UK holiday rights

[severalboxes]

We've got a holiday cottage booked in a few weeks. It's in a rural location in a neighbouring county (I live in a city). No travel insurance.

The owners say we can still come and it's being thoroughly cleaned etc. T&Cs say we get full refund if owners cancel. It's too late for us to be able to cancel ourselves.

Is it that awful to go and follow social isolation rules there, take our own food etc? It's 2 hrs away so could drive back at first sign of illness. Would we risk getting stuck if there's a lockdown? Can I make the owners cancel it if going is against government advice?

I know there are worse problems. I don't want to harm their business but it feels like it should be cancelled.

Don’t go.

Can you ask them about changing the date instead?

When we go into lockdown that will probably mean they have to cancel

When are you due to leave? I suspect we'll have a lockdown situation too and they might need to cancel. I'd hold on for now! My main concern would be needing medical attention somewhere rural. They will already be stretched and obviously a lot of more specialist treatment won't be available. I think you'd be allowed home in the event of lockdown

Don't go. The countryside is overrun with people from cities right now.

It was more like a bank holiday in my village this weekend with people day tripping - it's not just a pretty place to enjoy on your day off, there are real people trying to live here and keep safe.

I’m in a similar position OP. @Sirzy and @midnightstar66 - can I ask why the holiday company will be forced to cancel if we go into lockdown? I very much hope that is the case as it would help me financially.

Don't go and please don't fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy.

Please don't go. You can't guarantee that you won't need to go out for anything or come into contact with others - car breakdown, petrol refuel, illness, accident etc.

Don't be one of those selfish bastards we're all seeing in the press.

Depending how lockdown is done you will possibly need to show why your not at your home address. My MIL lives in francs and they need documentation for every trip out and aren’t allowed out after 6pm so holiday cottages wouldn’t be allowed

I've got friends living in the Lake District who are furious about people coming to stay so they are leaving signs everywhere saying go home. Even if you do go you would not be welcome. They are worried about the strain on their health services not so much the food!

Don't go. As holiday accommodation businesses of whatever type don't seem to be cancelling bookings, I think they need to be instructed to do so. Clarity is needed from the government. Nicola Sturgeon's message at the press conference was pretty clear yesterday. The western isles are now quite rightly closed for tourists with the ferries instructed accordingly. Also should apply to second homes. Holidays and travelling to second homes are not necessary activities, and the message is clearly not to do so.

My preference would be not to go and get either a voucher sort of thing or a bit of money back. Obviously if we're in full lockdown by then, I won't go.

But the owners are encouraging us to go, I think because they don't want to pay anything out.

If it was properly remote like the Lake District I wouldn't even think about it. This is on a farm in the middle of nowhere so we could go and not see anyone. But it's a short trip down motorway so could get back easily if need be.

Please don’t go. People need to STAY AT HOME.

It seems that everyone who is still going out, socialising, going on holiday, has an excuse as to why they should be still doing those things.

Why can't people understand that this affects and applies to ALL of us. Just stay home.

I'd keep pressing for a refund.

Holiday firms are being very irresponsible, I hope the government takes action.

If you are both young and fit I'd probably go, rather than lose the money. But not if you have kids.

Another person who lives rural pleading with you and anyone else considering a trip to the countryside to please, please, please stay home. This virus comes on quickly and you may not have time to drive home, when it hits at 5am or late at night. Our little local hospital is not equipped to deal with swathes of londoners who all had the same idea. You have not had one person telling you that this holiday is a good idea, so please listen to 100% of your replies

It's more about how I get money back if owners are insisting it's ok to travel really.

Not a Londoner.

People are dying. If you could afford to book the holiday you can afford to lose the money.

You might have to just accept that the money has been lost.

We live in a beautiful rural hamlet. We live next door (unfortunately) to a holiday cottage.

Please don’t come. It put us all at risk.

NO UNNECESSARY TRAVELLING.

Hopefully Johnson is going to say something useful later and the company may have to pay you.

I think it's very rude of someone to tell you that you can afford to lose the money. Maybe they would like to reimburse you as they are determined that you shouldn't go.

It seems very unfair to me that the OP could be losing money yet the letting agent/ owner is getting money for nothing if she chooses to follow advice and not go.

If you paid by credit card try doing a charge back.

I hope the owners go bust.

They've said we can use the money against staying in future. One day...