English holiday - shielding - where do I stand

Tom20940

I booked to go to St Ives last summer. I am due to pay the outstanding balance on the holiday in the next few days. We have already paid a large deposit for the holiday itself. We have have been shielding for 12 weeks and following yesterday’s announcement we will have to remain shielding in our homes until August the 1st meaning we cannot go to St Ives. Where do I stand with the travel company? Will I get any money back from the deposit? Should they offer me a change of date? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as we are worried about losing a lot of money. 

Tom

Mrsn

This is a grey area to be honest and it’s going to really on being as nice as possible to your travel company.

The shielding guidance is advice (and I don’t disagree with it at all!) so in reality the advice doesn’t preclude you from going. All the accommodation has to do is provide the service and their obligation is done.

They may as a gesture of goodwill allow you to change the dates but are allowed to charge for that. You will need to check your t’s and c’s if you have to cancel because you may find you actually owe more than the deposit allowed.