Planning a trip - worth risking non refundable? 10 January 2022 at 3:15PM in Coronavirus travel help & info 16 replies 587 views

Colly83

Hi,

I'm planning a family trip to Amsterdam in April (originally set for this time 2020, and our Efteling vouchers were about to run out se we're going for it). I've looked at a few hotels and several have better rates for early bird "non refundable" options. If I book this and we're then unable to travel (or the current 5 day quarantine is still in place) is there any way of protecting myself through insurance? The MSE guide suggests a few insurers do, but doesn't say which, any ideas?

Or do I just take the hit and book a refundable rate? I'd really prefer not to as the cost of this trip has increased and increased, but most of it was paid years ago...

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't book anything non-refundable that you're not prepared to write off. 

Westin

I would book the refundable rate or anything with flexibility. If you decide on non-refundable you need to accept the risks associated.

It sounds like you have your head screwed on and are wisely exploring the options for your trip. It is however surprising how many still seem to book a non-refundable, non-flexible hotel or air ticket during a pandemic then moan and complain when plans have to change and their non-refundable rate is really non-refundable. 

Colly83

Thanks both. Any ideas on the insurance companies that might cover it, as I suspect the difference in insurance cost will be less than the difference in the two rates?

onashoestring

Most policies state that they will only cover claims for new advice or restrictions - i.e. not in place when the insurance was purchased or the holiday booked (whichever is later).

So if you book a holiday to Amsterdam now (when there is 5 day quarantine requirement )if this is still in place when you travel even with the best insurance policy - you won’t be able to make an insurance claim for this.

Which? did a review of travel insurance policies and only found 5 that offered “complete” Covid cover - for example if the destination  shut its borders . Again This only applies to border closures/ lockdowns that are “new” introduced after the policy is taken out  .

3 of these were linked to bank accounts  : Barclays Bank, Nationwide Building Society and HSBC travel insurance policies. The other 2 were Churchill & DirectLine. 

https://www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/travel-insurance/best-and-worst-travel-insurance-akxsn9g15kgb

Even “complete” cover won’t cover every scenario.  You would need to read through the small print of each carefully .

You also need to consider the excess - Direct Line’s excess for example is £75 per person for a single trip so you would need to be able to afford to pay this. 

sheramber

Not going because of quarantine restrictions where you were going to would be disinclination to travel. You are not prevented from travelling but choosing not to go .

It is unlikely any insurance would cover that.

jimi_man

In answer to the original question, absolutely not. Things are still up in the air re Covid and will be for a little while yet. Personally I only book with an airline that if I cancel an hour before going I know I can get a Flight Voucher at the very minimum, that I can use to anywhere on their network, which is a large enough network and who I would use again (BA in my case). I don't book their holidays as they have restrictions, only a flight and then use booking.com with free cancellation. I wouldn't book through a travel agent as they have a habit of booking the out and return often with two different airlines which raises loads of problems. 

Keep it simple, pay a little more to keep much more control over the whole process, is my advice FWIW.

Butts

jimi_man said:

In answer to the original question, absolutely not. Things are still up in the air re Covid and will be for a little while yet. Personally I only book with an airline that if I cancel an hour before going I know I can get a Flight Voucher at the very minimum, that I can use to anywhere on their network, which is a large enough network and who I would use again (BA in my case). I don't book their holidays as they have restrictions, only a flight and then use booking.com with free cancellation. I wouldn't book through a travel agent as they have a habit of booking the out and return often with two different airlines which raises loads of problems. 

Keep it simple, pay a little more to keep much more control over the whole process, is my advice FWIW.

The disadvantage of booking Airline tickets separately from accommodation on BA is that you have to pay the full whack upfront rather than a minimal deposit and the balance three weeks beforehand. You also lose the PTR protection.

It's okay if you are shelling out hundreds but in my view is a different proposition when it comes to thousands - ie going to America or the like. 

tarmacapache

I recently booked an overnighter with Hilton, booked and payed for accommodation and meals on the non- refundable, however 5 days before, I tested positive and was really poorly with the virus, obviously it was against the law to travel even if I could, so I lost my money, my question is should the hotel refund me the meals element of the payment or are they entitled to keep the lot ?.

emmajones1976

tarmacapache said:

I recently booked an overnighter with Hilton, booked and payed for accommodation and meals on the non- refundable, however 5 days before, I tested positive and was really poorly with the virus, obviously it was against the law to travel even if I could, so I lost my money, my question is should the hotel refund me the meals element of the payment or are they entitled to keep the lot ?.

you booked a non refundable trip/rate, its not their fault you were unable to travel either.

Westin

tarmacapache said:

I recently booked an overnighter with Hilton, booked and payed for accommodation and meals on the non- refundable, however 5 days before, I tested positive and was really poorly with the virus, obviously it was against the law to travel even if I could, so I lost my money, my question is should the hotel refund me the meals element of the payment or are they entitled to keep the lot ?.

Nothing to stop you politely asking the hotel if a concession could be made, but I don't see an obligation on their part to make a refund in whole or in part if you booked something non-refundable.  Have you asked if you could reschedule?

You have to assume and take a degree of personal responsibility that if you book a non-refundable package/rate and plans change, then that non-refundable rate is, err, non-refundable. 

Most airlines, hotels and travel providers have been quite accommodating. Just take a polite consolatory approach rather than a position of believed entitlement.