Coronavirus concerns
Discussion
I put in a chargeback for my May Dubai holiday I missed. The chargeback form went off mid May. I hadn't heard anything about it at all until Friday and the full amount appeared as a credit on my credit card. So thats good! Hopefully they'll send a letter or something explaining what they've been able to do.
Phil. said:
Looks like Spain is opening it’s borders to the whole of the EU from next Sunday 21st! A u-turn on what was said last week.
All we need now is the UK government to u-turn on their 14 day return quarantine ruling which no doubt will happen before the end of June, as will a reduction in social distancing from 2m to 1m as I expect to kick start the service economy.
Good news for Shnozz and his 4th July ferry booking
I remain hopeful but the 21st date seems as brilliantly cloudy as most of the decisions that have developed during this whole debacle! In the official announcement the UK wasn't mentioned at all and seemed to fall in the crack between EU/Schengen state countries (even that wasn't clear on whether it was EU countries or Schengen!) and Third Countries after 1st July. All we need now is the UK government to u-turn on their 14 day return quarantine ruling which no doubt will happen before the end of June, as will a reduction in social distancing from 2m to 1m as I expect to kick start the service economy.
Good news for Shnozz and his 4th July ferry booking
Only with further clarification did it seem the UK was included within the first batch in the EU run off period, but then silence as to the previous commentary as to only allowing entry to countries with similar health statistics. This latter point seems to have gone silent, but I cannot see an open border for, say, South American countries with all that is going on there.
Likewise, like a few countries, Spain seem to be willing to only adopt entry requirements with countries who will offer the same in return, hence the Portugal stand point. UK entry has not been curtailed but it might impact quarantine tit for tat (although Spain have said quarantine isn't a requirement behind the State of Alarm cessation on 21st!
It's being reported differently in so many of the press reports its hard to know what is accurate - we should know a bit more after Wednesday but who knows if that will change!
In short, all looking positive for now but I am counting no chickens.
Something which may help others being fobbed off by dishonest travel agents such as Barrhead Travel and their partners:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
My wife is still waiting for the return of more than £9,000, which these crooks are holding onto illegally.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
My wife is still waiting for the return of more than £9,000, which these crooks are holding onto illegally.
LuS1fer said:
At the moment, even if it eases, countries don't want UK tourists until we get our numbers down.
Portugal would love to welcome UK tourists, regardless I think. They are utterly incensed with those youngsters in Lisbon that skewed an otherwise excellent record in terms of recent spikes. They don't agree with the calculation method either, the biggest tourist regions, Algarve etc, still only have 15 deaths to date and not that many were infected. Terrible for local tourism though. The Dutch and Spanish are here but low numbers. For me, well, it is like I have the best spots to myself a lot of the time and it is great from a personal perspective but the region really needs large numbers of tourists to flock in - unlikely this year now, sadly. That said, I think the region would see an infection spike with certain groups, like the Dutch, who are one of the worst for folks thinking they don't have to make a personal effort to curb the virus; still moronic selfish rubbish being spouted about masks etc when it is an absolute fact that they help reduce risk. The Mayor of Albufeira threatened to shut the place down recently after Dutch youngsters were ignoring local rules.
My previous holiday planned for Easter was booked pre Covid and cancelled pre lock down...... TUI refunded.
Trying to work out options for future holiday but I am a bit confused.
Have been discussing options with Kuoni just to get a feel of cost etc. They have quoted for the family a rather attractive price for 3 days Kuala Lumpur / 11 days Kota Kinabalu heading out 20 Dec.
As far as I can see Malaysia still requires U.K. residents to self isolate on arrival. (Though one place I read no entry unless you have a work visa) .....So how can they offer this holiday? Assume they are hoping regulations are relaxed but If we have to SI on arrival or we are not allowed entry will Kuoni cancel?
Trying to evaluate if the price is worth the risk? Thoughts? The money was already spent in January and have had it returned ...... were we just lucky with timings before?
I know we have to SI on arrival back in U.K. ...... can probably live with that to be honest. Me and Mrs can WFH. Kids will school at home as they have done so The last few months so I am not phased by that.
