Ecuador travel help!

natfarm1

Hello,

First time poster here! I am currently in Colombia with my husband and we’ve booked to travel to Ecuador next on 26th Jan.

The plan was to fly to Guayaquil on 26th Jan, then to Galápagos Islands on 28th Jan, to Quito on 6th Feb and then leaving Quito on 8th Feb.

Given the current safety situation in Ecuador, we do not want to spend any time in Guayaquil (and preferably in Quito). 

We have been in touch with our travel insurance company who have been extremely unhelpful and informed us that our policy will be invalid if we travel to any region that the UK FCDO advises against.

We have also been in touch with the airline, who have said that we are not eligible for a refund (for the Medellín to Guayaquil flight) as the flight is valid and not cancelled. We have the option to change our flight to 27th Jan and not leave Guayaquil airport but this would mean a 14 hour layover and an extra £300 which is the same price as the flight!

As it stands, we are set to lose around £600 if we don’t take these flights. I’m praying that somebody has some advice about what we should do, as at that moment it feels like we are being pressured into taking them when it doesn’t feel safe to do so.

Thanks in advance.

eskbanker

natfarm1 said:

We have been in touch with our travel insurance company who have been extremely unhelpful and informed us that our policy will be invalid if we travel to any region that the UK FCDO advises against.

But as well as saying that you wouldn't be covered to ignore FCDO advice, do they cover any costs associated with changing your travel plans to reflect that advice?  If not, then unless your airline tickets allow flexibility, it would seem that you've correctly summarised your options, i.e. stick to plan A or pay the extra to avoid leaving the airport in Guayaquil?

Edit: perhaps you may have other options if you booked a package, or used a travel agent?

natfarm1

eskbanker said:

But as well as saying that you wouldn't be covered to ignore FCDO advice, do they cover any costs associated with changing your travel plans to reflect that advice?  If not, then unless your airline tickets allow flexibility, it would seem that you've correctly summarised your options, i.e. stick to plan A or pay the extra to avoid leaving the airport in Guayaquil?

Thank you for your reply. We’ve been on the phone to our travel insurance and they will cover the costs if we have to go back to the UK as a result of the conflict - although our plan was to go on to Brazil afterwards.

We didn’t use a travel agent so unfortunately you may be right.

hugheskevi

Perhaps consider booking an additional flight from Guayaquil to Galapagos on 26th with Avianca or Latam and not take the flight on the 28th? Flights are pretty cheap, only a bit over £100 per person assuming you would have checked luggage and you would have extra time in the Galapagos.

Although if your Galapagos flights are return rather than singles each way, that probably wouldn't work with the return flight.

sandsy

Have you looked at changing the incoming and outgoing flights to Quito? I know you said you weren't keen but there are hotels very close to the airport with shuttle services. It would be such a shame to miss out on the Galapagos (and the rest of your trip) - and GYE airport is a fairly poky place to spend 14 hours.

Bonhomie

Personally, I would continue the trip as normal. Don't scare yourself to death.

Voyager2002

Bonhomie said:

Personally, I would continue the trip as normal. Don't scare yourself to death.

Terrible things have happened in Guayaquil. Plus, the FCDO advice means that their travel insurance would no longer be valid.