Would you cancel this holiday?

[tiredmama25]

My husband and I are going around in circles with this. I just wanted some outside opinions.

We have a holiday booked for 3rd June to Portugal. This was booked almost a year ago, pre quarantine etc and absolutely no idea that this would ever even be an issue.

We have so far paid two deposits of £400 each, so currently the company has £800 of our money. The final balance (£3000) is due beginning of March.

Now currently we have no option to cancel/rebook or anything without incurring fees or losing our deposit entirely. People who book now or have booked in the last few months are better off than we are as there's all sorts of free amendments/Covid cover etc but we seem to be excluded from all this. All they can say is that they expect holidays from May onwards to be going ahead - not interested in discussing anything past this.

Now, I don't even really want to go anymore I'm not bothered about the holiday - if we had a crystal ball then obviously we never would have booked. But I don't really want to lose £800.

My husband is adamant that we should just pay the balance because then if it ends up getting cancelled due to travel being restricted we will be entitled to a full refund. However I just can't shake the feeling of us paying all the money and then getting caught up in some kind of drama/small print loophole and ending up out of pocket by a lot more than £800. Of course there's also the risk of getting Covid and being unable to go!

So many people are like "oh it's June it's a while yet I'm sure it will be fine" but I really can't see that happening. It's just so frustrating not having a definitive answer - which I know is expected with the way things are at the moment.

So yeah, would you cancel and lose £800 for good or would you be inclined to pay the balance and then see how it plays out?

Thanks.

[quote Mammaaof]@neonjumper who did you book with if you don't mind me asking?[/quote]
Through booking.com with Teamstar .

Currently trying chargeback through credit card but it seems a long winded process .

@womanity we aren't talking about booking holidays for this year are we!? This was booked back In Oct 2019.

[quote Mammaaof]@womanity we aren't talking about booking holidays for this year are we!? This was booked back In Oct 2019.[/quote]
I never said we were. Someone else said we were, whilst quoting my post. 🤷‍♀️

I would really try and push it forward a year if they will allow it. The problem could be that Portugal will insist on tests prior to entry and these are expensive and have to be done within 72 hours of flying. At circa £150 per person this significantly adds to the holiday cost. Then perhaps required on your return.

Also how much of an enjoyable holiday will it be. What will be open. Will there be evening curfews etc as there are for instance in some Canary Islands.

If you have the chance to push it forward for a year it may be more expensive but I would definitely think it would be less stressful and way more enjoyable. We just didn’t get on our Christmas flights and lost the money though not the accommodation costs as these were rebooked forward for a year. Not First Choice though as we booked independently to Gran Canaria. We could have gone but not for us in the middle of a pandemic.

@friendlycat

I would really try and push it forward a year if they will allow it. The problem could be that Portugal will insist on tests prior to entry and these are expensive and have to be done within 72 hours of flying. At circa £150 per person this significantly adds to the holiday cost. Then perhaps required on your return.

Also how much of an enjoyable holiday will it be. What will be open. Will there be evening curfews etc as there are for instance in some Canary Islands.

If you have the chance to push it forward for a year it may be more expensive but I would definitely think it would be less stressful and way more enjoyable. We just didn’t get on our Christmas flights and lost the money though not the accommodation costs as these were rebooked forward for a year. Not First Choice though as we booked independently to Gran Canaria. We could have gone but not for us in the middle of a pandemic.

They won't just push it forward without an additional fee. Which I think is £250pp - plus next year our youngest will be over two so we will have to pay full price for them too so potentially looking at an extra £2000.

@Kazzyhoward - I'm sure prices will go up

@tiredmama25 yes tui want £250pp to push it to next year plus they then want the extra £1200 it will cost to go on the exact same date in 2022 🤨 so extra £2200 for us!! Honestly the amount this holiday is costing I could have gone to the Maldives!! X

Pay on a credit card and hope it gets cancelled.

Defer until 2022 but choose somewhere else if its too expensive? The changes will likely cost atm though.