Oh and the price...... about £700 more than booking each element direct ..... skyscanner for Flights.....hotels/transfers Direct on hotel website etc. I like that assurance feeling of using the operator if it all does go wrong!
Trying to work out options for future holiday but I am a bit confused.
Have been discussing options with Kuoni just to get a feel of cost etc. They have quoted for the family a rather attractive price for 3 days Kuala Lumpur / 11 days Kota Kinabalu heading out 20 Dec.
As far as I can see Malaysia still requires U.K. residents to self isolate on arrival. (Though one place I read no entry unless you have a work visa) .....So how can they offer this holiday? Assume they are hoping regulations are relaxed but If we have to SI on arrival or we are not allowed entry will Kuoni cancel?
Trying to evaluate if the price is worth the risk? Thoughts? The money was already spent in January and have had it returned ...... were we just lucky with timings before?
I know we have to SI on arrival back in U.K. ...... can probably live with that to be honest. Me and Mrs can WFH. Kids will school at home as they have done so The last few months so I am not phased by that.
Oh and the price...... about £700 more than booking each element direct ..... skyscanner for Flights.....hotels/transfers Direct on hotel website etc. I like that assurance feeling of using the operator if it all does go wrong!
mattyn1 said:
My previous holiday planned for Easter was booked pre Covid and cancelled pre lock down...... TUI refunded.
Trying to work out options for future holiday but I am a bit confused.
Have been discussing options with Kuoni just to get a feel of cost etc. They have quoted for the family a rather attractive price for 3 days Kuala Lumpur / 11 days Kota Kinabalu heading out 20 Dec.
As far as I can see Malaysia still requires U.K. residents to self isolate on arrival. (Though one place I read no entry unless you have a work visa) .....So how can they offer this holiday? Assume they are hoping regulations are relaxed but If we have to SI on arrival or we are not allowed entry will Kuoni cancel?
Trying to evaluate if the price is worth the risk? Thoughts? The money was already spent in January and have had it returned ...... were we just lucky with timings before?
I know we have to SI on arrival back in U.K. ...... can probably live with that to be honest. Me and Mrs can WFH. Kids will school at home as they have done so The last few months so I am not phased by that.
Oh and the price...... about £700 more than booking each element direct ..... skyscanner for Flights.....hotels/transfers Direct on hotel website etc. I like that assurance feeling of using the operator if it all does go wrong!
Apologies, I can't help with your issues, but where are you potentially staying? We stayed at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu last year and absolutely loved it. If there's a deal on I'd be very tempted to go back.Trying to work out options for future holiday but I am a bit confused.
Have been discussing options with Kuoni just to get a feel of cost etc. They have quoted for the family a rather attractive price for 3 days Kuala Lumpur / 11 days Kota Kinabalu heading out 20 Dec.
As far as I can see Malaysia still requires U.K. residents to self isolate on arrival. (Though one place I read no entry unless you have a work visa) .....So how can they offer this holiday? Assume they are hoping regulations are relaxed but If we have to SI on arrival or we are not allowed entry will Kuoni cancel?
Trying to evaluate if the price is worth the risk? Thoughts? The money was already spent in January and have had it returned ...... were we just lucky with timings before?
I know we have to SI on arrival back in U.K. ...... can probably live with that to be honest. Me and Mrs can WFH. Kids will school at home as they have done so The last few months so I am not phased by that.
Oh and the price...... about £700 more than booking each element direct ..... skyscanner for Flights.....hotels/transfers Direct on hotel website etc. I like that assurance feeling of using the operator if it all does go wrong!
JQ said:
Apologies, I can't help with your issues, but where are you potentially staying? We stayed at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu last year and absolutely loved it. If there's a deal on I'd be very tempted to go back.
Not Rasa Ria but my quote is for Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa .... same chain!Have also been quoted for a couple of Shangri-La hotels in Penang but my focus is on KK at the moment!
Having read the “Business Class” thread on here got me thinking. Enquires with Kuoni and the premium for Business outbound and premium economy homeward was astronomical..... far more than the premium quoted on SkyScanner.
