Weekend in Edinburgh, we can’t go can we? Hotel refusing to refund

[TeapotCollection]

We’ve had a weekend in Edinburgh booked since December, the event that we were due to attend has of course been cancelled

We were still going to go, but as I understand it, the advice is to not travel there unless necessary isn’t it? To be fair we did book the hotel on an ‘early booking no amendment’ basis but seeing as we can’t go surely they should refund us?

I don't see why they should.

Hm. We have tighter restrictions right now, for the next ten days. But even then we’re being told
we want people to be safe. We are not advising that people who have already booked holiday accommodation in October need to cancel. More generally, please think about whether you need to travel, especially if you live in or would be travelling to, or through, the central belt. The Scottish Government is asking people within the central belt areas (see end note for definition) to think carefully about whether they need to travel outside their local health board area and, where that is necessary, to plan to do so safely.

So I think you can I’m afraid.

Oops should be a gap before “we want people to be safe...”

It’s from here
www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-additional-measures-october-2020/

The First Minister said that we are advised not to travel but that we don't have to cancel half term breaks that were already booked. So your hotel doesn't have to refund and you can go if you want to. I'm still going on my half term break, having weighed up the advice.

No, you can't go if it is this weekend or next weekend as the 16 days of restrictions aren't up until 6 a.m. on Monday 26th October.

You should have booked a flexible room rate which would have enabled you to receive a refund. It isn't your fault you can't go but it isn't the hotel's fault either. You took the chance due to the lower rate and, sadly, it didn't work out this time.

If it is advice you can go and they don't have to refund, if it is law then you can't go and should get a refund. I would go.

There is no travel ban, it’s just advice. It’s shit that everything is cancelled and shut but I don’t see why they should refund sorry

I booked a several hotels in France last December for a break in July . I paid one in full through an early bird reduced rate no refund deal , and one was a non refundable deposit.
I lost out but I accepted these were the conditions I booked under pre Covid.
I have something booked for next year , no deposit , free cancellatio BUT the cost is a lot more expensive IF it does happen .

I think you should accept the conditions.

We’d actually still like to go, we thought we weren’t allowed. We’re already booked in at the zoo so we’ll probably go. I hadn’t read that it’s been said people don’t have to cancel things that are already booked

Thanks all 😊

I'd still go if I were you, Sturgeon said you can still go on pre booked holidays. Are you just adults going or are children going? We were there a month ago with our children and had a brilliant weekend.

I think it's a real shame: you wouldn't have booked non-refundable even in Feb probably, but those are the ts and cs and there isn't actually a travel ban in place.

If you do decide to come, be aware that all pubs and most restaurants are closed for the next fortnight. Cafes are open but only until 6pm and can't sell alcohol. If your hotel has a restaurant it may be open but only to hotel guests - check - and it won't be able to sell booze either. Honestly I'd cut your losses, the place is like a ghost town.

Just the two of us, going on the train (we’re quite a long way away), really think we’ll still go now 😊

Hope your room is nice then, you'll be seeing a lot of it!

You’ll have a lovely time getting to see Edinburgh without the crowds! If you are outdoorsy plan for a walk up Arthur’s seat and maybe a walk along portobello beach too. Infact comfy shoes on and plenty of beautiful trekking all about the streets.

Edinburgh is beautiful enough that you'll find plenty of places to wander despite a lot of things being shut. Plus, like the zoo, you can book Chambers Street museum and Camera Obscura, for example.

The travel restrictions are advisory, but I would check what is open in terms of food venues and what catering the hotel provides. I think museums, zoos, castles are still open with online booking. If you're lucky with weather Edinburgh in autumn is really nice.

I expect we won't get any stricter restrictions coming in until the current lot had time to kick in. But since you don't have kids with you it's a bit easier to adapt if more things shut.

You can go and climb Arthur's Seat, see the Pentlands, walk to the beach. Go to the library which is a beautiful building.

I’d still go. There is so much to do for free in edinburgh and all of the cafes are still open. There’s always Pret! Take decent outdoor clothes and get yourself up Aurthurs Seat/Calton Hill. Go to the zoo as you’ve already booked that. Make bookings for the galleries and national museum. I don’t get why people visit an extraordinarily beautiful city like Edinburgh and sit in a pub all day (not implying that’s what you’d do). Yes the pubs and restaurants are closed but nobody is going to starve. Have a fabulous time!

Hmm, don’t know now 😫 we love walking, especially on beaches, but I think I’d better make sure the hotel restaurant will be open because it doesn’t sound like we’ll be able to eat elsewhere

Crossed posts there TheShapeJaper

Do you know what, sod it we’re going 😊

It's not about siting in a pub all day @TheShapeJaper, eating out in the evening is a big part of most people's holidays especially on a city break, and it's hard to visualise the fact that every single venue is now shut from 6. Sitting in a hotel room at night is not my idea of a fun time and I wanted OP to be clear that's what she'll be getting. Pret in a travel lodge, for example, sounds like a shit laugh.

Off to google Arthur’s seat seeing as so many people have mentioned it, I’ve never heard of it 😬

I do see where you’re coming from LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett and I honestly appreciate your input but we’ve been looking forward to this for months, it’s my first ever trip to Scotland, and we really want to go

We’re early to bed people anyway, not 6 obviously 😃

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett

It's not about siting in a pub all day *@TheShapeJaper*, eating out in the evening is a big part of most people's holidays especially on a city break, and it's hard to visualise the fact that every single venue is now shut from 6. Sitting in a hotel room at night is not my idea of a fun time and I wanted OP to be clear that's what she'll be getting. Pret in a travel lodge, for example, sounds like a shit laugh.

Haha! Too funny. I’m sure the hotel will organise an evening meal. Although I’d eat Pret all day long if I could 🤷🏼‍♀️ Plenty of restaurants in edinburgh are doing a delivery service. It’s no big deal really...

Because there's no travel bans no where will refund. Therefore most people will still go away, especially over half term, as otherwise it's wasted money.

Me and dh are due to fly to the highlands at October half term. We've booked a SC flat for the week. This is actually a changed plan - originally we were going to the Caribbean which was then cancelled. Then we were flying up and driving the NC500 staying in a number of hotels. And this is now the 'final' plan - unless there's more changes. I'm not actually concerned about the flight as there's virtually no one on it at present!