Holiday Cancellation and rebooking

[prepared101]

Holiday company have emailed me this morning to cancel a holiday we had booked in August to Spain. Had paid £2150 for 12 night all inclusive at a hotel with a 4 star trip advisor review - booked and paid for several months ago. 1 adult, 2 kids.

They have kindly given me a £300 voucher code but every other comparable holiday is £1k more.

Kids are absolutely gutted but I'm minded not to rebook given risk of strikes, increased costs (we could afford it but will mean we can't do a Xmas market trip in December that I've been looking forward to for literally YEARS).

I'm thinking to give each DC a £500 budget to makeover their bedroom (they need redecorating anyway) and spending the rest of the holiday refund on day trips/meals out etc during the holidays.

DH says I should rebook as the kids are missing out on a holiday they were looking forward to (he's not coming because of work commitments- I strongly suspect he was looking forward to having two weeks without a wife and kids knocking around!).

WWYD??

Can you book for 7 days instead?

If rebook a Uk holiday instead, might not be a good value but the kids would probably rather have the holiday and the bedroom makeover.

DH’s opinion aside, I would rebook. It’s really not fair to the kids, and a room makeover won’t make up for that. Some of my best and most treasured memories are of holidays with the kids when they were little, I wouldn’t give that up for the world.
who are you planning to go to the christmas market with-kids or DH?

I think you're right. I LOVE holidays abroad but this summer I'm not even attempting it. It will probably just get cancelled again, more hassle and distress for you all.

Can you not find something comparable for 7 nights instead, so you can use the compensation voucher they've sent? I'm assuming they've refunded the full price of the original holiday?

This is a great idea if it will save enough money to balance out! Just wanted to add that you have my sympathies, it’s a shitty situation that you’ve been put in.

I'd re-book, even if it ends up being for a week rather than 10 days and even if you end up going somewhere different. If you're a kid who's been looking forward to going on holiday abroad it's not the same as getting a new duvet set and some curtains. I'd be gutted if I got some money to redo my bedroom instead!

7 day holiday Op. no brainer!

and a little holiday spending money for the children
don’t you want to get away? I am a single parent and LOVE my holidays with my children, especially all inclusive as proper fun and relaxation time l

I think you should still give the kids a holiday. I'd go for a 1 week UK holiday this year as it's safer option. The travel case is going to get worse once we're properly into school holidays.
You wouldn't want to have to tell kids for a 2nd time the holiday is cancelled!

I would rebook even if meant a different location and for less time.

Rooms don’t have to cost hundreds to make over.

*travel chaos- not case

Who did you book with? Where are you flying from? Why did they cancel?

Rebook a 1 week holiday.

See what the kids think to your suggestion. They might go for it!

Thanks for replies! I have looked at 7 days but the flight times means it's really 5 days (that's why I'd booked 12 nights previously- it meant an actual 10 days). I could do 7 days but it would mean travelling from Gatwick and I'm influenced by current media!

In response to PP asking if I was looking forward to getting away- tbh, taking two kids (age gap- fight like cat and dog) away on my own doesn't feel like a break so I'm pretty neutral about it.

We had a UK holiday in May- it was shit for me and the kids didn't enjoy it (14 year old too cool to join in, 6 year old wouldn't do anything alone). We live in a town where people often holiday - beach etc.

Xmas market trip would be all 4 of us. DH and I went alone in 2018 and have wanted to go back with DC ever since.

Ok

qhat about uk holiday long weekend by the beach? Or quick flit to Barcelona

come on op - you gotta at least try to give them something. They weren’t heading for 12 days AI and guaranteed sun!

Unusual for a 6 and 14 year old to fight like cats and dogs. What about?

I'd look at a seven day alternative not flying from Gatwick. Non-beach alternatives you could consider are places such as Berlin.

Not sure what the answer is but can you name and shame- was it tui?

i know others who this has happened to, some for summer 2023 (all jet 2 who clearly realised they have made a mistake with pricing because all identical holidays now hundreds of pounds higher already 😡). It really sucks.

I think I’d look at somewhere with better flight times for 7 nights. I know us grown ups are picky but kids usually are far less so.

we were lucky and got our holiday at half term (portugal), tbh everything was so horrendously expensive out there that I was relieved not to have booked for more than 1 week.

I’d have to rebook. Worried about my August holiday; but absolutely going somewhere

Mine was younger sibling annoying older one in the eyes of the older one.
Younfer one it’s not fair cos older one didn’t want to play with them.
okder one annoyed with younger one for having the audacity to touch something left somewhere daft.
Younger one annoying older when when doing homework.

It was all bloody ridiculous trivial stuff. They laugh about it all now at the things they got annoyed at.

I'd look at the possibility of booking direct with the hotel and then see what flights are available to see if its any cheaper.

Thanks all.

Have rebooked a very similar holiday and paid the extra £800

Waiting for midday so I can have a stiff drink

Everything

That’s good.

Tell your DH he can redecorate the kids rooms while you are away. And mean it.