To not cancel the holiday

[OuEstLaPlage]

we have a cilla holiday booked with some friends - it’s been booked and paid for for ages. We’ve done it before and it’s been great - adults and kids all get on etc etc. we don’t live too close to them in the UK, and things have been rocky for a while - but they’re separating and want to cancel the holiday.
Our flights were booked separately, ours are non refundable. Villa is now 50% refundable, which they say they’re OK with so they can at least recoup some of the cost. Im the lead person on the booking so essentially can either cancel or not…
am I unreasonable to tell them no? Honestly, we can’t afford to only get 50% of what we paid back, and then pay extra to try and find something else at last minute.
its a long standing friendship… and while
i I don’t want to ruin it, I honestly don’t see why we should pay because they are cancelling.

Is there anybody else who might take over their share of the villa?

Can't one of them still come with their kids?

Would they repay you the other 50% you'll be losing?

It's a awful situation for them but it's not fair for them to expect you to take what I assume would be a fairly sizable financial hit.

I think it's fine to tell them that you can't afford to lose 50% of your money, tbh I wouldn't ever expect someone else to accept this! It's a shame they're splitting, but would one half of the couple still like to go? Or could you draft in a sibling, parents, others who could take the other half?

Can one of them and the kids not just go?
Someone else goes?

Personally I'd let them cancel. They would be told that they lose everything as only 50% of the holiday is refunded. You dont want to cancel so in my opinion you shouldn't lose out.

If they cancel, they lose all the money. It’s not your fault they are having problems so why should you have to suffer?

Do they think they should get some of the money back if they cancel, as it is only 50% refundable? They are cheeky! If they want to cancel they get nothing.

Yes. This. They'd need to pay you back for your lost costs if they cancel. Sucks for them. But no, you should not be out of pocket because of their relationship breakup.

One can go with the kids… not fair on their kids missing out

How much is 50% of the villa cost, roughly? I think they are cheeky but if it's a lot I can see why they'd want to cancel and still get something back. It's a shame they can't see it from your point of view though.

They want you to suck up 50% loss because they don't want to go?? Tell them to jog on (nicely) but this is ridiculous

I would still go if it's paid for and you won't get anything back if you cancel your flights. Why should you lose out?

They can either find someone to take their place or accept that they have spent that money and chosen not to go.

So the villa is paid for. If you cancel you get half the money back, so 25% each. As you already have the flights which you can't cancel you'd need to find somewhere else. Presumably the 25% would nowhere near cover this, even though you'd need somewhere smaller, so you'd end up out of pocket because of their decision. Nah I wouldn't cancel it either.

One of them needs to honour the booking and holiday with the kids and your family as originally agreed.

This is the obvious solution and it's very odd that they don't recognise this themselves.

They want to cancel, the villa is already paid for you go and holiday without them their loss, or they leave one of them behind and come with you.

Why should you loose, they are asking you to pay for their cancellation, cheek.

They either go on the holiday (or pay for it even if they don’t attend) or they cover your costs for their decision to cancel. I can’t imagine lumping a friend in it financially just because I chose to change my plans.

Nah, one of them can go with the kids. Or they suck up the loss.
Don't see why you should have to lose out because of this.

I got a bit confused and was about to google a “Cilla” holiday.
Thought maybe it was a mystery destination. You arrive and the rep shouts “surprise surprise!”

Showing your age now. LOL

You go but they pay the other half of the villa as agreed initially. They then have the option for one to turn up with the kids or not go at all. Not sure how you’d hold them to this though.

Why should you suffer because they are cancelling their holiday?

Either one of them comes with the DC, or they take the loss.

they can cancel their flights and try to get their refund on those but they don't get to blow up your holiday because of their bad luck/judgement/circumstances. So they need to pay whatever balance is due on the accomodations and if it's fully paid, they don't get to cancel.

Before you do anything else, contact the villa company, they might let you transfer to a smaller property and refund the difference. (Or part of it that would equate to their 50% refund) Possibly not but worth a call and ask.

That's a really good idea, try that first

They shouldn’t get any of the refund back in any case, they’re at fault so you should get the entire 50% rather than be out of pocket.

I would message something along the lines of Hi Friend, thanks so much for letting us have your thoughts on this and we’re so sorry about everything that has happened and hope you are hanging on in there (or whatever is appropriate). We’ve thought about this every which way and I think there are 3 options. 1. We’d love one of you and the kids to come on the hol with us. 2. I can phone the villa company, explain what has happened and see if they will under the circumstances allow us to move to a smaller villa where we won’t have to pay any extra. 3. If neither option 1 or 2 work then we would need to cancel but we have to have our money fully back I am afraid (which is all would be due as there is a 50% cancel free) as we cannot afford to lose our flights (non refundable) and 50% of what we originally paid as it would mean no holiday for us this year at all. Option 1 would obviously be our preference as we’d still love to see you but let me know soonest what you think. Etc

I bet they haven’t thought it all through, might think you want all of them or none of them or haven’t thought through the financial impact on you/don’t fully understand the t&c’s as it will be a stressful time for them.