To cancel next summer's holiday?

[snackattack]

We always book our holidays a year or so ahead and next year is no exception. We are booked to take our two dc's on a cruise for 2 weeks.....it's not cheap but no more than we usually spend on our summer holidays. However, have discussed with dh today the possibility of cancelling it now and losing our £400) deposit rather than face the prospect of a huge bill in June which we would more than likely have to put on credit card (and would be paid off next Xmas with dh's bonus). We decided in current climate, it would be sensible not to do that this year (we've done this every year for 5 years)... and our kids (aged 4 and 10) are really upset as I broke the news to them that we probably won't now be going. I feel terrible. Telephoned the holiday company to say that we wanted to cancel but they are closed til tomorrow. AIBU or am I being sensible?? Feel so bad for my kids really - I can live without it but they so look forward to their holidays...

We can afford about half of the total cost and the rest would go on credit cards but this is the usual way we pay so nothing new there... it's just I feel really unsettled with the economy situation and don't like to think of us being in debt for any period of time....

[DaisySteiner]

Can't you cut back on other things over the next few months and pay outright in June then save next year's bonus for the following year's holiday?

Seems a bit of a shame to completely waste £400 - what is it particularly that you're worried about economically? How secure is your dh's job?

[44christmaspuddingsinarow]

If you cant afford the holiday then you cant afford it simple really YANBU to cancel

[snackattack]

I think dh's job is quite secure - I suppose it's just that in the scheme of things, the holiday is pretty expensive and normally it just doesn't bother me at all... for whatever reason, the last few months have been particularly tight money-wise and we've had loads of unexpected outgoings that couldn't be avoided. We are in debt from this year's holiday and waiting for Xmas to pay off the debt.... I hate accruing all this interest on credit cards and God forbid dh did lose his job and in particular his bonus, we would be up shit creek.... having a wobbly moment...

[thesockmonsterofdoom]

have a cheaper holiday, a holiday is a holiday and we have a lot more fun on the cheap ones.

[mumoverseas]

agree with thesockmonsterofdoom. You are not being unreasonable to cancel an expensive holiday bearing in mind the uncertainty of everything at the moment. However, in your kids eyes, you will be unreasonable as no doubt they will want/expect a holiday(as kids do!) why not look for something with a more reasonable budget that you'd all enjoy, maybe a camping holiday in France (then you won't have the possible worry of the airline going tits up!) and most of these places apparently have fabulous kids activities. We usually go long haul every year (ie states or similar) but next year considering a camping/mobile home holiday in France.

[bozza]

If you can afford half of a two week cruise then you can afford two weeks in a static in Cornwall. So do taht.

[BecauseImAWitch]

Can you book something cheaper with the same travel agent? That way you will be able to keep your deposit.

[AprilMeadow]

I have just mentioned your dilema to my dh who owns a travel agency and it might be possible to amend you booking.

If you booked with the cruise company direct and given that it is quite a way in the future you might be able to move your booking. Perhaps choose a cheaper option and therefore not lose your £400. They might charge you an admin fee to do this but would be a lot less than losing £400.

If you booked though a travel agency then it might be worth contacting them and explaining your situation. You never know they may also let you do the same.

Always worth seeing if there is 'another way' rather then letting your hard earned money go into the companies pocket!

[BecauseImAWitch]

We had a difficult year about 5 years ago, but had an expensive holiday booked. When I went into the travel agency to cancel it, they suggested postponing it by a year - so we had the exact same holiday but a year later. They were quite happy to do this for us because it meant that they got to keep our money and still got a holiday out of us - and we got our holiday but without losing our deposit.

[glaskhamhasoneintheoven]

take them somewhere within the UK and spend a few hundred £'s on hiring a lovely log cabin or fancy house for the fortnight? Do fun things like absailing days? Fun parks?