Cox and Kings tour departing 1st May not cancelled yet but balance due next week

kuepper

Booked last summer to take advantage of no single supplement offer (saving me £595) in the hope covid situation would easily be sorted by now.....yesterday got a reminder to pay my balance of over £2000 by March 2nd but surely they have to cancel the tour if govt have announced no international travel before 17 May? Can I demand my money back now? T&C are attached below but don't seem to cover this situation. Doesn't seem right to have to give them the balance in this circumstance

Thrugelmir

Perhaps easiest to give them a call tomorrow to obtain their latest status update. Probably in the process of cancelling holidays in a systematic way. Tour by tour. Rather than on an ad-hoc basis. 

Westin

I expect that was an automated reminder.  Also expect they are still sorting things out behind the scenes following the new guideline route map out of Covid announced this week. 

Call them to ask and discuss options.

DW190

Have you checked if the flight is still scheduled?

JosephK

Earlier this month, paid off a balance (OK, not Cox & Kings) knowing holiday would likely be cancelled. Yesterday received e-mail saying all monies will be refunded in next 28 days.

C & K, as has been said, are probably working their way through bookings and you will be informed. In meantime, I would pay balance, even though you should soon have it returned, or you could be deemed to have cancelled.

kuepper

DW190 said:

Have you checked if the flight is still scheduled?

Yes it is but it is illegal for us to fly on holiday until at least 17 May, plus no tourist visas are being issued for the country I'm visiting so I wouldn't be allowed on the plane anyway

kuepper

JosephK said:

Earlier this month, paid off a balance (OK, not Cox & Kings) knowing holiday would likely be cancelled. Yesterday received e-mail saying all monies will be refunded in next 28 days.

C & K, as has been said, are probably working their way through bookings and you will be informed. In meantime, I would pay balance, even though you should soon have it returned, or you could be deemed to have cancelled.

Yes I'd realised I'll have to pay balance unless I'm informed to the contrary otherwise I'll be in breach of contract.

Thrugelmir

kuepper said:

DW190 said:

Have you checked if the flight is still scheduled?

Yes it is but it is illegal for us to fly on holiday until at least 17 May, plus no tourist visas are being issued for the country I'm visiting so I wouldn't be allowed on the plane anyway

Some customers maybe rescheduling to other tours later in the year. Not simply cancelling outright. 

bagand96

The following two pages on Cox & King's website should provide some comfort:

Cox & Kings | Luxury Tours l Tailor-Made Holidays (coxandkings.co.uk)  Covid-19 FAQ's

Cox & Kings | Luxury Tours l Tailor-Made Holidays (coxandkings.co.uk) Covid-19 Flexible Booking Policy

Their policies seem pretty robust, if UK FCO advice or destination entry requirements mean you can't travel, then you can amend the dates or cancel for a refund.  Same if you have to hotel quarantine on your UK return.

You're correct in saying that you may have to keep your end of the bargain and pay the balance to keep the booking live.  However as others above have said, it's worth getting in touch with them.  They may let you postpone paying the balance for the time being, they may even let you cancel now for a full refund.  I've no experience of Cox & Kings, but from those Covid policies they seem like a decent outfit.

Thrugelmir

bagand96 said:

 I've no experience of Cox & Kings, but from those Covid policies they seem like a decent outfit.

Better than the average tour operator in the past. Value customers in the sense that they want people to travel with them again. Their tours are extremely good. 

DW190

Make sure you download a copy of those Ts & Cs in case they amend them.  Possibly a good chance they would let you cancel now considering the Governments latest on International travel.