Last Minute Hotel Change From Package

manrow

Package holiday booked months ago, mine not starting until 18th October.
But I gather from other travellers that the hotel extension is not finished so are being phoned by the travel agent day before travel, offering an alternative hotel.
Do we have any rights to cancellation and full refund if we decline the change?

Incapuppy

What does it say in the package T&C's regarding changes made by the TO?

manrow

What a very good question!

Naively, I thought that my contract was with the travel agent, but as I read the Ts & Cs the travel agent neatly side-steps their responsibility by stating that they are merely acting as agents for the Accommodation Provider.

I am not sure this will stand up in court as the only information I had available at the time of booking came from the travel agent's website and further verbal details conveyed during the booking process. They don't provide a brochure, and confirmation of th booking was achieved on an A4 document sent to me by email?

Anyone some experience of declining a package holiday close to departure time as a result of change of accommodation please?

Incapuppy

Which TO are you booked with? Can you look at their website for their T&C's?

I have a First Choice brochure at hand so I just had a look at the small print and with them it all depends on what constitutes a 'major change' as regards to cancellation/compensation etc. I have only skim read but it would appear that if what is constituted as a major change is not acceptable to you then you have the right to a full refund.

Obviously I have just used FC as an example, but I would hope that with a bit of searching you should be able to establish exactly what your rights are and I am guessing that this will vary from TO to TO. Good luck!

dzug1

Most operators will refund (with trivial compensation) if the change is regarded as major.

A change of hotel is not necessarily major.

If you are not being offered the choice it sounds as though the operator regards it as a minor change.

It's something that you can fight but may well not win.

Alan_Bowen

It sounds to me as though you haven't got a package holiday at all, but two separate contracts, one of which is for the accommodation booked through the agent. If that is correct, you might be able to cancel the accommodation but you will be left with the flights and nowhere to stay. I bet the travel agent didn't tell you that before you booked, who did you book through?

manrow

Alan Bowen,

I think you may have hit the nail on the head!

I and many others booked what we thought was a package with a company called HotelsBooked, and I am in no way recommending them.

The company concerned was not a member of ABTA nor ATOL registered when we booked (although alleged they were), but have apparently joined since; hence I do not enjoy the protection which those organisations might offer. They have made a number of statements to me and others about whether the hotel will be ready for our occupation or not, but early travellers already out there allege that the hotel will not be ready for my visit later in October, hence the question I asked. I am still considering cancellation as the company referred to above will not confirm where we will be staying until we arrive at the airport???