Booking Holidays with Friends - What if they won’t pay?

[whiteshee]

Planning a villa holiday with a couple of friends. There’s not much accommodation at the destination we have chosen and so if I couldn’t stay at this villa I’d probably fly somewhere else.

I want to book my flights because they’re cheap, but my friends want to wait until closer to the time. WWYD? Do you book and take the risk they flake?

What about paying for a villa? Who pays the down payment?

No one pays a "down payment" unless everyone has coughed up the deposit you would lose. If that means it doesn't get booked then it doesn't get booked.

Don't book a holiday with them. Or tell them if they want to wait then they need to book the villa.

Everyone pays all monies to one person who then books. Do not book anything until people have paid you. However, it is highly unlikely that the flight will become cheaper so either you book and are prepared to go alone or you wait and your friend’s indecision costs you cold hard cash.

Voice of experience here.

Only book once everyone has paid you for the villa in full, otherwise you end up on the hook for the accommodation (and you lose a few friends as well).

As for flights, everyone can book their own if they like, but they should at least be keeping everyone else in the loop so that you can co-ordinate taxis, car hire, transfers etc.

I wouldn't book with those people.
Even if they paid upfront for the villa, there's no guarantee they wouldn't be badgering you for a refund if they couldn't make it.

If you can't even agree on where and when to book your holiday - I'm not sure it's a good idea to go away with them . Think of all the possible minefields ahead - who gets which room, how will you split costs, will you do things together or separately when you get there etc

I know this is an old thread, but I wouldn't book anything with these people. I once went away with a now ex friend who wouldn't pay for anything, I ended up having to pay for everything. After the second time it happened, that was it, I ended the friendship there and then.