Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Is our money gone [sad] ?

19 replies

narmada · 04/12/2009 12:44

Can anyone offer any hope re. travel insurance??!

We were going on a skiing holiday with my parents in a weeks' time. It's all self-arranged, flighs by ryanair, car hire, hotel, etc. My poor mum broke her wrist on tuesday and now obviously we won't be going. Now the drama is settling, I have to sort out the holiday business.

We are considering a claim on our travel insurance but wondering whether anyone has ever succesfully claimed for the cost of pre-paid car hire? In our case, this amounted to £700 by the time we'd paid winterisation fees, snow chains, car seat, etc etc etc. We are thinking this money has now gone down the toilet...
I hope I don't sound money obsessed and grasping. I'm glad my mum is not seriously injured over and above everything else, but...can't really afford to lose all that money - eek.

OP posts:
Lauriefairyonthetreeeatscake · 04/12/2009 12:49

Why can't you go just as a couple?

that's a lot of money to lose. Can you call them and see what they say before you make a claim?

Original poster
narmada · 04/12/2009 13:22

Thanks for your response Laurie...We have a little girl aged 18 months. My parents were going to be with her during the mornings while we went up the mountains. We could still go, but no skiing as no alternative childcare we'd be happy with.

You're right - we need to speak to the insurers and see what they say.

OP posts:
bran · 04/12/2009 13:30

Why can't your mum go but not ski? A broken wrist is painful, but it's not as difficult to travel with as a broken ankle or leg. Don't ski resorts also have other things to do? I know a few couples where one skis and the other doesn't and the non-skiers usually manage to find something to amuse themselves.

abdnhiker · 04/12/2009 13:30

I think my insurers would have covered it, we had no problem getting costs reimbursed when Ds2 needed immediate (minor) surgery and we had to cancel a trip.

Portofino · 04/12/2009 13:32

If both your parents will be there - why do you need to cancel? I'd be surprised if your insurance would pay out for this...

thatsnotmymonster · 04/12/2009 13:34

I would go anyway even if you don't get as much skiing. You can take it in turns to go out for a couple of hours at a time and just but 1/2 day lift passes?

Or can you find another couple to go with you?

A broken wrist once all strapped up would still be fine for going on holiday. You may all have to take it easier than you would've done.

Why wouldn't you be happy with any other childcare? Not criticising, just curious.

LIZS · 04/12/2009 15:34

I'm not sure your mother's injury would enable you , your dh and your dd to claim your flights etc back anyway. tbh I'd still all go as long as hospital say ok to fly and she si happy to. Alternatively you go and either leave your dd at home, take it in tuns to ski or find a creche/nanny locally through tourist office.

Original poster
narmada · 04/12/2009 21:27

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies. I've been stuck at work for last few hours and not been able to reply.

The hospital will not let mum fly, she wanted to come still, very much. Her cast would need to be split, apparently (because arm too swollen, and other things I don't understand) and splitting the cast is not advisable given the nature of her breaks.

that's not my monster, the only locally available childcare is an italian-speaking creche attached to a local ski school, about 3 miles from where we are staying. There is no info about ratios, regulatory oversight, etc. I wouldn't feel happy putting my DD there, and would rather rebook with another childcare-providing company if possible. He he, I am probably being completely uptight ... Can't leave DD at home, wouldn't enjoy being apart from ehr for a week, besides which she is not weaned off the boob yet

Well, I think we will probably go anyway, as suggested by you and just not ski as much as planned (or even at all). It should still be lovely.

Thanks for all your ideas.

OP posts:
thatsnotmymonster · 04/12/2009 21:42

Ok that's fair enough about the childcare

Glad you are going to go- I would volunteer to come and help out with your dd and do a spot of skiing but I suspect my 3 preschoolers would not be able to fend for themselves for a whole week

Just go and enjoy the snow, take dd sledging and on a sleigh ride and eat out and do some Christmas shopping in the little Italian boutiques...it will be lovely [sigh]

Original poster
narmada · 04/12/2009 21:57

thatsnotmy...

Ahh, come along, won't you?!! your 3 preschoolers can keep my DD company in the italian creche. Ok, maybe not....but it's a nice idea!

thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
narmada · 04/12/2009 21:59

abdnhiker, thanks, that's useful info about your experience. I hope your DS2 was OK after his op and that you got to go on your holidays at another time.

OP posts:
Lapsedrunner · 05/12/2009 19:21

I would go anyway and just enjoy a snowy holiday

thatsnotmymonster · 09/12/2009 15:02

Narmada, hope you are enjoying your holiday

Original poster
narmada · 09/12/2009 23:24

well, in the end and after a reassuring word with our insurers, we cancelled the italian trip and rebooked with esprit ski to La Rosiere, departing this Sunday.Financial losses were minimal as it turns out, just the policy excess.

So....Hopefully it will turn out well in the end. Thanks for all your advice and encouragement, and thanks especially for your message thatsnotmy....

OP posts:
thatsnotmymonster · 10/12/2009 11:03

Oh well that's good!! Will you be able to book dd into a creche in La Rosiere then?

Hope you all have a fab time

Original poster
narmada · 11/12/2009 12:44

yes, we are going with esprit, they have their own nurseries staffed by UK-recruited folks. Their childcare (if not always their accommodation!) seems to get good reviews.Thatsnotmy...hope you get to go skiing again one day soon.

Think this could be the last time for us for a while, specially if we decide to think about baby no 2 any time soon...

OP posts:
Original poster
narmada · 11/12/2009 21:20

oh ho ho ho ho ho, I do not believe it. DD has come home from nursery today (she goes 2 days per week, I work P/T) with a lovely crusty case of conjunctivitis in both eyes. She is totally unbothered by it, as they are, That's good, I though.....

but then with a slightly sinking feeling I started to think, if I were a childcare provider in a holiday resort, there is no way I would let a toddler with conjunctivitis attend. In fact her nursery here has been known to send children packing home with crusty eyes due to the transmissibility of it. Experience tells m e it's unlikely to be gone by Monday. If I wasn't a complete atheist, I would suspect a higher power was telling us we shouldn't be going .....!

OP posts:
thatsnotmymonster · 11/12/2009 21:26

AAAHHH have you got the stuff for it- we can get here over the counter (Scotland) but I think in England you need a prescription?

I think if you apply it regularly enough it should be gone by Monday, or at least look like it has gone!

Sometimes my girls have had crusty eyes and they are gone after a couple of applications of drops.

I hope we do get skiing again soon- maybe in a couple of years time- maybe I'll see you there!

Original poster
narmada · 12/12/2009 13:25

Off to the chemists like a scolded cat right now

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread