Just looking for some views. I know this is far down the list of priorities given what people are going through.
We are due to pay the balance on a package holiday to Portugal for the last week of May this weekend. We've already put €150 down and have another €1800 to pay this weekend. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic we think it unlikely that we will be able to take the holiday. The travel agent will not allow us to defer paying the balance and have advised that in the event that the trip is cancelled they will offer a voucher. We do not anticipate that we will be taking a holiday in the next year, so do not want a credit note/voucher. The travel agent is encouraging us to cancel before the money is taken.
As I'm sure you can imagine, we are reluctant to pay up to €2000 for something that we are unlikely to get. Given the effect that the current crisis is having on everything travel related, it is hard to know if the safety mechanisms (travel agent bonds, insurance) will be robust enough to cope with the flood of claims/refunds.
My understanding is that there is specific package holiday legislation that could be used if our holiday is cancelled or there is a significant health risk at our intended destination. In such cases the travel agent should offer a full refund. If the agent doesn't play ball then we would have to go to the small claims court. Failing all of that our travel insurance will cover DFA advice to 'Avoid non-essential travel.'
I think the travel agent wants us to cancel as it will make their life easier and they will keep the deposit. What do people think? Let the deposit go and cancel the holiday avoiding the risk of potentially losing up to €2000 or stick it out and hope to get it all back?
We are due to pay the balance on a package holiday to Portugal for the last week of May this weekend. We've already put €150 down and have another €1800 to pay this weekend. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic we think it unlikely that we will be able to take the holiday. The travel agent will not allow us to defer paying the balance and have advised that in the event that the trip is cancelled they will offer a voucher. We do not anticipate that we will be taking a holiday in the next year, so do not want a credit note/voucher. The travel agent is encouraging us to cancel before the money is taken.
As I'm sure you can imagine, we are reluctant to pay up to €2000 for something that we are unlikely to get. Given the effect that the current crisis is having on everything travel related, it is hard to know if the safety mechanisms (travel agent bonds, insurance) will be robust enough to cope with the flood of claims/refunds.
My understanding is that there is specific package holiday legislation that could be used if our holiday is cancelled or there is a significant health risk at our intended destination. In such cases the travel agent should offer a full refund. If the agent doesn't play ball then we would have to go to the small claims court. Failing all of that our travel insurance will cover DFA advice to 'Avoid non-essential travel.'
I think the travel agent wants us to cancel as it will make their life easier and they will keep the deposit. What do people think? Let the deposit go and cancel the holiday avoiding the risk of potentially losing up to €2000 or stick it out and hope to get it all back?