How does it work if holidays abroad are allowed to go ahead but you don't want to go?

[Sprockerdilerock]

I'm supposed to be going to Egypt in May, booked in Jan 20 for May 20 before the pandemic and then rebooked for a year later.

As far as I can see current guidance is that we will be allowed to go, but given all the news recently and the fact that I wont have had my vaccine (20-30 age group) AND I'm pregnant I dont feel that comfortable at all.

Does anybody know from last year whether normal cancellation policies apply if you are vulnerable and therefore dont want to travel even if allowed? Its First Choice but I'm none the wiser from checking their website.

Normal cancellation policies apply if you don't want to travel. It will probably be cancelled but if you don't want to take the risk then you can cancel but you will likely lose the deposit and maybe more.

Bugger! Thanks.

We were due to travel to Cape Verde in June. I called a couple of weeks ago and they allowed us to change it to jan 22 with no extra charge (except £50 per person as it's a more expensive time to travel - but no change fees).

Tui are doing free amendments for May/June holidays.

Do you have travel insurance, maybe worth ringing them as your circumstances have changed there might be a clause for you to cancel that way and get your money back. Or you can check with First Choice to see what they can do.

Holidays are illegal until July so presumably yours will be cancelled

Good idea re travel insurance I will give them a call.

I do hope that they cancel it so I can get a full refund but I'm also worried that they won't and I will have left it to late to cancel myself and get even a partial one!

@HermioneWeasley

Holidays are illegal until July so presumably yours will be cancelled

No they aren't. It's until May at the moment and will be reviewed in April.

You really need to ask First Choice about your specific holiday, it's been so complicated that I wouldn't rely on anything except what you get from them directly.

It’s untill May 17th at moment- when in May are you due to go?
Think it’s highly likely it will be extended to end of June anyway.

@DollyParton2 may 17th annoyingly!

First choice are allowing free changes for any holidays before October at the moment, so just push it out again

We were supposed to go to Portugal last august with Jet2. We didn't want to go, especially as quarantines were being introduced which would have meant two weeks off school and work (due to fly back day before term started).

We lost our deposit despite me being a key worker so quarantine was totally out of the question. We had insurance but it obviously wouldn't pay out as it was deemed to be our choice not to go.

Lucky we cancelled when we did, if we'd left it later we'd have lost the whole cost of the holiday. Check your T&Cs OP. The amount you will lose will likely increase the closer to the date you get. As others have said you risk it being cancelled after you've cancelled and not qualifying for the refund you'd have otherwise got. It's a tricky one.