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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

... to book a holiday cottage in North Wales this August?

58 replies

GlomOfNit · 23/04/2020 16:11

I need something to look forward to (as do we all) and I'm currently dithering about booking a week in a lovely-looking cottage in Snowdonia National Park. The company we're looking at has a no-risk offer at the moment because of Covid19 - they say you can rebook your break later in 2020 or in 2021 with no extra cost.

Nobody knows what August in the UK will look like at the moment. We could be in the middle of a second peak, or it might have calmed down a bit. The government might have lifted some restrictions (I bet there'll still be social distancing) or they might not. As things stand with this company, if there are still restrictions in place or even if we decide as a family not to risk it, we can rebook for a later date at no extra cost. So far, so good.

But is a holiday a holiday if you can't go onto the beach, or into parkland? If you can't eat lunch in a cafe or have a pub meal? And how likely is it that we'd get aggro for being out-of-towners? I've heard loads here (and elsewhere) about people being really unpleasant to folks they perceive aren't local, particularly in holiday areas.

Is it even worth it, or should we just shelve the whole idea and camp in the garden instead?

Just need something to look forward to this year. I know we all do.

OP posts:

Hobbesmanc · 23/04/2020 16:15

If it's Hoseasons they have been really good after we lost our Easter holiday. We've got the same lodge same week same price next year.

Unless though a holiday is just staying in the cottage, you might be disappointing. Going walking without a pub lunch or the seaside with no cafes or amusements open might be a wash out

Stinkycatbreath · 23/04/2020 16:54

We have a house in Snowdonia and have avoided it so far. I hope to God that we can go. When your nearest hospital is 35 miles away in Bangor you don't want out of towners bringing COVID to your door. I wouldn't book aheadid give it some time first.

nobabiesyet · 23/04/2020 17:13

No way would I be booking a holiday cottage because we don't know what the situation will be in August. Imagine if you book it, but travel is still restricted, but they don;t 'close' the cottage so you lose the money. They might offer to forward the booking to a few years time, but will they still be trading? Will they inflate the price of the cottage? I'd do a bit of googling re the issues re Corona and holiday bookings in Wales and you will see some terrible issues relating to some companies and how they are treating people who have booked to go. With many holiday companies - if cottages are unsold the few weeks before they reduce the price. I'd hold fire - if the situation clears up you might get a bargain break. I bet there are a lot of people wishing they'd not booked recently.

Glenthebattleostrich · 23/04/2020 17:16

We are hoping to go to Northumberland in August but won't be booking anything until last minute.

We should be in America in 2 weeks, obviously that won't happen so I can't face losing another holiday as selfish as that sounds.

helpfulperson · 23/04/2020 17:32

I would got for it. It will be fun to look forward to and plan. so long as you keep in mind that you may not be able to go then there is no harm in enjoying the expectation.

Coughsyrupsucks · 23/04/2020 17:35

Book it nearer the time, and see if the situation has changed. I wouldn’t book anything right now.

IceBearRocks · 23/04/2020 17:36

I wouldn't bother !

Janaih · 23/04/2020 17:38

Earmark the money and book in june or July when things are hopefully more settled.

1FootInTheRave · 23/04/2020 17:38

Hoseasons have been dreadful so I would avoid booking via them if possible.

HandfulOfFlowers · 23/04/2020 17:44

Book one that will let you cancel up to two weeks before arrival. You can sort on Airbnb on this criterion. We have booked one in Devon on this basis.

MaidenMotherCrone · 23/04/2020 17:44

Camp in your garden.

vanillandhoney · 23/04/2020 17:45

Don't waste your money.

Alarae · 23/04/2020 17:48

I booked a large cottage and grounds for my DH's birthday, where we will celebrate with all his family. Unfortunately I booked a couple of weeks before lockdown, so I don't think I can cancel without penalty so I've left the booking and hoping for the best.

If I had not booked already I wouldn't bother until closer to the time or I knew I could get a full refund at any time.

Snaga · 23/04/2020 17:50

YABU unless there's a massive change to the current state of affairs in the next 2 months.

