My UK Holiday for July has just been cancelled

[QueenOfToast]

I have just received an email from the holiday cottage company to say that my 2 week holiday in Cumbria for the beginning of July has been cancelled. Refund or re-booking has been offered. I'm feeling a mixture of sad and relieved. Sad because I would have loved a change of scene and some mountain air, but relieved because I was worried that the area wouldn't be ready for tourists by the time of our visit.

Not asking a question; just posting because I know there have been questions about whether UK holidays will be going ahead this summer. Mine definitely won't

I’m hoping they’ll cancel mine in August then I won’t lose my deposit as I won’t be going.

We’ve still got ours booked for end of July, self catering. Heard nothing yet.

I feel sorry for you but understand your relief; I don't think there will be much travelling for holidays at all this year. Never mind, next year will soon be here, at least you're alive.

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Lucky you got offered a refund based on other experiences

Which cottage company was this OP?

That can’t have come as a surprise OP, but obviously a disappointment. Take the refund would be my advice. We have written off holidays this year, still waiting on a refund from Ryanair for a trip booked for March, obviously we aren’t going to get a refund, we will never book with them in future. Vote with your feet.

@tararara It was booked with Cumbrian Cottages. Not sure whether it's a company-wide thing or whether the cottage owners have said they don't want people - they live next door so maybe they've made a personal decision.

Based on where things are at the moment, the potential rising R number (we will see how that goes over the next week or so), I think all holidays should be banned until at least September. I'm sorry to those who have bookings of course and I know there are people who are struggling and desperate for some time away but we are in the middle of a pandemic. The last thing we should be doing is taking holidays.

I appreciate its a difficult one and those who are in the travel / tourism industry are paying a very heavy price. I only hope this passes quickly so we can all get some sort of normality back in our lives again.

We have cancelled ours for Wales this week as it was the cut off before we lose the deposit... but we have been in touch with the owner to say if we are allowed (slim to no chance) we will rebook it then and keeping the money aside.

Sad though - feel like there's nothing to look forward to.

Cumbria has one of the highest infection rates currently. It maybe because they have been doing more testing due to a number of hotspots but the locals are not keen on visitors currently since they have a limited number of critical care beds.
There is even talk of people being turned away at the M6 for day visits.
My family come from Cumbria and we have a second home there but won’t be travelling up there any time soon.

My friend runs a hotel in a seaside town. She's cancelled all bookings to July, and leaving those after the 4th hoping that they can reopen if the government plans go ahead. She's trying to figure out how they'll seat people in the dining room or if she'll have to give them boxed breakfasts... reviewing her cleaning system and figuring she'll be wearing a mask. The whole area is reliant on tourist money.

@Roselilly36 contact your bank - did you pay by credit card or debit card? You may have case to get them to chase this on your behalf & they may if you can provide proof you requested cash payment & the company would not refund ring your bank& ask (am in the process of doing this with holiday company)

www.nationwide.co.uk/support/coronavirus/travel-refunds

other banks do this nationwide came up first on search

Meanwhile Tui are still refusing to cancel my family holiday ti Spain in 3 weeks :-( saying they think it will be safe to fly. Glad your cottage company have got their priorities right, albeit sad that you no longer get to go.

I think it is right for holidays to be cancelled this year, however I just read this in the Daily Fail:
www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

That's just so unfair (if true).

I just cancelled my air bnb for Scotland. I was meant to be going on Thursday. However the guy was pretty happy for us still to come and didn't want to cancel from his end!

Ps I live in the lakes and the locals are very hostile to visitors at the moment. Disturbingly so. I think some of them need to get a grip.