Whether to cancel holiday to Cyprus

[Lamplight101]

I'm sure I'm not the only one having this worry but I'm due to travel to Cyprus with 2 children on a package holiday in August. I know if the government advises against travel I will get my money back but so far I have paid a 2k deposit against an 8k total. The question is do I lose my 2k or take the risk of paying an extra 6k in the hope of getting it back if we are told to cancel? If the government does not go as far as to advise against it but it's by that time currently too risky to be sensible. Would you write off the 2k or risk by paying the other 6k on the basis that if told to cancel will get it all back? Deadline for final payment is next week. I can ask the tour company if I can transfer my 2k to a different holiday destination but doubt they will agree as why would they.

8k! For a package holiday to Cyprus? Is it AI or a quality hotel?

i don’t know the answer. I booked a few weeks ago. Will probably go unless there’s a travel advisory.

worth asking if they’ll transfer the 2k though. You’re assuming they won’t, but if you don’t ask you won’t know. I think mine offers the option to change flight/hotel, but I haven’t tried.

8k?!!! Jesus Christ.

For that outlay I’d be going come hell or high water.

Personally I’d still go on holiday. If the situation escalates the foreign office will change its advice and you’ll be covered by insurance but until then carry on because no reason not to

Missing the point of your OP completely but how on earth have you managed to spend 8k on a holiday to Cyprus?

On the cost query it's 4 adults (includes our inlaws) and 2 children. The inlaws will transfer their share to me but for these purposes I'm just thinking of it as one whole in terms of weighing up the numbers. Their view is that they will go along with whatever decision is made.

This. Plus if you look in the small print, it could well be that you're still liable for more than the deposit that you've paid at this stage. The amount you have to pay as a deposit is often less than the amount you're contracted to pay if you cancel.

Why would the government advise against travel to Cyprus? Is there something happening there?

I'm currently in Cyprus and there is nothing to worry about. Airport security has increased, and that is a a bit of a faff, but in terms of island life, everything is normal. The beach, the parties, the sun, the fun. Please come and enjoy your holiday and don't worry about stuff that is not happening on this island

I live in Cyprus, it is perfectly safe, probably safer than the UK. We have a massive international military contingent who will always protect the island due to its strategic position. Furthermore the Cypriots are masters at diplomacy, they don’t take sides and are the enemy of none.

There is a lot of scaremongering going on, particularly on SM, but the reality is quite different.

My DH travels from the UK weekly, there is increased security at the airport (Paphos) but this is likely due to its proximity to the Cypriot military base which has just been the subject of spies.

Yes we can sometimes see the interception of bombs headed for Israel, but it’s a long way away, and only possible because of the beautiful pollution free, night sky. It’s sad, but not scary.

Please don’t cancel, it’s a beautiful island, full of beautiful people and there really is no danger here.

You should be able to change the destination and transfer the deposit over to the new holiday.

There may be a admin charge, who is your tour operator?

Because of its proximity to Isreal. My MIL lives in Cyprus and can see mortars exploding.

I’d still go on holiday. We have Turkey soon, not worried at all.

Similar thread here OP which you might find useful….

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5357568-would-you-go-to-cyprus?page=3&reply=145211259

That’s a different situation though. Turkey’s terrorism threat is lower than Cyprus’s as Cyprus has UK/US military bases.

I would ask to transfer if you don’t want to go to Cyprus. The chance of the foreign office advising against travel is extremely small.

Unfortunately “there really is no danger here” isn’t something which anyone can guarantee. The terrorist threat is heightened for a reason.

Granted, but they always have. Even been based at Akrotiri before.

The fact they have the bases, means they have more services to protect Cyprus as required…

Absolute scaremongering! Do you honestly think there is more danger here than in the UK? And based on what? Your MIL saw an interception of a bomb headed to a different country?

I'm also thinking similar. I am starting and ending a cruise there next month. I've signed up to the Government travel advice website who will send me a message daily on the status in Cyprus. Also your holiday company will advise too.

I'm going to just sit and keep my fingers crossed.

TravelInsurance rarely covers war

If the govt advise against it I don't know how
Much you would
Get back

I imagine it's a bit line
Covid. They call it an act of god and won't cover it.

We were lucky in Covid as our holiday was near the start and we got a full refund however after a few months many companies wouldn't cough up.

No, I didn’t say there was more danger in Cyprus than in the UK. I was merely saying that nobody can say “there is no danger here”.

This - if you’re on a package deal, you should be able to change destinations without losing any money?

Sorry, just realised this is a thread from last year!

I'd cancel now. We previously cancelled a holiday to Cyprus - it was about 7 years ago - due to some build up of war in that area (think it was ISIS).