You'd be adding pressure to an area with limited resources and pretty scared locals who know their nearest hospital is an hour's drive away. Tourism is their lifeblood and they're begging you to stay away. That should tell you everything you need to know.

ladylunchalot · 23/04/2020 17:56

I wouldn't risk it to be honest, really can't see the UK being business as usual by then. I would hang off and then nearer the time if things have improved then book but I wouldn't be hopeful.

Serin · 23/04/2020 18:15

We have a gorgeous Cornish barn conversion booked for August (booked it in June 2019).
I have everything crossed that we will still be able to go but am considering cancelling soon as we will only lose £50 if we cancel Spanish.

Francina670 · 23/04/2020 18:18

I’ve booked one. It’s highly unlikely we will be able to travel abroad so if we can travel within the U.K. things could get really booked up. If I can’t go I’ll cancel it. As long I can get on the beach I don’t care too much about the pubs etc.

ViciousJackdaw · 23/04/2020 19:20

I highly doubt anything will be open, bar take-out food. Snowdonia is beautiful but there's only so much slate you can look at.

ChocolateTea · 23/04/2020 19:29

We have a barn conversion booked for Wales in August for 3 of us. I'm hoping it still goes ahead, as simply taking two teenagers away for 4 days will make a difference. We are self sufficient in the conversion, and can take lots of supplies with us. But I'm leaving it up to the owners, and the government to decide. We booked back in December, the kids have already had one break cancelled and lots of school trips so they're really crossing their fingers. Would I book now for August? Mmm not sure. I'm leaving our booking as Im not covered to cancel myself yet, but not sure I would book something in this current climate

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 23/04/2020 19:30

Wales has been pleading with second home owners not to come and I think the same applies to holiday cottages.

Hairyfairy78 · 23/04/2020 19:37

I don’t see much point currently. Unless things are open then it’s just trading one house for another and paying a lot of money for it in August.

Jellykat · 23/04/2020 19:38

It was on our news yesterday, that GPs in North and here in West Wales, have petitioned the WA asking for rules regarding Second homes and holiday cottages to be extended even after lockdown is over.

I wouldn't book yet!

boylovesmeerkats · 23/04/2020 20:05

If it's private then maybe but I've heard of problems with cottage booking companies, you might not get a proper choice of when you can rebook. Snowdonia is lovely and never had a problem being out of town, it's a common place for second homes and if people aren't keen of you they usually keep it to themselves in Welsh! You could have a nice holiday if you were self catered, going for walks and having a change of scene. Near Dolgellau is nice, in Dolgellau is very touristy and expensive these days. We have a cottage booked in the peak district which we haven't cancelled and won't cancel, would definitely go if it was in the rules to be allowed to.

Ponoka7 · 23/04/2020 20:16

Pubs etc won't be open. Quite rightly locals should be given priority when seaside places open up, so it might be a long wait to get in whatever is open.

Social distancing will still be in place, so it will just be a limited change of scenery rather than a holiday.

Why do you think things will be different? This will have been for nothing if we don't continue, we will just get wave after wave and another school year will be interrupted, which they won't risk.

Original poster

GlomOfNit · 23/04/2020 20:19

WRT the company being dodgy or going back on their pledge - that's something I'm not worried about. It's a really small, Welsh-owned company that I've used loads of times, the sort of place where the owner remembers you. I've looked at their statement about the rebooking thing and I've also got a 'paper trail' of an online chat where I asked about rebooking.

I take the point about holiday cottages being akin to second homes though. That was one of my concerns, plus I know hospitals are thin on the ground in North Wales. I think we just wouldn't go (and the company say you can cancel and rebook up to 48 hours before the holiday starts) if it looked as if things were still dire in August. And while I think we'd be really happy if we just had this nice cottage, walks up mountains and the beach (if shops, cafes etc were shut) there's no guarantee that beaches or mountain parks would be open either.

I think we'll leave it a bit and see how things go - but like a PP said, there's a danger that things will get booked up in the UK very quickly given that I bet hardly anyone will manage to get abroad.

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