To pay (or not?) for a city break offered to you last minute?

[Ilikeyoursleeves]

A friend had booked a city break to Amsterdam with her friends this weekend, Saturday to Monday. I don’t know the friend group (4 of them were going) as it’s a different friend circle but she’s just told me one of the friends suddenly can’t go for medical reasons.

If you were asked if you wanted to go in the friends place would you think you would be expected to pay for it in full / partially / not at all? For the hotel and flight that is.

I’d expect they would want you to pay in full tbh

Yes, I would expect to cover all costs.

i would expect to pay

Yes, I would expect to pay.

I imagine you'd pay whatever the admin cost is to change the name on the plane ticket. And then, yes, pay for the hotel that you're staying in and enjoying.

Yes. I’d expect to pay. Why wouldn’t you?

Yeah I'd expect to pay, be a bit cheeky to expect to be taken on a free holiday on someone else's dime

I would decline as it’s not clear and could be costly to go be the outsider.

Are you posting as you don’t know if you are expected to pay (or how much) or that you don’t know what is being asked is reasonable?

Yes I'd expect to pay in full especially if it was because the previous guest now couldn't attend for a medical reason and I'd imagine if you didn't take up her space she would be able to claim on her insurance so wouldn't be out of pocket.

If you don’t know then why not just say.. ‘sounds lovely. Before I commit, can I ask what the details and costs are please?’

I would expect to pay what the original person paid any additional costs like changing names on the flight are paid my the original booker.

It’s a bonus if the original person pays half or doesn’t accept the money but I would always offer

If you can’t afford it, just say ‘sorry I can’t afford it’… they may reply with oh! It’s free!

I wouldn’t ask for the full amount if I was the person who couldn’t go. I think a contribution towards the lost money should suffice. If you wouldn’t pay full price and then the ££ to change the name then I wouldn’t go tbh. You’d be doing them a favour to offer half. Better then the nothing they’ll get if no one goes.

A. I wouldn't go
B. If I desperately wanted to, I'd pay my way, ie in full

The one who dropped out probably won’t get any of her money back if no one else goes. She can’t sell the place to a stranger. The group probably don’t want to chip in to cover her costs. It’d be economical for her and the group on her behalf to offer a lower cost trip to someone they know.

Eg the admin fees and around 50%

Hard one ...if the original person had insurance then id expect to pay as it would mean she couldn't claim...if there was no insurance and its too late for a refund then the holiday would go to waste anyway and would expect to pay a token amount as a gesture .

Surely the reason they’re looking for a replacement is to replace any money lost. So yes I’d expect to pay in full.

(Also I definitely wouldn’t be going 😄)

Yes!!

I certainly wouldn't think it was free. I'd ask up front how much is it.

Pay in full, unless they offer it for less. There will probably be fees to change the flight too.

Through experience when hotels and flights had been prebooked on stuff like this and someone has to cancel they lose their money and the person taking over the slot pays for the name change on the flight ticket and the balance if any of the hotel.

Yes I'd expect to pay in those circumstances.

I quite often get invited to events by a particular friend if someone drops out. I’m not included initially as they’re friends through their now adult children going to the same schools years ago and not local to me. I just go with whether it’s something I want to do and if I’m free and then pay in full. So are you free Saturday to Monday to and is a weekend in Amsterdam something you want to do?