Holiday accomodation cancelled by owner

Alye16

Hi, I booked some holiday accommodation last May 2011 for this Easter.One week before we are due to start the holiday the owner has informed me he has taken a booking on the same accommodation for 18 months and I can no longer go.Accommodation was paid in full.He has suggested alternative accomodation.Is he allowed to do this when he has accepted payment and confirmed a booking to me.Are we entitled to any compensation? Your opinions please.

McKneff

Look at your terms and conditions.

If the alternative accommodation is as good as the original, what does it matter. It may be different if it isnt.

Itismehonest

It's been a few years since I was in the tourism business but, unless things have changed drastically, if the owner has cancelled your booking then you should at least be entitled to your money back.

Is he offering you the alternative accommodation (in other words your payment to him will be used for the new place)?
If that is the case then the new accommodation should be something similar or better to that originally booked or a refund of some sort should be negotiable.

I gather you booked direct with the owner & not through an agency of any sort?
Does the owner's advertisement say that they are a member of any tourism association or similar body?

Did you take out cancellation insurance?

peachyprice

Is the accomodation in the UK?

hcb42

I presume he is offering alternative accommodation or your money back?

In practice, it is unlikely you will get much more than this, if it is in the same area, then any travel plans etc should still be relevant. If it is of worse condition then arguably you should receive some kind of a sweetener here. You could of course play hard ball and say you are turning up anyway and see if the other family cave in...but a bit of a risky strategy that one!

Alye16

Hi thanks for all your quick replies.

There were no terms and conditions, although the property was advertised on agency website, I booked direct with the owner.There were no terms and conditions on his website and he never sent me any.

Alternative accommodation is in another village, it looks as nice.However the original property was a quiet lodge set in a large field ideal for children to play in, located closer to to the sea and cycle path.

The alternative accommodation is through an agency, he seems to know them and is paying them directly.

No insurance taken out.

No mention of any tourism association on his website.

Accommodation in UK

unholyangel

How did you pay for it? Cash? Credit Card? Debit card?

What was the total of the accommodation?

Alye16

I paid a deposit (last May) and final payment(Jan) totalling £530 both by cheque.

I spent ages looking for the right holiday accommodation and believed that by booking early that I would get the accommodation I wanted.I have now a last minute booking in a prpoerty which I probably eliminated last year.

It just doesn't seem right that I have had this booked since last year, he has taken the money and given me no indication of any problem until a week before we are due to go he can cancel.He seems to be in a winning position, a company who is working in the area has rented the property for 18th months yet a long standing one week booking is just pushed aside.

hcb42

At the end of the day, he can do it, he has done.

All you can do is get the best deal out of it - maybe see what kind of a sweetener they can offer you i.e. better welcome pack or meal for family in local pub or something.....

THe alternative is to go to court, but as he has come up with a solution, it is hard to see how you would be much better off, and of course have no holiday in the meantime.
It is frustrating I understand, but all you can do is make the most of it now, if you are not 100% on this one, find another which is more comparable to the one you picked and have him pay the difference - he has 18 months rent up his sleeve..

Alye16

Thanks for advice.

Not able to find anything comparable to original accommodation we go on Saturday, not able to change dates as time booked off work.

paddyrg

Is the value of the accommodation the same, too? I know it's very subjective, but is the new place sold for the same rate as you already paid?

I would accept that this is what's going to happen (holiday booked off work, travel booked, etc) but push for a sweetener (meal at the pub is a nice idea) and accept the hoiday as-is with a smile. The gods may have conspired to actually treat you, there may be all kinds of benefits you'd never discover otherwise...for instance you might meet someone at the new location who ends up offering you a dream job, who knows?!