To even consider staying in a holiday cottage?

[Dreaming69]

This might sound stupid but I have a private cottage booked in the North Yorkshire Moors. Were supposed to be going next weekend. Is there anyway we would still be able to go? It would basically be my family going in our car and effectively moving into another house. We would exercise by doing a walk in the moors so plenty big enough area to practice social distancing. The rest of the time would be in the house but it's better than mine and a change of scenery also!

Op you need to report the owner of the cottage

The refund issue is totally separate from whether you should go or not. You shouldn't be contemplating going just because you can't get a refund. The money is gone regardless, there's no point in continuing with reckless or inadvisable behaviour just so you 'get what you paid for'.

I have just written this letter to my MP and would urge all who live in places rife with holiday lets to write similarly to their politicians:
Dear Mr (MP)
In light of the lock down announced yesterday 23rd March by the government, there was no specific reference made to people who have made holiday let bookings such as airbnb and Sykes cottages for example. There are many holiday lets in (name of town) and as far as I'm aware there has been no clear instruction that all such bookings must be cancelled by the businesses concerned, at least for the next three weeks and probably beyond.
Without this clear instruction it will be down to individual choice whether or not to travel to prebooked holiday lets, despite the clear instruction to stay home except for specific listed reasons. It would be very difficult to police the movement of people travelling for this purpose and when they are here in (name of town) they will be shopping for food and petrol, taking exercise in our community and also cleaners will be going in to clean between bookings. There will therefore be lots of opportunity for the virus to spread, and if holiday makers become sick they will place an additional strain on local medical resources.
I urge you please to raise this issue locally and in parliament so that this loop hole can be closed and we can all be safe.
Many thanks and kind regards.
Yours sincerely
Name
Address

Joystir
Sykes holidays were discussed in parliament yesterday. Lots of people have contacted their MP’s as Sykes have refused them a refund.

The more people who make their mp aware of it the better.

It’s for posters like the OP that the Darwin Awards were set up.

The problem is, that while she and her family may be symptom free, they can still spread the virus.

But
Holiday
Paid for
No refund

Of course you should go @Dreaming69. Don’t want to waste your money, do you?

Bleurgh

Apart from the obvious answer being NO, YOU CANNOT GO ON HOLIDAY why would you expect a refund. Ever heard of travel insurance? Or sadly just suck it up, people are financially screwed the world over.

And just think how you are financially screwing the nhs should you go. Forget the money, lives are more important. Stay home

why would you expect a refund.

Why would you not? Also, I'll be honest I would never think to take out insurance for a holiday in the UK. Is that even a thing?

You and your family are incredibly selfish @Dreaming69.

Why would you not? Also, I'll be honest I would never think to take out insurance for a holiday in the UK. Is that even a thing?

Yes, it's a thing. The cottage owner is no more at fault than the OP. Why should he take the financial hit. This is why you get travel insurance. If you don't, bad luck I'm afraid.

You will not be the only family missing out, we are not taking our caravan away for Easter, we have a eurostar to France and on to a campsite booked in May and a trip to Thailand in July. Several theatre tickets in London and two travelodges booked along with train after train, oooh and a posh hotel in Wimbledon in April for my husband's birthday.
I will sift my way through them all and recoup what I can, but Ive had to accept that if I AM REPEATEDLY TOLD that I can no longer do them, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THEM.
It is explicitly simple and clear to all. This includes you.

We aren't going. I've got the message. I hadn't thought of some of the issues people have raised. I simply thought all we do is get in the car, travel (no need to come into contact with anyone at all whilst doing so) then isolate in the cottage which is not in a busy tourist area. There would have been no need to see anyone else at all so I didn't think it would be that much of a problem by going. However I hadn't thought of what would happen if we were carriers of it. Some posters are just plain nasty though and making wrong assumptions about what I was proposing. Like I was planning to go to a busy seaside resort and carry on regardless. This was never what I was saying.
I am annoyed at the owner though saying the cottage is fully operational and ready for us. It cost £500 so alot of money to just lose if they wont or cant change the booking. Booked privately by bank transfer too. (lesson learnt right there!) We haven't been away in years so was really looking forward to it. I'm truly sorry if I've offended anyone by this post. I didn't mean to be so selfish.

Just because there are bigger things to worry about for many, doesn't mean it's a shame when people miss out on something that obviously meant a lot to them. I hope you get a good holiday when all this is over OP. Stay safe everyone

@Dreaming69

Nobody could have predicted this OP.

But in future pay for everything via credit card, I'm not even sure you could claim back via credit card in these circumstances but you've got a lot better chance trying charge back than paying by bank transfer.

That is a lot of money to lose, but you are making the right choice in not going.

COVID-19 essential travel guidance

Guidance and advice to avoid non-essential travel in the UK.

Following on from the government’s guidance on social distancing in relation to COVID-19, people should avoid travelling unless it is essential.
Who this guidance is for

This guidance is for people planning to visit second homes or holiday premises during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk.

www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-essential-travel-guidance

I’ve just cancelled my holiday at the end of April. They’ve moved it to next year so at least I haven’t lost the money.
Try that.

OP you have done the right thing. It’s crap but money lost is nothing in the scheme of things. Health is more important.

I understand your disappointment. We lost a long awaited holiday as well. Luckily the airline and hotel have refunded our money. It'll pass, contact your MP and anyone else that could help with getting your money back. There's a programme on radio 4 called moneybox and this would be right up their street . You won't be the only one . If all else fails, leave a detailed review on trip advisor as to how they expected you to place your self and others at risk.

Contact them again and point out that per govt guidance you can't go, OP. If may take a while to recoup your money but I'm guessing this is one of those things where the govt may eventually step in and tell hotels etc that they cannot charge people for holidays that they were not able to take because of nationwide govt issued regulations. Think about other businesses where people will have to cancel appts, like hairdressers, massage therapists, etc - would they get away with charging people for missed appts in these circumstances?

I’m pleased to hear you’ve changed your mind @Dreaming69. I can imagine you’re all very disappointed but it is the right thing to do. There will be other holidays, we will get through this if we stick together (whilst being 2m apart!) and act responsibly.

I would try the owner again, maybe you could negotiate a 50% refund so neither of you lose the whole amount.

Start planning the amazing party you can have when this is all over 💐

There is a good chance tour holiday insurance will cover you as long as you took the policy out before 11th/12th/13th March 2020, whichbis when alot of travel insurers changed their cancellation policy with regardss to Corona Virus.

The cottage owner sounds like a selfish twat putting pressure on you but all they want is their dosh. They don't give 2 fucks by the sounds of it to anyone else or latest government instruction.

Trip to a holiday destination can in no way be classed as essential travel. All but essential travel has been banned.

I'm Sorry but you cannot go.

OP as the rules have now changed please go back to the owners and ask if they would rather do a full refund or change the dates.

I get that a lot of business are suffering but the government are put plans in place to help. They are being extremely stupid trying to keep going like this.

Tell the owner of the cottage that the Prime Minister has said to STAY AT HOME and NO NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL.

This is non-essential.

Your money should be returned.