To lie about my location to the holiday accommodation?

[Rae34]

I am single and live alone so this period has been very difficult. I have also worked from home since March and have been very careful with who I see and where I go. Just took my temperature there & normal. About 99% sure I am virus free.

Anyway I had booked 3 days in a cottage by the seaside, about 2 hours drive. I am an artist and have been so looking forward to finishing my project and getting some breathing space before what lies before us in the next season.

The booking.com accommodation has just been in touch asking where I am coming from because I am in a restricted area they will not accommodate me any longer. Well sadly I am in such an area. AIBU to tell a white lie and say I'm coming from the next city over (which is not affected)?

I have been so, so careful and was so looking forward to a short break. Also doubt I'd get a refund and it wasn't cheap.

A lot of jobsworths will say you cant. Its against the rules!!!!! Meanwhile going down the pub (the rules say you can) and bubbling () up with other families (its allowed!!!!!!!). You meanwhile have basically been in total isolation since march.

Just go. Say you're from a different city and if they ask for proof when you get there say you dont have any and no, you dont have your smartphone with you as you were hoping to unplug.

Just go. Enjoy it.

Surely you gave your address and billing address on the Booking.com account?

If you can’t go make sure you get a full refund. Places are giving full refunds if Covid prevents you from taking your holiday. Insist on it.

I’ve got a place in Devon by the sea I can rent you for a few days, PM me if you’re interested.

If they have effectively cancelled your holiday they have to give you a refund, the no refund is for if you cancel which you haven’t.

An other prime example of why we are fucked because people think they are above the restrictions and can do what the fuck they want .

If they cancel then they have to refund .

I’d lie - enjoy your few days away

You've basically been in isolation and yet there are posters on this thread who think that you may be carrying the virus.

This does show a rather alarming lack of understanding of how the virus might be contracted, which IMO is far more worrying than the thought of you travelling to the seaside.

Many of the arbitrary rules around Covid are in place precisely because so many people lack understanding and need blunt, sweeping rules to help them work it all out.

I can’t think why they would refuse to allow you to stay and yet refuse to refund you. The owners of the cottage have a right to refuse, of course, though I presume that their refusal is based on worrying about putting strain on local health services rather than contaminating their property

• if it’s the latter, then it suggests that their cleaning regime is lacking, which would be surprising given the extra measures and short check out times that most are currently operating.

Go OP. Back in July,we were in the lockdown area and decided to go on a staycation with the kids we'd booked back in July. Our kids had been out of school since March,out trip was essential or there's and mine mental health. We were going to the coast and had always planned to mostly do outdoor activities - you know the ones that have been proved to be low risk. And guess what? The area didn't see a surge in cases after all 4 of us visited,none of us got the virus and none of our families got sick.

It's all well and good these people saying NOOOOO, YOU'RE BREAKING THE RULES. But life and society isn't black and white,it's not a one size fits all. If your mental health is suffering and you won't be putting anyone else at risk then yes,this holiday could be seen as essential. Just go and enjoy yourself x

I’m going to go against the grain here. I think protecting mental health is much more important. It’s not like you’ve been mixing with loads of people.
Also is this a rule of booking.com or a government rule? I thought you could still move around the country, just had to minimise it basically. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Booking .com May ask you for proof of where you live
like your driving licence or a recent bill
They did for me recently

I was booked into an AirBnB this Saturday with friends. When our local lockdown was announced the owners promptly refunded us and sent us an apologetic email confirming immediate cancellation.

Yes I would go. Ignore the people telling you not to, they are miserable that they canceled their holidays and misery loves company. Have fun

Ask them if they can change it for you just hold the dates to another time .

I would go for full honesty.

Tell them how you live alone and how you have isolated yourself. They are trying to protect themselves and their business. Treat them like reasonable people and they will probably do the same.

If you lie you may not enjoy your holiday.

Reading the replies people really just don't care do they

@rwalker What part of the OPs post are you struggling to understand dear?

If it’s ok for you to travel you could still book somewhere else?

SHE WOULDN'T BE BREAKING THE RULES

It’s now about getting a refund if the property cancels even though she’s allowed to travel.

Given the guidance that is linked to above I’d just say I’m travelling from my home address which isn’t restricted because it’s not restricted in relation to travel to self catering accommodation 🤷🏻‍♀️

You are allowed to go, so go. Enjoy it. I'm glad you got links to the right info on here, even if you had a few mean-spirited posters.

Go on holiday Op. You need the break!

@im5050

Booking .com May ask you for proof of where you live like your driving licence or a recent bill They did for me recently

But the issue is where you're travelling from, not where you live. So if you happen to have spent the previous fortnight with a relative somewhere else, proof of where you live is irrelevant.

Having worked up to recently in a small hotel, I would guess that they will ask you for proof of address on arrival and your booking will be cancelled there & then. They will have squared this with Booking.com and they will both stand by this, as you were warned in advance.
However, as the property is cancelling due to a restriction that was made after you booked, you will be entitled to a refund, credit note or date change.
Even though your local restrictions may state that you can still use self catering accommodation, the owners still have the right to refuse access. You don’t know their personal circumstances-just as they don’t know you.
In my experience of Booking.com, they’ll give you a bit of a run around but keep on at them & you’ll get sorted.
Best of luck, op...I hope you get away somewhere to relax.

Well you're allowed to go per the rules, but they don't want you to, so they should be refunding you. If they refuse, I'd mention that you'll be going to trading standards then, they'll pay up then. But they probably will refund so doubt you'll need to do it. Your booking might be non refundable, but they can't just change the rules themselves and expect to keep the money too, that's highly cheeky.

Pobblebonk
Yes but if the OP can’t prove that then it’s sort of stalemate
Probably the best she can get is a change of dates