So am building this myself. FWIW I have discovered:
BA will offer a voucher if I or they cancel due to Covid issues ....... If they cancel I can get a refund.
Hotels such as those under the Park Royal or Hilton chain offer no deposit and free cancellation if we join before 31 August. Cancellation up to day before arrival.
I have two risks now as I see it.
One...The Interconnecting flight is not with a global brand so refund will be as a voucher I may not use.
Two.... a failure to match up BA flights and hotels as this saga develops over the next few months. A cut off date at end November seems sensible to me. Incidentally Malaysia Airlines are a lot more expensive and I get a work discount with BA!
So am going for it..... hoping the travel ban to Malaysia is withdrawn by end November and hoping Malaysia opens for their peak season!
Am I mad?
So am building this myself. FWIW I have discovered:
BA will offer a voucher if I or they cancel due to Covid issues ....... If they cancel I can get a refund.
Hotels such as those under the Park Royal or Hilton chain offer no deposit and free cancellation if we join before 31 August. Cancellation up to day before arrival.
I have two risks now as I see it.
One...The Interconnecting flight is not with a global brand so refund will be as a voucher I may not use.
Two.... a failure to match up BA flights and hotels as this saga develops over the next few months. A cut off date at end November seems sensible to me. Incidentally Malaysia Airlines are a lot more expensive and I get a work discount with BA!
So am going for it..... hoping the travel ban to Malaysia is withdrawn by end November and hoping Malaysia opens for their peak season!
Am I mad?
mattyn1 said:
Having read the “Business Class” thread on here got me thinking. Enquires with Kuoni and the premium for Business outbound and premium economy homeward was astronomical..... far more than the premium quoted on SkyScanner.
So am building this myself. FWIW I have discovered:
BA will offer a voucher if I or they cancel due to Covid issues ....... If they cancel I can get a refund.
Hotels such as those under the Park Royal or Hilton chain offer no deposit and free cancellation if we join before 31 August. Cancellation up to day before arrival.
I have two risks now as I see it.
One...The Interconnecting flight is not with a global brand so refund will be as a voucher I may not use.
Two.... a failure to match up BA flights and hotels as this saga develops over the next few months. A cut off date at end November seems sensible to me. Incidentally Malaysia Airlines are a lot more expensive and I get a work discount with BA!
So am going for it..... hoping the travel ban to Malaysia is withdrawn by end November and hoping Malaysia opens for their peak season!
Am I mad?
No fortune favours the brave. Worst case you end up with a load of vouchers which you use to take the same trip next year which means a free holiday next year if you employ a healthy dose of man maths logic!So am building this myself. FWIW I have discovered:
BA will offer a voucher if I or they cancel due to Covid issues ....... If they cancel I can get a refund.
Hotels such as those under the Park Royal or Hilton chain offer no deposit and free cancellation if we join before 31 August. Cancellation up to day before arrival.
I have two risks now as I see it.
One...The Interconnecting flight is not with a global brand so refund will be as a voucher I may not use.
Two.... a failure to match up BA flights and hotels as this saga develops over the next few months. A cut off date at end November seems sensible to me. Incidentally Malaysia Airlines are a lot more expensive and I get a work discount with BA!
So am going for it..... hoping the travel ban to Malaysia is withdrawn by end November and hoping Malaysia opens for their peak season!
Am I mad?
Update for anyone interested;- after getting our always helpful MP involved, and sending an emailed letter before action to the travel agent's CEO, my wife got her £9,146 paid back into her bank account.
Don't be fobbed off with "Company policy is...." or "ABTA guidance is....."; you are legally entitled to your money back in full, within 14 days of cancellation, or non provision of the package, regardless of the reasons.
Don't be fobbed off with "Company policy is...." or "ABTA guidance is....."; you are legally entitled to your money back in full, within 14 days of cancellation, or non provision of the package, regardless of the reasons.
Looks like my Tui saga is drawing to an end.
The holiday was booked and deposit paid in early February. I paid nothing more when it became clear that it would not be going ahead. Over the last 6-8 weeks they finally cancelled it, sent me a rebooking credit offer and then agreed to refund. This morning they called to take my credit card details and then put the refund through whilst I was on the phone, so that should be an end to it. We were due to go away this Friday ...
