Hotel booking by secondary cardholder

Emily_Joy

OH & I were planning a trip to Venice and he booked a small family run hotel on booking.com using a CC where I am the primary cardholder. He has travel insurance, but the entire booking appears to be in my name. I am wondering what our rights would be if we decide to cancel? At the moment, there is no government advice against travel to Italy, so would it help if I get  insurance in my name? One the other hand, should the hotel chose to close down for health and safety reasons, will we be able to get a refund (on the grounds that the service hasn't been provided)?  Apologies if this is the wrong part of the forum.

Browntoa

Why have you not already got travel insurance.

Martins advice is always "buy as soon as you book " 

Emily_Joy

Browntoa said:  Why have you not already got travel insurance. Martins advice is always "buy as soon as you book "

 Because I travel a lot for work reasons and covered via a comprehensive employer's insurance. It makes things very difficult and slow if you have several insurance policies and have to make a claim for a considerable amount, as insurance companies cannot agree who should pay what.

born_again

You have no claim on the CC. If it is you who are cancelling and the holiday is available.
If the hotel cancel then they should be refunding you... 

Sharon87

You still need your own travel insurance for your own holidays. Your employers cover won't cover non work trips so there will be no issue in claiming for a cancelled holiday. Why even mention employers insurance as it's not relevant. Get insurance now, even if it's just for one trip.

db2016

Emily_Joy said:

Browntoa said:  Why have you not already got travel insurance. Martins advice is always "buy as soon as you book "

 Because I travel a lot for work reasons and covered via a comprehensive employer's insurance. It makes things very difficult and slow if you have several insurance policies and have to make a claim for a considerable amount, as insurance companies cannot agree who should pay what.

insurers would only argue who should pay IF you instruct / tell more than one insurer surely?
and YOU should know which insurer to engage based on if its personal or work!
get a policy for yourself and even write on top of it "personal holiday insurance" if needed. easy.

Emily_Joy

db2016 said:

insurers would only argue who should pay IF you instruct / tell more than one insurer surely? and YOU should know which insurer to engage based on if its personal or work! get a policy for yourself and even write on top of it "personal holiday insurance" if needed. easy.

The claim form from the employer's insurance explicitly asks whether I have any other insurance, so that they can share reliability. 

Emily_Joy

Sharon87 said:

You still need your own travel insurance for your own holidays. Your employers cover won't cover non work trips so there will be no issue in claiming for a cancelled holiday. Why even mention employers insurance as it's not relevant. Get insurance now, even if it's just for one trip.

Amex Gold normally takes care of that. 

born_again

Take this query is ore about Corona Virus that a simple I was unable to travel due to illness.
If it is, then plenty of official information out about what cover you actually have in the event that the advice is not to travel.

Emily_Joy

born_again said:

Take this query is ore about Corona Virus that a simple I was unable to travel due to illness.
If it is, then plenty of official information out about what cover you actually have in the event that the advice is not to travel.

I was under impression that "unable travel due to illness" means that I am not fit to travel, not the fact that I am likely to have to spend a fortnight decorating the house upon return.

At the moment there is no advise not to travel, afaik, but we have since discovered that I am covered by the OH insurance when we travel together. However, the government advice "to avoid all but essential travel" should be issued in order to make a valid claim.

Emily_Joy

In case anyone is following.

Last night, following the news on the country-wide lockdown came in, I logged into booking.com to see if there is any advice/information. I got a message regarding non-refundable booking in question saying that it can be cancelled for free due to current situation.  This saved us some money, as the insurance policy had an excess.