Paying balances for villa bookings

[Lilybet1980]

What are others doing about paying balances for villa bookings over the summer?

We have a villa booked in Spain in August, balance due imminently. Flights booked separately. The total villa cost is more than the insured limit for independently booked accommodation (it’s for a large group).

If we pay the balance and the advice is still not to travel we will lose what is not covered by insurance (I think).

If we don’t pay the balance I think we will lose the deposit or can we claim that from the insurer due to the current advice not to travel?

What are others doing?

If you don't pay the balance you will lose the deposit and insurance unlikely to reimburse. You could try contacting the villa company and ask if either 1. you can delay paying balance until things are more certain or 2. you can pay balance but have option to move booking till next year if travel restrictions aren't lifted in time. They might not want either of these as it would be hard for them to replace your booking at the last minute. They might therefore offer to move your booking to next year now but not sure if this is what you'd want as there is a chance the holiday could still go ahead.

To be honest I think we’ve reached the point where we don’t want to go this year so we may as well do what you suggest and ask to move it to next year if possible.

If you pay the balance you will lose whatever is not covered by insurance. If you don’t pay you’ll lose the deposit. Pick whichever results in the smallest loss.

Unless you are with villa plus.....in which case you have no hope of contacting them at all.....

We have similar with Portugal and are choosing to not pay the balance -seems daft to lose such a big amount compared to the deposit. Villa company been very helpful and have said they will issue us a voucher to use for our deposit amount until end of 2021.

There is a campaign group on Facebook