Apartment owner cancelled booking and sold property

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

So our July holiday appears to be completely jinxed and I don't know what to do. We are meant to be travelling to Spain on the 11th, private apartment booked via Spanish agent. Completely understand FCO advice is still not to travel however am equally aware that this may change, and that the Spanish government are welcoming tourists from early July.

I found out from the Spanish agent at the weekend that the apartment owner has decided to cancel our booking as they have sold the property. No regard whatsoever given to existing bookings and the fact that we have a contract with them (and have paid a hefty deposit). They have said that they will refund our deposit but AIBU to expect more in the way of compensation? I have flights which we have paid out for and if they are not cancelled we will not be able to get them refunded. I've looked around for other accommodation but it looks like everywhere suitable is booked, or hugely more expensive (ie massive villas). We are going to a very popular part of Spain where accommodation gets booked up for the summer a year in advance. Just don't know what to do.

I too think applying pressure to the agent is your best bet: hopefully you can be top of the pile for any cancellations, and hopefully they'll waive at least some of the difference in cost if there is any, as a gesture of goodwill.

Not to be hideously cynical, but if demand is that high and prices have rocketed to match, I wonder if they really are selling, or have just cancelled all their existing bookings in order to re-book at a higher price.

Might be a stroke of luck tbh. I highly doubt that the UK will be allowed to travel to Spain on 11th July, therefore this way you have the deposit back and the option to book something cancellable in case you can go.
I get it's annoying. I'm beyond annoyed that I lost the price of my ski holiday as it was 2 days before France went into lockdown and I thought with everything that was happening it wouldn't be wise to go. I'll also be annoyed if we can't join our wider family to holiday in England in July because we have the misfortune to live in Scotland.

But such is the way of holidays at the minute and if you're in a situation where you're not actively losing money at the minute, it seems churlish to be complaining.

rookiemere I thought most plans were geared towards the UK opening up for "staycations" in July?

Quimreaper we're in Scotland and the plans appear to be a couple of weeks behind England. Unless they are patrolling every border crossing - which would be quite police intensive- then we are intending to go if it's possible. But there's no certainty about the situation.

I’d on balance say that maybe the owners are selling because they are in financial difficulty? They can’t pay the mortgage with all the cancellations and are struggling like the rest of the world?

Hi @chocolatesaltyballs22 I meant to reply to you yesterday, sorry. Firstly, I agree that this might be a good thing. As you know, I live here and currently the idea of coming on holiday here is laughable. But I accept that may change in a month.

I stick to what I said weeks ago, ask the agent for the NIE/NIF number of the owners and more importantly the tourist license they originally took your booking with.

If you denounce them (which you can threaten to do) they will not be able to move. They obviously will not want this.

I maintain my original view that your agent is a bit shady.

However, others are correct, if I choose to cancel a booking 6 weeks before, I can, as long as I return deposit. (I have never done this though, in 15 years)

Seriously though, I think this is a blessing in disguise. I believe the Spanish gvt. believe that there is a 14 day quarantine for Brits and that none will come. I honestly feel they are not welcome. We have and still are, under the strictest lockdown.

We haven't done this to ourselves and DC's for nothing! Tourism comes from everywhere, places that have locked down like us, not just the UK (before people start saying we need UK money)

I am really sorry though @chocolatesaltyballs22. You had a great holiday planned that IMO put nobody at risk at all.

Good luck

The villa people are not responsible for your flights.

You need to look at the contract you have with the Spanish agent to see what the contract says.

Thanks @BillieEilish. It's weird the conflicting info which is around at the minute. I've seen reports of bars and restaurants opening again this week in the town we're visiting, so from the outside looking in it looks like things are getting back to normal. But I know that you live in Spain and are probably seeing a different picture. As you said, things can change in the space of the next 6 weeks.

Yep, that's it @chocolate, A few bars have A FEW tables outside metres apart. No going inside and no toilet use!

Friends keep writing to me 'oh I see it's easing up' no... it is still at UK level lockdown. People getting fined for even leaving their province. What is reported is not necessarily the truth.

But, it could change in 6 weeks.

Still no school, food shops a nightmare, tense. Everything else shut. It would not be a holiday for me at this stage. Beaches shut.

I'd ask for the tourist licence as minimum. They won't have one, your agent is taking a cut from everyone IMO.

I’m also out in Spain at the moment, and I see things slightly differently. However, different parts of Spain are in different phases of deescalation, so that’s probably not surprising. Certainly we are emerging from a far stricter lockdown than the UK and there are still strict distancing rules at the present time, though they are relaxing.

However, there is a clearly laid out plan for each of the four phases, and from what I see in various Spanish newspapers, the hotel business and the tourism ministry are on a mission to establish clear standards of hygiene and cleaning protocols. They want people to feel safe and to return, but rightly say they cannot allow foreigners to travel the length and breadth of the country as long as Spanish citizens cannot go and visit their grandmother in another province, so it is dependent on the relevant provinces qualifying to come out of phase 3 into the “new normal”, earliest in late June. You may find reading the English version of “El País” online helpful for a national perspective and some more detail.

Can you say roughly which area you are going to OP, and what you would like in terms of accommodation? People may be able to help you better if you can.

Thanks @Hopeisnotastrategy, I do read El Pais every few days.

I'm traveling to Andalucia, would rather not say where as it might give me away!

@chocolatesaltyballs22 no that’s fine, just gives me a rough idea . 😊

Andalucia has been a bit of a mixed bag, with Malaga and Granada districts lagging behind the others in terms of progressing to Phase 2, though I imagine they will catch up very shortly. Certainly the will is here in Spain to tap into the summer tourist season just as soon as it is safely possible to do so., and the Costa del Sol will be at the head of that charge.

I’ll message you.

Ah ok, thanks. It's Malaga district.

I just thought Id send you this link, it has some info about quarantines in Malaga www.guidetomalaga.com/events-in-malaga/malaga-news/need-to-know-coronavirus-in-malaga/

This was the bit that caught my eye when I read it yesterday

No need to be a douche about it.

Fed up of people whinging about this happening when they knew the risks in booking holidays in separate parts. There’s a way to guard against it but OP presumably wanted to do it on the cheap. If she can’t afford to lose the money she should have booked through an agent.

And if I am lucky enough to go abroad this year, damn right will I enjoy quaratining for two weeks afterwards - why wouldn't I?

People are bitching and moaning about lockdown going on too long but apparently with will be fine to lockdown for two weeks just to enjoy a beach in Spain for a week.

Well you're a ray of sunshine @MintyMabel. Just FYI, package deals aren't available for where I'm going. And I'm going for 2 weeks, not one.

Can you change the destination of your flights for a fee? And book accommodation in new destination.

Erm I don't want to?! I chose this place for a reason - I've been going there every summer for 15 years.

Just FYI, package deals aren't available for where I'm going. And I'm going for 2 weeks, not one.

A travel agent can package up any trip.

I'm glad you're such an expert @MintyMabel. I don't need a travel agent - I like to do it myself. And not because it's 'cheap', btw. Accommodation alone is £3k. We're not all Brits abroad looking for a sun n sangria package deal.

I don't know the area.
I dont know how many of you are going.
But I've searched 2 weeks in Malaga Aladucia from 11th July for 6 adults and there is a fair few below £3,000..
HTH

Sorry that was AirBNB

YABU. They have given you several weeks notice and all your money back. You don’t need compensation.

When you don’t book a package this is the risk you take.

I don't need a travel agent - I like to do it myself.

Then accept that you run the risk of not being protected and ending up in the situation you’re in now. If you don’t like that, book a protected package.