was cancelled. So well done,
Haven.

Maggiemaybe

We do have a big family cottage holiday booked for April (a rebooking from last April), but I’m not feeling optimistic that it’ll go ahead.

So do we, for a week from 4th April. For 14 of us Even if there is no lockdown , the Rule of 6 will still be here.

I am just about to get my money back on a February holiday, a rebooking from last February

Which company have you booked with?

Both of our holidays were booked June 2019

I have to pay the balance for the April holiday by the beginning of February, so I had better do so or risk losing everything, the holiday and deposit of £900 !

My neighbour is still confident that she can fly to Oz in April, stopping at Singapore first before going on to her destination. We'll see.

I love my holidays, but common sense tells me not much chance this year, and I’m a full glass kinda girl ?

Even thinking about a holiday sounds like sheer madness to me

I’ve got a booking for Crete, moved from July 2020, just the hotel as I reclaimed my airfare. I doubt very much that I will be going even though I think I will lose my deposit - it’s a small family owned hotel and I don’t expect them to move my booking to next year.

I don’t feel ready to fly anywhere right now, I’ve barely left my house since March let alone sit on a plane for four hours! Flights are looking much more expensive to Crete, I would normally be booking mine in January but im holding off this year.

Maybe I’ll go back to Crete in 2022 when hopefully the vaccine programme will be well established and we will be getting back to normal.

EllanVannin

My neighbour is still confident that she can fly to Oz in April, stopping at Singapore first before going on to her destination. We'll see.

If she goes, and it’s a big if, will she be able to quarantine for 14 days? My son lives in Sydney, they won’t be relaxing their rules anytime soon.

How lovely to see optimistic people looking ahead ?
I think booking our Spanish family holiday for later this year might be a step too far but I'm looking at canal boats.
Oh won't do the Calidonian canal again because of the midgies and it's too chilly when the little blighters are waiting ( wherever it is they wait) to suck the life blood out of you.
So I'm looking at the Leeds Liverpool.