Ebookers / Expedia Accomodation Voucher - Terms

saintscouple

Hello,
I have a hotel in Spain booked from 23rd June (non-refundable) which we will be unable to use. 
Ebookers are showing that i can get a voucher for the full value of my booking to use at a later date.
I've looked at the hotel website and it seems they are only taking bookings from 22nd June, although this date was earlier when i looked a couple of weeks ago, so could be rolled to a later date.
Does anyone know the terms of the voucher? 
I tried contacting ebookers, but most i got out of them is it's valid for 12 months, so hoping someone here might know the answers. 
I am happy to accept a voucher as long as -

1. I can go book for around the same time I was due to go this year.
   
2. There is some protection if the virus or equivalent hits again and the hotel is closed.
3. There is some protection if ebookers run in to problems.
   

I do have travel insurance, but with a £60 xs and i'm unsure if they would cover me if a voucher has been offered?  
I'm guess it may be prudent to wait a couple of weeks and see if the hotel will indeed be open as if it isn't and ebookers haven't paid the monies to the hotel, I should be entitled to a full refund. But what if they had paid the monies to the hotel and it was closed?
Sorry for all the questions, but really appreciate any insights. 

Life__Goes__On

You might want to  keep up to date with the lockdown rules for your area of Spain,  currently hotels in some areas can open but only to locals.

saintscouple

Life__Goes__On said:

You might want to  keep up to date with the lockdown rules for your area of Spain,  currently hotels in some areas can open but only to locals.

I believe all regions in Spain are now in at least phase 1 which allows hotels to open for overnight stays, although they have to keep communal areas such as dining rooms and pool areas closed. 
Costa del Sol where i was to travel is entering phase 2 on Monday which permits hotels to open the communal areas, and will be limited to a third of their usual capacity. 
As long as the hotel wants to open, it can do so. It would just be better for me if they had to delay reopening due to changes they have to make. 
I've only just found out they are entering phase 2, after looking it up after you comment - so very helpful, as now know the likelihood is the hotel will be open. 
If i could just find info on the vouchers it make the decision so much easier. I've messaged them through Facebook and they've said they will get back to me with the terms, but i'm guess being i'm not booked to go until 23rd June, i'm pretty much last in the line for answering queries. 

saintscouple

Got it. 
Sadly it states that the travel period must be within the 12 months of the voucher issue date, so we would have to go earlier next year. Would have been far better if it was the commencement date. 
I'll give to nearer the time, see if the hotel is open or closed and decide then, a lot can happen in 3 weeks time. 

The T&Cs of the coupon / voucher issued by Expedia:

Hotel Rebook Coupon

This use of this coupon is subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.   This coupon will be issued for the full amount of your cancelled lodging booking, including taxes/tax recovery charges and fees, if any, originally charged.  You acknowledge that the value you receive in the form of this coupon constitutes a full refund of any taxes/tax recovery charges and fees charged to you on your original lodging booking.

Qualifying Bookings: This coupon applies only to stand-alone hotel bookings made at the hotel you originally booked online at www.expedia.co.uk that are prepaid at the time of booking (subject to the restrictions set out in the terms and conditions below).

Minimum Spend: None.

Redemption Period:The coupon code can be redeemed for a period of 12 months from the date that the code  is issued.  The expiry date of this coupon will be stated in the “Coupons” section of your “My Account Info” page on Expedia.co.uk.

Travel Period: The travel dates for any booking for which the coupon code is used must be within 12 months from the date that the coupon code is issued.

How to use your coupon code

• You must make your stand-alone hotel booking with Expedia.co.uk.
• Use the website to search for your desired stay dates, within the travel period given above.
• You must be signed in to your Expedia user account to use this coupon code. If you do not yet have an Expedia account, you will need to create an account, or we will create a temporary account for you and ask you to set a passcode, prior the coupon being issued. This code may not be applied to guest account bookings. 
• During the booking process, on the payment page you will be asked to select the type of coupon you’d like to apply, choose “Use a coupon in your account”.
• Enter the coupon code in the relevant field, then click the “Apply voucher” link. If your booking is eligible, the applicable amount will be subtracted from the price of the travel reservation, but cannot be applied against any taxes/tax recovery charges, applicable fees, additional costs, or other fees/charges detailed in paragraph 2 below.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Subject to the restrictions set out in these terms and conditions and in compliance with the above, the coupon code may be applied to a pre-pay stand-alone hotel booking (not a hotel booking in combination with any other product such as flight + hotel or flight + hotel + car) at the hotel you originally booked online with Expedia.co.uk. The code can only be used for pre-pay bookings and cannot be redeemed against bookings which are paid at the destination. 
2. The coupon cannot be redeemed against taxes/tax recovery charges, supplier fees, cancellation or change fees/penalties, administrative fees or other miscellaneous charges, which are the sole responsibility of the customer.
3. Usual booking terms and conditions apply (see www.expedia.co.uk) and all bookings are subject to availability.
4. The coupon code may not be used with other coupons, promotions or special offers. Limit of one code per qualifying hotel booking.
5. The coupon cannot be used for any booking previously made. It will be deemed fully redeemed once a qualifying booking has been made. Any residual value will result in an additional coupon code being issued for use at the same hotel if the purchase amount is less than this coupon code amount.  The residual value coupon will be subject to these same Terms and Conditions. The code may not be re-used, even in the event that you change or cancel the booking.
6. The coupon is void where prohibited by law and may only be used by the intended recipient who must be a legal resident of the United Kingdom aged 18 and over.
7. Improper use of the coupon code by you including but not limited to publication or selling of the code is prohibited and may constitute fraud.
8. Expedia reserves the right to change or withdraw this offer at any time and to cancel any bookings made where the coupon code was improperly obtained or used to make any speculative, false, or fraudulent bookings.
9. This offer is from Expedia, Inc.
10. Terms and conditions of this coupon are as written and cannot be changed by any representation of any unauthorized person, including employees of Expedia, Inc. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom.