What's their policy on testing and quarantine etc? I wouldn't want to source tests 3 days prior to travel, then again on the way back.

Holidays should be looked forward to. Not filled with angst and worry.

Sorry cross posted with last replies as my post wouldn't post.

@FraggleShingleBellRock

Have you paid any of the £800 on your credit card?

If you are happy to go then pay the balance on your credit card. If you can't go, they go bust, refuse a refund, or the country won't let people in, claim the money back from your credit card provider.

Or just call them/email and see if you can get an amendment to a as new date or a voucher etc. We had five holidays last year that were cancelled. We are due to go to Italy in may after it was rescheduled from last may and is not looking hopefully but if I can go, I'm going.

Sorry missed this yesterday - yes the £800 so far has been paid on the credit card.

This may all be taken out of your hands if the government puts into place quarantine in hotels mandatory upon return from high risk countries if Portugal is put on the list. Robert Peston on ITV news suggests Portugal will be on that list.
Under these circumstances First Choice will have to allow alterations to your booking and offer refund surely?

Maybe have a look at the Martin Lewis site, MSE and see what he is advising or the travel guy on the BBC Simon (something). They would be a good knowledge idea

@friendlycat I reckon so other wise they will have a lot of complaints on their hands.

@friendlycat

This may all be taken out of your hands if the government puts into place quarantine in hotels mandatory upon return from high risk countries if Portugal is put on the list. Robert Peston on ITV news suggests Portugal will be on that list. Under these circumstances First Choice will have to allow alterations to your booking and offer refund surely?

Oh god, I bloody well hope so.

Well now Portugal are on the list they have to offer you a refund as you can’t be expected to pay to quarantine in a hotel on return. So that solves your problem.

@friendlycat I hope that is the case and Travel companies don’t argue technically you could go if you wanted.

@friendlycat

Well now Portugal are on the list they have to offer you a refund as you can’t be expected to pay to quarantine in a hotel on return. So that solves your problem.

I don't think it will be that easy. I wish though.

Also how long will this be in place for? They will no doubt argue that we can't have a refund because our holiday is June and things might change by then...

Bet they still want full payment in March.

[quote Daisypaisy2]@friendlycat I hope that is the case and Travel companies don’t argue technically you could go if you wanted.[/quote]

This is what I'm worrying about!!

Portugal will bend over backwards to welcome tourists to the algarve. Which is actually not doing badly at all in our area (Carvoeiro and ferragudo in Lagoa council). Last year people had great holidays here and all restaurants were open but with masks of course. It’s easy in the summer as everyone sits outside. I’d not want to go to Lisbon or porto though. And would prefer a villa to a hotel.

Tui are still saying my holiday is going ahead or I have the option of moving it for £250pp 😢😢😢

the only reason it's even affordable for us is because our youngest will be a week shy of turning 2 when we return so is basically "free"

If you change the dates it'll presumably cost another £1000 or so for the littlest? Maybe ends up costing more than the £800 you might be out of pocket for a cancellation....

@Mammaaof do you mean £50pp? That’s what they told me. I would wait I think when Borris does another update TUI will release more info.

@Mammaaof

Tui are still saying my holiday is going ahead or I have the option of moving it for £250pp 😢😢😢

Have you already paid the full balance?

@HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks

the only reason it's even affordable for us is because our youngest will be a week shy of turning 2 when we return so is basically "free"

If you change the dates it'll presumably cost another £1000 or so for the littlest? Maybe ends up costing more than the £800 you might be out of pocket for a cancellation....

I know. It's just whether we do just that or wait a little longer and hold off in the hope of cancellation on their part and free refund.

The Covid tests alone will probably cost more than £800 it's just bringing yourself to essentially throw £800 in the bin. 😭

@Daisypaisy2 no £250pp they just told me on the phone 😓 they've told someone else today on another tread it would cost £150pp so I think there saying different prices to everyone!

@tiredmama25 yes I paid the full balance last year as it was a holiday that had been moved x