COVID and ABTA/Insurance (Cyprus)

[TravelQues]

NC'd

We are due to travel to Cyprus in 3 weeks for a family holiday. Today the Cyprus government have announced that all visitors from the UK must 'restrict movements to the absolute essentials' for 14 days.

So assuming that this advice doesn't change I'm wondering if this means we would have to stay in our hotel room/not use the pool? Would you expect the travel company (booked as a package through On The Beach) to refund? Would you expect insurance to cover us?

I think you need to contact your insurer to see if you are covered if the Cypriot advice is still in place when you are due to depart (policies vary, so you need to check)

The travel company may be able to swop you to a different destination

I doubt insurance would cover this. My interpretation of that guidance would be that it’s ok to stay in your resort, but not to travel around the island. It’s a bit vague though!

Following this up out of interest to say that as the advice has now changed (all visitors from the Uk required to isolate for 14days on arrival) the holiday company contacted me to say the booking has been cancelled and I will get a refund.

I should have been flying to Cyprus today, but it was cancelled yesterday. I'll get a refund for the actual holiday.
However, I've lost c.£60 car parking charge, pre-booked & paid meals on the flights, & I'll lose a lot when I convert the lira & euros back to sterling. I'm hoping insurance will cover the loss.

Anyone in the same situation? How have you fared?

tui have cancelled cyprus flights, and also ones to spain and the canaries where we were going.....there were only 2 cv cases on the island we were going to. if what they say is correct - that this is only the start, I cant imagine there will be any flights in 3 weeks time. sorry, on the plus side why go to a place where everything is closed and supermarkets may be low on stock.

@handbagsatdawn33 we were lucky really that we'd booked a fully refundable airport hotel-and-parking package so no money lost there.

We also keep Euros at home because we tend to holiday in Europe a couple of times a year so I hadn't bought any this time, and if I had I would just keep them at home till next time.

I'm pleased that OnTheBeach have been clear and proactive about this without me chasing. Apparently our refund is now pending which is swift work.

Absolutely @dreamingofsun ultimately I'm glad it worked out this way. It would've been terrible to wait the next few weeks, watching the CV cases inevitably getting worse and trying to decide whether to go or not (and we have a child with medical conditions) and wondering whether we would get our money back.

I'll be sorry not to see the sun, but basically relieved to know it's out of our hands.