Friends accident & mini break

[Margo2023]

Me and my friend have a 3 night mini break away in a couple of weeks, not far, just a couple of hours each way by public transport. Both already booked our own transport. She picked, booked and paid up front for the hotel at 250 each. Fast forward to today, she has sprained her wrist after a night out and now is unsure if she will be able to travel. I would normally claim on travel insurance, if we can't move it which I don't think we can due to the hotel availability (being Summer). She says she doesn't bother with travel insurance. I am now wondering if I am obliged to lay her my share of the hotel? I can't find anyone else to come along

What? I fell off a cliff and died and still made it into work the next day!

No seriously, I think your friend will be fine to go, but the Suffering Olympics in the comments is a bit much.

most people would be happily travelling on a badly sprained ankle with two weeks recovery time (maybe not trekking in the Himalayas, but city mini break for sure) so she is being ridiculous. Say firmly your wrist will be fine for traveling then, and do not transfer money until you are leaving as if she wants to cancel and isn’t insured that’s on her. (I doubt insurance would pay out tbh for such a trivial reason)

Her insurance wouldn’t cover you anyway. You’d need to claim on yours. They’d want a medical line stating that she is unable to travel. It seems unlikely that she’d get that for this injury, but you could ask her.

I would start moaning about money from your own end. Make it clear that you’re going to be fucked if this doesn’t come off. (Really disappointed voice, etc.)

As others have said, the travel insurance point is moot anyway as it would not be covered as there is no way someone can’t go with a sprained wrist at the time, let alone a sprained wrist a few weeks out. There must be another reason she doesn’t want go and is using this as an excuse as it’s clearly not a reason not to go.

I agree she's having you on.

I doubt any insurance company would pay out anyway for a sprained wrist - how is that going to stop her travelling?

It's likely a money issue - if she really doesn't want to go see if the hotel will do a refund

So she’s paid £500 for the hotel. Do you have the email confirmation?

I’d claim on my travel insurance and pay the excess out of her share, pay myself the full amount for my share of the hotel and my transport costs and give her the rest. Basically ensure you have not lost out financially at all.

And then never go away with her again.

@Margo2023 If she doesn't want to go, there are two options. Either you're happy to go on your own, in which case you pay your share and she loses her part of the money, or you're not happy to go on your own, in which case she pays for the whole room. You shouldn't be left out of pocket just because she has changed her mind about going away.

Zero chance of claiming on any travel insurance for a sprained wrist. Travel insurance is for when you can't travel.

I would suggest she sees how she feels nearer time.

I would absolutely not cover her cost.
Surely she would have to be on your insurance to do that? Would you be able to claim your back even? Given you can still go?

I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous!

I agree with others this is just a really shit excuse. Even if she sprained it the day before it wouldn’t stop her going, strap it up take some pain killers. She can still walk and has another hand for picking up her bag! If its a mild sprain then it’ll probably be perfectly fine in a few days time.

I’d probably still go by myself if it’s only 2 hours away, enjoy the peace.

I sprained my wrist two weeks before a 4 day cycling jaunt. Just splinted it and went anyway. 😅 Possibly not my wisest decision but it was fine. Can't imagine not going on holiday with a sprained wrist.

I'd either go alone and pay for my half, or not go and not pay. Because she can still go with a sprained wrist. I'm pretty sure it would be better by then. She ought to call them up to see what her options are though. They may be flexible.

I broke my wrist and still worked my office job, went to gigs, travelled on the train and tube to and from work, went out for meals, did house work… she’s being weird.

Sounds like you are the one jumping the gun and worrying over nothing. She seems keen to still go - your own words. So she hasn’t told you she isn’t going? Give her a week and the sprained wrist will be feeling much better. And all your worry will have been for nothing.

A sprained wrist shouldn’t prevent her travelling or staying in a hotel. It may impact on activities you had planned (like say rock climbing or a cookery class) but hopefully you could do something different.

Sprained wrist?? Is she normally this pathetic, @Margo2023 ?

Even a broken wrist oughtn't preclude someone ging on holiday, unless it's something like riding or downhill mountain biking.

Her injury shouldn't stop her going on a weekend away. Even a broken wrist would be ok.

She's trying to wriggle out of it and recoup some of her losses, don't offer to pay - she cancelled.

I’d be very grateful she’d paid and not you. Bet she wouldn’t cough up if it was the other way round. You’re not the insurance company she was too tight to book. I hope you both end up going, but no way should you refund her for a sprained wrist, truly pathetic!

Does she have a long drive there ? That's the only reason that the wrist thing would be plausible.

Otherwise she has changed her mind and this is a very poor excuse.

I know the booking is in her name, but you could try contacting the hotel yourself see if there is any wriggle room on the dates or cancellation policy. They may be ok to shift it based on the circumstances- however it's still a problem if she just doesn't want to go now.

If not it has to be something like "Friend, not sure what to do here. I still want to go, but I can't afford to pay more than my half. This is my only summer trip so I really am against paying and not going and I have checked and my insurance won't cover me for your injury . Are you sure your wrist won't be recovered enough for you to come along ?" The wording isn't great, but you need to make it clear what her options are.

She's lying, obviously!

Unless it's an activities break, there's no reason why she can't go - she can get a pull-along bag to make it easier with luggage.

I'd tell her you've both paid or are obliged to pay 50% and for that reason you're still going - up to her if she takes up her bed or not.