to think it might be best not to book a holiday in the EU?

[InTheRoseGarden]

I'm planning next year's summer holiday and as I'm reaching the point of booking things I'm hesitating because of the Brexit situation. Am I right in thinking that if there's no deal it could be a complete ball ache? I really don't want a load of stress in having to sort extra things out ahead of the holiday - especially if everyone else with a European holiday is doing it too.

It's De Efteling, by the way.

Do you really think the EU would shoot itself that badly?

Unfortunately, it's the British who are playing silly buggers here. The British must abide by the terms of the good Friday agreement. The EU is rightly standing up for Ireland in this regard. A deal that would not break the terms seems to be unpalatable to the British. So where to from here?

Will they though they - bacause apparently all is not obvious.

That is my understanding but I could be wrong.

You LTB?
Wrong thread or what?
Are you tired?

Oh and try the Relationships board, you can get lots of good advice there. HTH.

Brexit is a complete unknown, and until something does become known I'm certainly not booking anything abroad.

it might be different for those who have extra finances and time in case of needing to change plans and book extra accommodation, but we haven't got those and we do have kids to worry about.

It is so difficult to know whether there will be deals and plans in place with all the political games they're playing through the media, but one thing's for sure: there's no agreement yet and only 5 months to go.

I am not booking anything and we usually always go abroad for Easter

I just booked our flights to Sweden for next year but they were cheap and Ryanair says they will refund if no deal happens. Rest will book cancelable. DH has French driving licence so car hire will be fine.

Ryanair says they will refund if no deal happens
Do you have a link to that policy ?

Ryanair says they will refund if no deal happens.

I'm surprised at that. What happened to Michael O'Leary's famous "What part of no refunds do they not understand?" attitude?

I hadn't thought there'd be issues ? We nearly booked next years summer holiday to the same place whilst we were still there. Only thing that stopped us is that I'm changing jobs and not sure I can get time off.

I fully accept it could cost us a fortune once we are there but beyond that what's the worry? Even if we needed a visa they can't roll it out on a Monday and expect you to have one to travel the day after.

Maybe I'm completely naive and have no idea? Highly likely.

Even if we needed a visa they can't roll it out on a Monday and expect you to have one to travel the day after.
they SO can

Quite a few press articles like this were saying about it:

www.ibtimes.co.uk/ryanair-put-brexit-clause-summer-2019-tickets-1657886

However, I am working on a worst case scenario of lose money but it was £243 for all 4 flights which we can afford to write off. I didn't check for Brexit clause in terms as I don't trust Ryanair that much and legal things I never trust that much either unless a lawyer has checked it. But if we left booking cost would double so its 50-50. I would not have booked expensive flights - had fancied Azores but that's £1300 and no way would I risk that. I am going to plan holiday mainly for fun of planning but not book anything that's not fully refundable. Husband is French so kids can potentially have French passports and he can at least hire a car. I also expect some travel companies will go under so its very difficult.

They've presumably decided to refund either because they have no choice due to some form of international regulations or they are afraid no one will book unless they promise refunds. You're right not to trust them though. They'll probably come up with some administration fee that is more than the cost of the flights, the same way they do with taxes etc if you don't take your flight.

DH has French driving licence so car hire will be fine.

Except that the license may not be valid in the UK after 29/3!

All Britons in the EU are being advised to change their British licences for local ones, before brexit day.

A major feature of the Aviation Industry is Risk Planning - and most people that fly planes have 'unflappable' and 'logical thought in extreme circumstances' in their DNA, as do most others involved in the Industry.

So, will they take off in a $300million aeroplane that isn’t insured to fly?

I see nothing here
www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/terms-and-conditions/termsandconditionsar_368204930
that implies Ryanair will refund flights cancelled because of a hard Brexit

Yes I just looked and can't see anything obvious either in general terms and conditions.

I didn't know that about French driving licence not being valid here from 29/3 though DH is always on he's going to start cycling to work, he may finally have to do it. 😎 Would be a problem though as I don't drive, we have just moved by his work but still use car for trips out.

Ryanair do refund cancelled flights even when the cancellation is due to weather or another factor out of their control. I've found them quite prompt at doing this actually. What they are less good about is refunding other expenses you may incur due to their service not operating.

Tbh I'd expect them to refund flights that don't take off (because they presumably will want to have a functioning business model when flights resume) - so as long as you book accommodation that can be cancelled without penalty I don't think there is a massive risk, but it could be an expensive holiday if you are getting less than a Euro for your pound.

I didn't know that about French driving licence not being valid here from 29/3

No one knows ... it will be valid in the UK until the end of 2020 if there is a transition but potentially not after 29/3/19 if there is no deal.

Realistically I think there must hopefully be an 11th hour deal. We’re not booking anything abroad though. May look again after March when things a hopefully a bit clearer

We’ve booked our usual Easter hols break to Malta in early April. Didn’t even give it a second thought to be honest.

Ryanair do refund cancelled flights even when the cancellation is due to weather or another factor out of their control.
But Brexit is another matter .... please start to read proper news sources

I asked Ryanair over Twitter if they would refund flights cancelled due to Brexit and got this back from Ryanair:

Apologies, I did not understand your query, please enter “flight status” followed by your flight number 😎

please start to read proper news sources

What a silly patronising comment.

We don't know for sure what Ryanair will do, but we can assume that they will want people to fly on their planes again. If there is no deal, then if flights are grounded or disrupted for only a short period, I'd expect airlines to refund, for the sake of customer relations.

And frankly if flights are grounded for more than a few days, not getting a reimbursement will be the least of anyone's problems (because at that point we would be well into the worst case scenario which involves empty shelves and civil unrest).

Booking flights for next spring is a risk, but possibly worthwhile if the flights are cheap and you can afford to lose the money, and are prepared for delays, queues and general inconvenience.

I agree with @Mistigri on this.
I am certainly preparing for the worst as my regular appearance on the Prepper threads shows.
I have booked a flight in Spring for all sorts of reasons. Mainly because I want a holiday but also because I want my dd 11 to think everything is going to be as normal as it can be. I'm getting her Irish passport ffs, so clearly I am making some This Is Not Normal signs.
However, if flights are totally grounded indefinitely, as @Mistigri , that will be the least of some terrible problems for which I am as prepared as I can be.