Should I pay the rest of balance

adonis10

Aylesbury_Duck said:

adonis10 said:

In the same boat. Holiday to Kenya and Zanzibar in July and at present have paid a £600 deposit with the £11k balance due on 25/4. I feel sure that by the 25/4 we will be none the wiser about whether we can go and I do not want to shell out that sum if the holiday is going to be compromised. I do not trust travel insurance to pay out should it be cancelled and so would rather take the £600 hit than the full £11.6k. Any thoughts?

Honestly, it's your choice.  It sounds like you're erring on the side of caution and are prepared to lose the £600.  If that feels the most comfortable way forward, it's the right choice.  Just check your terms to ensure that £600 is the limit of your exposure.  Some people signed up to low deposit schemes where they're obliged to pay another larger deposit sum even if they then cancel.

That is how we are thinking currently because the reality is we will not be able to go. Hays Travel will say July is fine currently and pay up quite simply because they need the cash flow. It will then get to early July and the advice will be not to go, we will be 11k in the hole and Hays will just try to offer us vouchers or to rebook. Don't get me wrong, we will still do this holiday but who on earth knows when it will be possible (this could be a problem for Africa for years, who knows). I would rather be in a position to rebook when things are more stable than pay up now and be scared that either Somak (the African safari company) or Hays will go under and we will then be on a very long list of creditors.

*update* - my wife has spoken to Hays and the date of the 25/4 for the balance is apparently not set in stone and we have made it quite clear we do not wish to pay it for the foreseeable future and this seems to be ok. They are going to call us back within 14 days with an update.

 I am kind of torn, really, because if we keep what we have at least we are locked into the price and there is no risk of higher prices (due to increased demand given that people will not have been on holiday for some time!) when we rebook. That said, still rather have that risk than losing £11k.

[Deleted User]

If you think you might not go then don’t pay it as you may not get it back, if you would go if you could (even if a travel ban had just been lifted) then I’d pay it. 

adonis10

GabiB said:

If you think you might not go then don’t pay it as you may not get it back, if you would go if you could (even if a travel ban had just been lifted) then I’d pay it. 

We are going to play the waiting game to see what the advice is. The travel agent today informed us that Somak are not going to be extending the balance due date past 25/4, which is a shame. We will not be paying it until there is some more certainty, who knows when that will be. If they decide to cancel as a result, then so be it. We cannot shell out £11,000 without knowing what is going to happen in the next 6-12 months. How on earth do we know that Africa will not be massively impacted in that time?

MallyGirl

Aylesbury_Duck said:

adonis10 said:

In the same boat. Holiday to Kenya and Zanzibar in July and at present have paid a £600 deposit with the £11k balance due on 25/4. I feel sure that by the 25/4 we will be none the wiser about whether we can go and I do not want to shell out that sum if the holiday is going to be compromised. I do not trust travel insurance to pay out should it be cancelled and so would rather take the £600 hit than the full £11.6k. Any thoughts?

Honestly, it's your choice.  It sounds like you're erring on the side of caution and are prepared to lose the £600.  If that feels the most comfortable way forward, it's the right choice.  Just check your terms to ensure that £600 is the limit of your exposure.  Some people signed up to low deposit schemes where they're obliged to pay another larger deposit sum even if they then cancel.

I am the same although the deposit paid already is £1500 with another £10k to pay. African safari plus all inc beach - was supposed to be our last big family holiday as a reward for DD after her A levels before uni. That is all a big mess too I am trying to trawl through all the T&Cs around cancellation but it is not that clear. Holiday provider (Virgin) said they were rebooking people with April holidays into July so I should assume it will go ahead. I don't want an £11k voucher.

adonis10

MallyGirl said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

adonis10 said:

In the same boat. Holiday to Kenya and Zanzibar in July and at present have paid a £600 deposit with the £11k balance due on 25/4. I feel sure that by the 25/4 we will be none the wiser about whether we can go and I do not want to shell out that sum if the holiday is going to be compromised. I do not trust travel insurance to pay out should it be cancelled and so would rather take the £600 hit than the full £11.6k. Any thoughts?

Honestly, it's your choice.  It sounds like you're erring on the side of caution and are prepared to lose the £600.  If that feels the most comfortable way forward, it's the right choice.  Just check your terms to ensure that £600 is the limit of your exposure.  Some people signed up to low deposit schemes where they're obliged to pay another larger deposit sum even if they then cancel.

I am the same although the deposit paid already is £1500 with another £10k to pay. African safari plus all inc beach - was supposed to be our last big family holiday as a reward for DD after her A levels before uni. That is all a big mess too I am trying to trawl through all the T&Cs around cancellation but it is not that clear. Holiday provider (Virgin) said they were rebooking people with April holidays into July so I should assume it will go ahead. I don't want an £11k voucher.

April holidays rebooking into July? That sounds ambitous!

MallyGirl

adonis10 said:

MallyGirl said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

adonis10 said:

In the same boat. Holiday to Kenya and Zanzibar in July and at present have paid a £600 deposit with the £11k balance due on 25/4. I feel sure that by the 25/4 we will be none the wiser about whether we can go and I do not want to shell out that sum if the holiday is going to be compromised. I do not trust travel insurance to pay out should it be cancelled and so would rather take the £600 hit than the full £11.6k. Any thoughts?

Honestly, it's your choice.  It sounds like you're erring on the side of caution and are prepared to lose the £600.  If that feels the most comfortable way forward, it's the right choice.  Just check your terms to ensure that £600 is the limit of your exposure.  Some people signed up to low deposit schemes where they're obliged to pay another larger deposit sum even if they then cancel.

I am the same although the deposit paid already is £1500 with another £10k to pay. African safari plus all inc beach - was supposed to be our last big family holiday as a reward for DD after her A levels before uni. That is all a big mess too I am trying to trawl through all the T&Cs around cancellation but it is not that clear. Holiday provider (Virgin) said they were rebooking people with April holidays into July so I should assume it will go ahead. I don't want an £11k voucher.

April holidays rebooking into July? That sounds ambitous!

I thought so but it is what they said in an email response. I suspect that is not happening any more.