booked a holiday but now not able to go

ali-t

Hi, I was wondering if any of you have any knowledge or experience of trying to salvage something from a holiday I have booked but might not be able to go on.


Myself and my partner are due to fly on a Thomas Cook package holiday in a couple of weeks but one of our dogs is unwell and I don't know if he will be well enough to go into kennels. He is a grumpy git at the best of times so has to go to kennels rather than have a house sitter or go to stay with anyone. He isn't insured (only 3rd party through dogs trust) so I don't have any back up through pet insurance.


We do have travel insurance that was bought before the dog got ill but it doesn't cover sick pets, only death and serious illness of the insured people going on the holiday.


I have checked Thomas Cooks website and this late on they withhold 90-100% of the cost of the holiday so no chance of a refund - I was clutching at straws there lol.


I have asked around friends and no-one is able to take our places so if we can't go any idea if there is any way to salvage any of the money or how to go about attempting to sell it on to someone?


I am fairly sure that we will just have to face losing the cost of the holiday, car parking, kennels etc but MSE'ers are a very resourceful bunch and if anyone has any ideas I am open to all suggestions.

Caz3121

Is the penalty the same if you ask them for a date change for the holiday?

stephb34

Caz3121 wrote: »

Is the penalty the same if you ask them for a date change for the holiday?

Yes far too close to departure to do any changes, that's why you have insurance, although unless you pay extra to cover pets then your stuffed, that's if you can pay extra to cover pets, not sure its not my speciality pets.

McKneff

Grumpy git or not, get a sitter and tell him to lump it.


I wouldn't in a million years, give up a holiday for a sick pet......

photome

McKneff wrote: »

Grumpy git or not, get a sitter and tell him to lump it.


I wouldn't in a million years, give up a holiday for a sick pet......

I wouldnt either but to some the pet is part of the family and I do get why someone wouldnt leave a sick "grumpy" dog

Maybe if he was left at home with a sitter he would bark all day (annoy the neighbours) or wreck the house, if neither of those than a sitter would work, wouldnt it

ali-t

McKneff wrote: »

Grumpy git or not, get a sitter and tell him to lump it.


I wouldn't in a million years, give up a holiday for a sick pet......

The dog is dying and has the potential as he gets more uncomfortable to go from grumpy to aggressive and the there is no way I would inflict that on anyone.

suki1964

Perhaps, as your dog is dying, and you know he's getting uncomfortable it's time to let him go?

I say that because I do love dogs and I wouldn't see one suffer

PeteDoff

stephb34 wrote: »

Yes far too close to departure to do any changes, that's why you have insurance, although unless you pay extra to cover pets then your stuffed, that's if you can pay extra to cover pets, not sure its not my speciality pets.

Was this a hint?

duchy

Have you checked your pet insurance?
Mine used to have cover for this up to a certain amount. Never used it just remember seeing it on the policy.

Might be worth working out if paying a pet sitter rather than kennels would be an option when comparing it to losing the whole cost of the holiday.

ali-t

suki1964 wrote: »

Perhaps, as your dog is dying, and you know he's getting uncomfortable it's time to let him go?

I say that because I do love dogs and I wouldn't see one suffer

He has an intestinal disease that was diagnosed a month or so ago. It is terminal but is currently being managed by medication and still has a very good quality of life i.e. out for walks, playing, eating etc but he has the potential to go downhill very quickly. He could have 2 weeks or could have a year with a great quality of life. We just don't know and the vets can't put a timescale on it.


I won't put him in kennels if it wont be a pleasant experience for him and if his health is likely to suffer he won't be going but he is no where near being PTS yet.


Duchy thanks for the thought but he isn't insured. Cheapest premiums for him were £50 a month so I stopped it a few years ago as it is more economical to pay the vet bills as they arise than pay £600pa plus the excess for everything he goes to the vet for.


The dog is an important part of the family so won't suffer and won't be put at risk of harm or upset. I was hoping that someone might have ideas about how to salvage some of the cost of the holiday.


I will get in touch with the tour operator and see if changing the dates would be possible.


Has anyone tried selling a holiday on gumtree or ebay - is it worth the hassle?

duchy

You can't change the names on a holiday without charge. At such a late stage it's likely to make selling it uneconomic.

In your shoes I'd ask the vet if any of the staff there do pet sitting . Often they do and would be a more reassuring option.