To ask the capable women of Mumsnet for holiday disaster advice

How about booking into somewhere like this, it may not work out much more money than getting taxis everywhere?

Just read this thread. What a nightmare. I def reopmmend finding somewhere else to move to in Chania or Rethymnon. Maybe a small friendly hotel, rather than a villa. Both lovely places, that you can do bus trips from. Driving through the mountains from North to South is very scary and bikers are maniacs there. Just glad you aren't hurt.

I'd just stay where you are and use taxis, maybe not every day. Reframe the sort of holiday you are going to have, more relaxing at the villa rather than out and about.

Greeks are very helpful on the whole, someone will help you find a reliable taxi driver who has seat belts.

As I said before if you cancel and are refunded the owner of your villa will not get paid. Seems pretty unfair on them. I certainly wouldn't be happy to lose that amount of money through no fault of my own.

I can’t add to comments about the car- poor you- but can confirm Chania town is very well served by public transport.

When you say “you don’t want to tie up another 1500”. Do you mean you don’t have it or you don’t want to? If it’s as you say the latter, personally I’d just get over that and do it to salvage my holiday. Moving is going to take more time and hassle during your trip. I’d just suck up the temporary cost and get another hire car from another company.

It sounds really stressful OP. Package holidays and a resort can have great benefits over arranging everything yourself. Especially as a single parent actually as you have everything on site. Is your DC not really bored and lonely without any other DC around? Some resorts are lovely and have amazing facilities.

Do you have 'collision damage waiver'? Called CDW on the paperwork, this is the important thing to have on car hire in Greece.

@KrisAkabusi We never have that size of excess and do pay to get rid of it! That’s one less thing to worry about and op was driving this car at night from the airport. A bit extra to zero the excess is just normal for us. We don’t normally pay extra for breakdown towing or sat nav.

Because pretty much every hire car company in Europe has an excess of over €1000. It doesnt matter which company you use or what country you are in, they are all the same. The hire car will sell you additional insurance to remove the excess, but it tends to be around €30 per day. You can get much cheaper cover from other companies. I have an annual policy for €35 with AIG. Some credit cards or loyalty programmes will even cover you for free. But with these you have to pay out first and then claim it back, which is the situation the OP is in.

Crete is a nightmare for driving. We almost ended up down a mountainside getting to our villa at night. Two quite deep scratches on the hire car ( 2 separate incidents) but think it was less than 200 euros, the hire car was in with our villa price.

It sounds like an awful start for you, very stressful.

You do know that the owner of your villa now won't get paid and is unlikely to re fill the dates at such short notice?

In Greece, local travel agents can arrange car hire and will often bring the car to the villa for you. Have a Google and find an agent. Or the travel agent who is looking after the villa shoukd be able to help you with car hire.

@CreteTragedy You were spoilt on Rhodes! Of course most owners don’t do that and loads of places on Airbnb are managed bycompanies! You sound like an innocent abroad.

I’m not sure you really understand holidays contracts and protection either if you think a packaged holiday is just AI. That’s a very strange view to have.

Packaged means the holiday company sells you the flight and the accommodation and possibly arranges the car hire if needed, or airport transfers. The contract is with them. In this scenario, if your flight doesn’t happen, you get compensation for the holiday. Not just the flight because it’s a package contract. Booking separately means you would still have to pay for the accommodation, even if you didn’t show up. It’s up to you to get there. You should also get some help when something goes wrong. You don’t have any help.

In future why not look at villa package holidays? It would give you peace of mind.

Oh I thought you said the OP had gone somewhere where there was nothing fun for DC to do.

Sorry to hear about this, but yes you do seem to be handling it well. Would you consider a good all inclusive, much cheaper than paying for everything bit by bit.

That’s why I asked if they’re into hiking 🙄

You don’t know what the OP’s DC finds fun.

Good for you taking out the excess indemnity insurance, you must be very glad of that at least. And no-one was injured, try to keep that at the front of your mind.

I'd give up on hiring another car and move to a hotel where a car isn't needed. You'll find it hard to relax otherwise.

I don’t understand why you have such a huge excess.

What sort of holiday did you want? I assume you’re into hiking or something to have booked somewhere up a mountain and far from anything fun for kids, so would you really be happy being in a more touristy area?

What a rotten start to the holiday. It sounds super stressful.

I think moving into town and avoiding hiring another car is sensible. I certainly wouldn't do both.

Do you have sufficient headroom on your credit card to hire another car and have a second "hold" for the excess? The alternative is obviously that despite your existing insurance, you hire a car and suck up the cost of having zero excess. That way you can stay in your current location but it's sounding like town might be more where your head is at right now.

It might be worth giving a call to your bank to say you are concerned they are going to levy a charge without discussion and that they are avoiding you. Your bank may place a block on the payment going through if the car company try it on. I would be honest and not do something like report the card stolen. They could potentially still put through the payment anyway.

In the meantime, you can show willing by asking the hire company for the evidence of cost so that you can approach your 3rd party insurer.

That sort of excess is completely normal with a foreign hire car company! I rent cars a lot abroad from all different providers and they generally freeze well over €1000 on my card for possible damages. I would do what other people have suggested and liaise with Airbnb and get moved to the town. You can rely on public transport and sort the car out on the last day. You are very lucky Airbnb are offering to help you change accommodation, try and enjoy the rest of your holiday.