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Original poster

Holiday cottage just cancelled last minute

52 replies

FloofCloud · 12/08/2023 23:02

Anyone got any experience?
We booked via VRBO and the host has pulled out literally last minute - they're going to see if they have anything else available. We leave tomorrow!
The only two properties still available for the week that I can find on VRBO in a reasonable drive from where we were meant to be is double and triple to price because they're much larger.
VRBO said they'd not charge us extra --- awaiting a call / email from their team who
Deals with rebooking in such circumstances ... any thoughts/ experience if a similar thing?
TIA

OP posts:
cancan678 · 12/08/2023 23:04

Oh no. They best upgrade you. That's just no unprofessional

Original poster
FloofCloud · 12/08/2023 23:13

cancan678 · 12/08/2023 23:04

Oh no. They best upgrade you. That's just no unprofessional

Ah that's a good point! Thanks! All we wanted
Was a reasonably quiet place with a pool because DD is autistic and has sensory issues so can't be around people particularly - last year she avoided the pool because it was shared 😞 so we just want her to have quiet and a place to swim
Because she loves the water 💕

OP posts:
HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 12/08/2023 23:23

I had this years ago with one of the top uk cottage companies. We got an upgrade free of charge. Much better cottage about ten miles away.

Original poster
FloofCloud · 12/08/2023 23:24

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 12/08/2023 23:23

I had this years ago with one of the top uk cottage companies. We got an upgrade free of charge. Much better cottage about ten miles away.

That's good to hear - I really hope they help us out

OP posts:
ticketstickets · 12/08/2023 23:25

had exact situation with vrbo, they upgraded for free.

mrsbyers · 12/08/2023 23:31

Have you got holiday insurance they may cover any additional fees for alternative accommodation

Original poster
FloofCloud · 12/08/2023 23:34

@ticketstickets - that's good
To know! Thanks

@mrsbyers - yea for travel insurance thankfully - it may mean changing from one route over to the continent to another so a pain and more money but hopefully insurance will cover it if VRBO won't

OP posts:
Karwomannghia · 12/08/2023 23:38

Sounds like they’ll upgrade- insist on something that meets your requirements especially if you can be flexible about where you go.

EasterIssland · 12/08/2023 23:43

Never worked with this website but I know booking and hotels.com
Would upgrade you and charge the difference to the previous host. Any reason why they’ve cancelled?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 12/08/2023 23:47

cancan678 · 12/08/2023 23:04

Oh no. They best upgrade you. That's just no unprofessional

How can you say its unprofessional without knowing why? Maybe they've had a fire or the roof fell in. Maybe the guests checking out today have broken/stolen so much stuff they simply cannot flip it in time?

Original poster
FloofCloud · 13/08/2023 00:05

EasterIssland · 12/08/2023 23:43

Never worked with this website but I know booking and hotels.com
Would upgrade you and charge the difference to the previous host. Any reason why they’ve cancelled?

Thanks - won't say the reason because it's outing, but it's fair enough (if true!), something unexpected like flood (not that though)

OP posts:
sjpkgp1 · 13/08/2023 00:59

Had this from booking.com, Booked (private host) for a lovely 3 bed flat in centre of Budapest 4 months ahead of time, we were actually in the airport when the owner cancelled (gas works, water leak was the excuse - I actually suspect they had double booked being on many websites and just got someone who was prepared to pay more for longer), they then offered us other places but they were ones we had rejected 4 months earlier, and were now dearer too as availability was poor. They sent us some links to rebook somewhere else (bear in mind we were desperate at this point as we were about to board a flight with young children so could not stand our ground) but the real kicker was their recommendations (links) to rebook were actually more expensive than had we just opened the browser to start a new booking. This was blatant profiteering in my view for people who literally have "no choice". Having nowhere to stay, we eventually booked a whole new booking, and ended up in a far inferior apartment in a rough area, with not enough bedrooms. We made the best of it., Complained to booking.com afterwards and did get £100 compensation, but that doesn't make up for not having what we paid for, and contracted for.

starfishmummy · 13/08/2023 01:28

Happened to us last year with a couple of days to go. The agency sent us a list of vacant properties. There was no offer to pay the difference if we picked somewhere dearer but actually the alternative cottage we picked had a big "last minute" discount on it anyway so we got money back. L

KissyMissy · 13/08/2023 02:13

I hope you get upgraded!

HappiDaze · 13/08/2023 02:49

Well at least it sounds like VRBO are a decent company who will do their best for you OP so I hope there's an unoccupied property in the middle of August for you

Momtotwokids · 13/08/2023 03:09

Went to a family wedding in Myrtle Beach and my two daughter were going to rent a Air bnb and on the drive down the host had to cancel due to bed bugs. Thank goodness they found a motel to stay in but I guess stuff happens.

Original poster
FloofCloud · 13/08/2023 12:18

Thanks everyone, just waiting to hear from them, I've found some properties that fit the bill but they're massive so way more costly - but at least they're available!

OP posts:
NCTDN · 13/08/2023 12:20

Hope they sort it out.

Original poster
FloofCloud · 13/08/2023 12:24

Thank you @NCTDN

OP posts:
OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 13/08/2023 13:08

We had it in feb with .cottages.com. I’d texted the owner the night before with arrival time. No answer. So packed the car and called next morning to confirm. It was closed due to damage. They did find us a nicer property, but we wanted the other because it was on the beach and the new one was miles inland. It was a stressful two hours though.

Original poster
FloofCloud · 13/08/2023 14:32

@OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow - that does sound stressful! We're waiting at home because we have an autistic daughter who would be in distress if we dont know our destination -waiting is stressful as do t know whether to pack the car and sort the pets out yet 😞

OP posts:
UrsulaBelle · 14/08/2023 17:01

Did you get somewhere sorted?

footballmom43 · 14/08/2023 17:05

This exact thing happened to us a few weeks ago with VRBO - their customer services dept is 99% useless and we'll never use them again! Anyway, my advice would be to not wait for them to contact you but to be proactive with it all - figure out the property you want and keep hustling them/phone them up to get it sorted and dont take no for an answer. Their problem, they fund it. After many phonecalls we did eventually speak to someone helpful who sorted it all out for us so hope you will have the same experience. Good luck!

Original poster
FloofCloud · 15/08/2023 05:33

Thanks all. It's been a long wait to get to an unclear solution ......

VRBO finally got back to us Monday lunch time when we were meant to be travelling on Eurostar, but we're home waiting for their call! They've blocked the house we'd suggested and will split the cost (far more expensive as almost nothing left with our needs except 2, one of those isn't great). So that was ok I guess. Next of it was we rebooked Eurostar and Vrbo then told us as we were travelling Tuesday we'd lose a day of our holiday as it's still the same time bracket!! I lost my shit and wrote a firm but fair email saying they didn't sort the problem from Saturday evening until Monday lunch time, the ball was in their court and they were slow, not us! We've told them we're leaving this morning for the Eurostar and they need to sort this out and I want a call from a manager.
I'm slightly worried as our DD is autistic and will get overwhelmed if she's unsure where we're going to, plus we have the dog which causes extra issues as can't just rock up at any hotel if any issues 🤯
Wish me luck!

OP posts:
Original poster
FloofCloud · 15/08/2023 05:37

@footballmom43 - that's rubbish, but sounds like a very similar situation! We'd suggested accommodation from the first convo on Saturday evening, she'd written down two places we'd suggested with the one we're going to as the closest match/original destination being the same country at least. They'd been slow though. Probably a weekend staff team, but they were slow and delayed us... I'll be pointing this out a bit later on ... very cross now, just need to keep my cool on the phone!

OP posts: