CV - Holiday insurance and bookings

We have a holiday to India booked for June. It can't be cancelled at the moment as the lockdown in India is only until April 15 so far. The tour company wants us to rebook for 2021 and the airline will give us a voucher valid for a year from our original travel date. BUT....our travel insurance expires on April 16 and because I have just had my 66th birthday V&^%$n Money say our existing policy can't be renewed and although they will give us another policy it won't include any cover for coronavirus, where a simple renewal would. Catch-22.

We’re members of Which and in our latest email from them, they include the following. They make it very clear that for holidays booked upto 3 April, you are entitled to your money back. It looks to me as though this covers some of the cases on here. I rate Which so if it were me, I’d be going after those greedy holiday home/ holiday cottage agencies.

www.which.co.uk/news/2020/03/coronavirus-how-are-my-uk-holiday-plans-affected/?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=3970133-C_WS_EM_030420

Daisy; no, we're fine. It's all been agreed [phew].

All I want is my money back from TUI . They offered to let us rebook and there are plans afoot to offer credit notes instead of money back . Neither of the phone numbers TUI sent to me work .

Labaik - you would probably still not be covered. The insurance that the lettings agent recommends is not covering unless you are actually ill and can supply a doctors letter to the fact. So you have probably saved some money.

We should have been having a family holiday next week, staying in two cottages. It's the first time in my life that I haven't bothered to take out cancellation insurance, my reasoning being that there would always be someone else who would like to go. Thankfully the lettings company have contacted all the cottage owners on their books and they've all agreed to transfer their holiday to the following year. I still feel somehow responsible for this pandemic and feel that, had I taken out the insurance, it would never have happened...

My son was getting married in Corfu in June. Luckily the venue and caters etc are happy to postpone to June 2021. We now are trying to sort out flights and hotels that guests have booked. Most have booked through BA and we are hoping they will let guests move booking to next year. All very sad but the most important thing is that everyone stays well and can attend next year.
I should have been flying to Turkey today. EasyJet offered us a refund 3 weeks ago and we are awaiting the money. No rush as I imagine they are overwhelmed at the moment.

We should be going to Denmark in 2 weeks, but obviously can't as current restrictions will still be in force. The outward airline is only offering voucher refund and as yet the homeward flight (Easyjet) isn't doing anything. Probably be the same and then it's fingers crossed they don't go bust before we use them!!!
The accommodation however are saying that we can still go, or could if we lived in Denmark, so no refund! Unbelievable in the current situation really.
Our travel insurance will cover us, so might turn to that if no joy otherwise.

I have rebooked our holiday rental for later in the year, out of season, as really I had no other option other than lose the money. The rate is cheaper, not school holidays, and not a time that I would ever want to visit. I asked about a refund of the difference in the weekly rate. I will give no prizes for guessing what the response was. However if you rebook and the weekly rate is higher then of course you have to make up the extra. Needless to say will not be using this company when this is over. What I find really annoying is that there is no apology etc.

Ellenvanin
I know how you feel about flights. But some people are still trying to get back to the UK. My brother has been separated from the rest of his family (due to work) he had been to the airport to try and get flights but hasn’t been able to. He had flights booked tomorrow and we are hoping he will be reunited with his family. There are different circumstances for everyone and now most flights are only for repatriation not pleasure.

Thanks WOOD

Maybe have a look at "Martin's Money Tips" online? There may be info there.
Should they actually be offering the accommodation as available these days I wonder?
If large sums of money are involved maybe contact your MP (or the tourist board?).

Here's a link re government travel advice:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus

101

I've had an email from our local M.P. Amongst what he has said is : "If you are aware of people flouting these guidelines please inform the police via non-emergency channels e.g. by using the 101 online webchat". Police online

If a holiday letting is insisting the accommodation is still available let the police know. The owners are flouting the rules.

101 will log the offence.

Daisy SuzieWoozie

So far I've had a full refund from Premier Inn and a free postponement to next year from a b&b.

The only deposit that I've lost is for a hotel in the Wensleydale area.

Mind you, there's still Eurostar to sort out in May!

Thanks Daisy I’ll make a note of that for future reference. I’m determined to use the good guys if and when all this is over.

We have annual trip insurance, we have 2 holidays now postponed to next year, so far we have only paid deposits.
Renewal insurance, due next week, states that no claims will be accepted for any Covid 19 related problems. As we booked our trips early in January it’s better that we accept the loss of the deposits, rather than pay the rest of the holiday and then risk losing it if the Company goes bust or we are ill, next year.
I have declined to renew the Insurance as we stand to lose 6 months money as we certainly aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. I was told that the renewal counts as a New contract, so I’ll set up a brand new policy when things are more settled.

Lyme bay holidays have parked the deposit. Excellent company and would recommend!

Many of the Holiday let companies are behaving disgracefully. Daisy what’s the name of the company allowing you to park your deposit? They should be named and famed.

I have just tried to rebook, I will keep the booking even if we dont go as at least they wont be able to re let it. I have also noticed that they have £250 refundable security deposit. One thing that they should remember is that it will not always be a time of Corona and people will remember how they have treated their customers. Another company have parked the deposit and it can be used at any time in the future, not expiry date. That's customer service.

Travel insurance may not help. We are in exactly the same position. However all holiday let's have been told to close so there's no holiday to be had. Feels like robbery to me. They will probably get help from the government too.

And how do they expect you to get there? Perhaps a note from the police to say this isn’t possible. I heard that you shouldn’t drive more than an hour away from home and I’m assuming it isn’t just down the road in walking distance.

Many thanks for helpful comments. Unfortunately we don't have travel insurance and rebooking is not an option. The agency insists that the property is available for us to stay!

no2dragon have you tried talking to your credit card company?
They may be more helpful as the official advice is that you can't travel.

NFK yes it would be covered by insurance but I assumed no2 wasn’t insured .

I feel sure there was a piece on the Money Programme or You and Yours which said the Government has decreed that Corona virus IS covered by insurance. That insurance companies had been saying it wasn’t named on the policies so not covered. They can no longer do this.

DD2 managed to get a full refund on her Easter break by saying that she will re-book - but can’t say when as no one knows how long restrictions will last. Vaccines may only just be coming on line in a year’s time so it would only add to paper work to re-book now! She’s booked through a travel firm but direct with the owner.