jiggy2

I got a voucher on 28 May, it is valid till 28 June 2021 i.e. 13 months (rather than 12). I also left it till as late as i could before taking the voucher as it then takes a few days for Expedia to issue it. 

Doshwaster

Quick question - does the Expedia voucher scheme cover cases where the hotel has reopened but you can't get there because your flight (booked direct with the airline) has been cancelled?
I've just heard that my flight to Tenerife in July has been cancelled (no big surprise) but Expedia isn't dealing with July bookings yet. I'd be perfectly happy to rebook the flight and hotel for October and maybe even extend it to a fortnight as Tenerife is still nice at that time of the year. 

saintscouple

jiggy2 said:

I got a voucher on 28 May, it is valid till 28 June 2021 i.e. 13 months (rather than 12). I also left it till as late as i could before taking the voucher as it then takes a few days for Expedia to issue it. 

@jiggy2 may i ask how long the voucher took to arrive from when you requested it? As i was told the voucher expiry date is calculated from when the voucher is produced, not when it is requested? 
Your post give me great comfort I will be able to use the voucher next year for the same period of travel this year, like you i will leave it to a few days before i was to travel. Thank you again

Doshwaster said:

Quick question - does the Expedia voucher scheme cover cases where the hotel has reopened but you can't get there because your flight (booked direct with the airline) has been cancelled?
I've just heard that my flight to Tenerife in July has been cancelled (no big surprise) but Expedia isn't dealing with July bookings yet. I'd be perfectly happy to rebook the flight and hotel for October and maybe even extend it to a fortnight as Tenerife is still nice at that time of the year. 

I've been following Expedia's stance on a monthly basis, so last month they were allowing hotel vouchers regardless of situation for cancelled accommodation that was due to begin before end of May. 
The last few days this has been extended to the end of June. 
So extension was produced about a week before the following month, so if they are to extended it again for July I would expect this to be announced last week June sometime. 

jiggy2

saintscouple said:

jiggy2 said:

I got a voucher on 28 May, it is valid till 28 June 2021 i.e. 13 months (rather than 12). I also left it till as late as i could before taking the voucher as it then takes a few days for Expedia to issue it. 

@jiggy2 may i ask how long the voucher took to arrive from when you requested it? As i was told the voucher expiry date is calculated from when the voucher is produced, not when it is requested? 
Your post give me great comfort I will be able to use the voucher next year for the same period of travel this year, like you i will leave it to a few days before i was to travel. Thank you again

I requested on 23 May (we were due to fly on 25 May). So 5 to 6 days from request to voucher being delivered

saintscouple

jiggy2 said:

saintscouple said:

jiggy2 said:

I got a voucher on 28 May, it is valid till 28 June 2021 i.e. 13 months (rather than 12). I also left it till as late as i could before taking the voucher as it then takes a few days for Expedia to issue it. 

@jiggy2 may i ask how long the voucher took to arrive from when you requested it? As i was told the voucher expiry date is calculated from when the voucher is produced, not when it is requested? 
Your post give me great comfort I will be able to use the voucher next year for the same period of travel this year, like you i will leave it to a few days before i was to travel. Thank you again

I requested on 23 May (we were due to fly on 25 May). So 5 to 6 days from request to voucher being delivered

Thanks again as this now give me a timeline of when to start the process, basically like you a couple of days before. 
But if i find the hotel is still closed at that time i will be pushing for a cash refund i think, as then i can rebook using additional discount codes, to which this voucher doesn't allow the use of in the terms. 

jiggy2

saintscouple said:

jiggy2 said:

saintscouple said:

jiggy2 said:

I got a voucher on 28 May, it is valid till 28 June 2021 i.e. 13 months (rather than 12). I also left it till as late as i could before taking the voucher as it then takes a few days for Expedia to issue it. 