The holiday was booked and deposit paid in early February. I paid nothing more when it became clear that it would not be going ahead. Over the last 6-8 weeks they finally cancelled it, sent me a rebooking credit offer and then agreed to refund. This morning they called to take my credit card details and then put the refund through whilst I was on the phone, so that should be an end to it. We were due to go away this Friday ...
mattyn1 said:
Having read the “Business Class” thread on here got me thinking. Enquires with Kuoni and the premium for Business outbound and premium economy homeward was astronomical..... far more than the premium quoted on SkyScanner.
So am building this myself. FWIW I have discovered:
BA will offer a voucher if I or they cancel due to Covid issues ....... If they cancel I can get a refund.
Hotels such as those under the Park Royal or Hilton chain offer no deposit and free cancellation if we join before 31 August. Cancellation up to day before arrival.
I have two risks now as I see it.
One...The Interconnecting flight is not with a global brand so refund will be as a voucher I may not use.
Two.... a failure to match up BA flights and hotels as this saga develops over the next few months. A cut off date at end November seems sensible to me. Incidentally Malaysia Airlines are a lot more expensive and I get a work discount with BA!
So am going for it..... hoping the travel ban to Malaysia is withdrawn by end November and hoping Malaysia opens for their peak season!
Am I mad?
Same boat as you we have a self built trip to Thailand booked for November but so far doesn't look as if Thailand is going to open up. We have booked the flights through Swiss as it was too good a deal to pass up and includes the ability to delay our flights up to 18 months at our decision which is the reason we booked the trip. So am building this myself. FWIW I have discovered:
BA will offer a voucher if I or they cancel due to Covid issues ....... If they cancel I can get a refund.
Hotels such as those under the Park Royal or Hilton chain offer no deposit and free cancellation if we join before 31 August. Cancellation up to day before arrival.
I have two risks now as I see it.
One...The Interconnecting flight is not with a global brand so refund will be as a voucher I may not use.
Two.... a failure to match up BA flights and hotels as this saga develops over the next few months. A cut off date at end November seems sensible to me. Incidentally Malaysia Airlines are a lot more expensive and I get a work discount with BA!
So am going for it..... hoping the travel ban to Malaysia is withdrawn by end November and hoping Malaysia opens for their peak season!
Am I mad?
Whisper it, but I'm off to Zante on Thursday.
Originally it was going to be Cyprus on Wednesday for £984. But TUI rang up last week and cancelled because the Cypriot authorities require a negative CV19 test no more than 72hrs before you arrive. TUI have presumably had a lot of kickback on this, so have stopped going to Cyprus. To sweeten things, they gave me an additional £500 to book something else. So I booked the above week in Zante, AI for £1350 for three of us over two rooms. Apparently 62% off the ticket price.
Originally it was going to be Cyprus on Wednesday for £984. But TUI rang up last week and cancelled because the Cypriot authorities require a negative CV19 test no more than 72hrs before you arrive. TUI have presumably had a lot of kickback on this, so have stopped going to Cyprus. To sweeten things, they gave me an additional £500 to book something else. So I booked the above week in Zante, AI for £1350 for three of us over two rooms. Apparently 62% off the ticket price.
Reading TripAdvisor, the hotel has put screens in front of the self serve buffet, so you are served rather than help yourself, which I have no problem with. And masks should be worn inside in public areas (reception for example) but nobody seems to bother.
Zante will either be heaving with Germans and Russians and a few Brits, or empty. Either way, at the price point the food might be rubbish in the hotel. I'll be happy to eat out.
I did check the flight to see if it was worth paying to prebook our seats, but aside from the extra legroom seats, there were about 20 rows of unallocated seats. I suspect the flight might be quiet.
Zante will either be heaving with Germans and Russians and a few Brits, or empty. Either way, at the price point the food might be rubbish in the hotel. I'll be happy to eat out.
I did check the flight to see if it was worth paying to prebook our seats, but aside from the extra legroom seats, there were about 20 rows of unallocated seats. I suspect the flight might be quiet.
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