Rights if holiday changes?

MauritianWorrier

We are booked to go to Mauritius in early September. They have just announced borders will now be open to vaccinated travellers (which we both are) but the holiday will be confined to your resort and in specific hotels.

Does anyone know if we are entitled to cancel our holiday without charge on this basis? We won’t know until the 20th June about whether or not we will be able to use our chosen hotel.

eskbanker

The Package Travel Regulations give you cancellation rights with a full refund if there's a significant change to one or more of the key characteristics defined in schedule 1:

1.  The main characteristics of the travel services specified in paragraphs 2 to 10.

2.  The travel destination, the itinerary and periods of stay, with dates and, where accommodation is included, the number of nights included.

3.  The means, characteristics and categories of transport, the points, dates and time of departure and return, the duration and places of intermediate stops and transport connections.

4.  Where the exact time of departure and return is not yet determined, the organiser and, where applicable, the retailer, must inform the traveller of the approximate time of departure and return.

5.  The location, main features and, where applicable, tourist category of the accommodation under the rules of the country of destination.

6.  The meals which are included in the package.

7.  The visits, excursions or other services included in the total price agreed for the package.

8.  Where it is not apparent from the context, whether any of the travel services are to be provided to the traveller as part of a group and, if so, where possible, the approximate size of the group.

9.  Where the traveller’s benefit from other tourist services depends on effective oral communication, the language in which those services are to be carried out.

10.  Whether the trip or holiday is generally suitable for persons with reduced mobility and, upon the traveller’s request, the precise information on the suitability of the trip or holiday taking into account the traveller’s needs.

A change of hotel isn't in itself deemed significant if still within the same resort and of the same standard, but do you have anything booked beyond the hotel that might fall within item 7 perhaps?

Depending on the terms and current policies of the package provider, you may find that they'll offer you a cancellation option (with refund) if Mauritius is on the red or amber lists or if there's FCDO advice against non-essential travel?

MauritianWorrier

We don’t have anything booked, we had intended to  intending to but sadly had been holding off due to the current situation.

We are with Kuoni so it may be worth trying but I am unsure if they’ll cancel in advance as they may try and argue it could change.

Westin

I suspect the situation will be monitored.   Much could and is likely to change in terms of hotel operation and local restrictions between now and September.  If you cancel yourself at this point expect standard booking terms and conditions to apply.