@jiggy2 may i ask how long the voucher took to arrive from when you requested it? As i was told the voucher expiry date is calculated from when the voucher is produced, not when it is requested? 
Your post give me great comfort I will be able to use the voucher next year for the same period of travel this year, like you i will leave it to a few days before i was to travel. Thank you again

I requested on 23 May (we were due to fly on 25 May). So 5 to 6 days from request to voucher being delivered

Thanks again as this now give me a timeline of when to start the process, basically like you a couple of days before. 
But if i find the hotel is still closed at that time i will be pushing for a cash refund i think, as then i can rebook using additional discount codes, to which this voucher doesn't allow the use of in the terms. 

Agreed that the voucher is quite restrictive. Our hotel was definitely shut for most of May, but then a few days before we were due to go. the message had changed on their website (which suggested it may be ready for visitors, but in reality I think it is still shut till 30 June 2020 because of where it is - in Budapest). The choices we had:
1) Take the voucher - easy route
2) Push for cash refund from Expedia - but would need the hotel to be definitely shut (and had already spent an hour or so on chat trying to get them to refund with no luck) and would only be able to do that after the date for the stay passed as they hadn't cancelled the booking
3) Chargeback - but would need hotel to be definitely shut and the credit card co to play ball (s75 not an option due to intermediary)
4) Travel insurance - which now says in FAQs that vouchers will be considered as monetary refund so would be an uphill battle

What i wasn't sure about was if i didn't take the voucher (by effectively cancelling the booking) and went for option 2 then what would happen if Expedia still refused after the date to travel had passed. Travel insurance would say voucher offered, so you are on your own. If the credit card co also took the position that voucher offered was reasonable then would be left with a loss of £600+ or having to fight with expedia first then credit card co and then travel insurance.

saintscouple

jiggy2 said:

saintscouple said:

jiggy2 said:

saintscouple said:

jiggy2 said:

I got a voucher on 28 May, it is valid till 28 June 2021 i.e. 13 months (rather than 12). I also left it till as late as i could before taking the voucher as it then takes a few days for Expedia to issue it. 

@jiggy2 may i ask how long the voucher took to arrive from when you requested it? As i was told the voucher expiry date is calculated from when the voucher is produced, not when it is requested? 
Your post give me great comfort I will be able to use the voucher next year for the same period of travel this year, like you i will leave it to a few days before i was to travel. Thank you again

I requested on 23 May (we were due to fly on 25 May). So 5 to 6 days from request to voucher being delivered

Thanks again as this now give me a timeline of when to start the process, basically like you a couple of days before. 
But if i find the hotel is still closed at that time i will be pushing for a cash refund i think, as then i can rebook using additional discount codes, to which this voucher doesn't allow the use of in the terms. 

Agreed that the voucher is quite restrictive. Our hotel was definitely shut for most of May, but then a few days before we were due to go. the message had changed on their website (which suggested it may be ready for visitors, but in reality I think it is still shut till 30 June 2020 because of where it is - in Budapest). The choices we had:
1) Take the voucher - easy route
2) Push for cash refund from Expedia - but would need the hotel to be definitely shut (and had already spent an hour or so on chat trying to get them to refund with no luck) and would only be able to do that after the date for the stay passed as they hadn't cancelled the booking
3) Chargeback - but would need hotel to be definitely shut and the credit card co to play ball (s75 not an option due to intermediary)
4) Travel insurance - which now says in FAQs that vouchers will be considered as monetary refund so would be an uphill battle

What i wasn't sure about was if i didn't take the voucher (by effectively cancelling the booking) and went for option 2 then what would happen if Expedia still refused after the date to travel had passed. Travel insurance would say voucher offered, so you are on your own. If the credit card co also took the position that voucher offered was reasonable then would be left with a loss of £600+ or having to fight with expedia first then credit card co and then travel insurance.

Yeah, it's not ideal but for a quick, less hassle resolution, the voucher does seem the way to go. 
I message the hotel about when they were opening, and they said end of June - my booking starts 23rd June, their website shows booking available from the 22nd. But in their message to me they said this could change. 
I'm fortunate the hotel is very quick in replying to messages on Facebook. I'll monitor their website and if the booking dates change to the first available date after the 23rd i'll message them for confirmation and send that across to the agent as proof the hotel is closed and see what they say. 
Chargeback is not an option for me as i booked over 120 days ago. 
I'm sure my insurance would say the same where a voucher is offered - think i'll contact them to confirm, but i don't really want to use that route as it will be a drawn out process and i'll lose £60xs. 
I always go away end of June, and if the voucher allows that extra month there is no problem.... well..... I would like to know if the situation a year on is like it is now, what is the refund policy with the voucher?