Urgent Advice needed Valencia

Drewmclaren267

Hi, I’m due to go to Valencia next week (14/11/24) and given the situation out there, it won’t be a holiday (we’ll be trapped in our hotel) as far as I’m aware the local authorities in Valencia region are saying not to travel unless essential, however Thomas Cook are saying it’s fine to travel and won’t help us out. Thomas cook have offered to move the holiday to next year, but want €283 euros as an amendment fee which is ridiculous. Does anyone know where we stand legally? We don’t want to go as we don’t feel it’s safe and the local authorities say essential only. They’re asking people to keep the roads clear too for emergency access so couldn’t go out anywhere even if we went. Any help asap would be greatly appreciated, TIA

Newbie_John

What travel insurance did you buy?
Other than travel insurance I don't think there's much you can do.

eskbanker

https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/events-valencia/valencia-flooding-everything-travelers-need-know-about-city-airport-roads-trains suggests that, despite some inevitable disruption, most tourist facilities are available, such as shops, restaurants, buses, museums, etc, i.e. the city isn't in some sort of lockdown.

mebu60

How long are you going for and what were you planning to do whilst there? Most things are open and local businesses would appreciate the trade. 
Remember that the media is looking for the dramatic. Not denying things were awful but the city is functioning. Not sure your insurance will cover you 'not feeling safe' when there's no official embargo on travel. 
Ex-wife lives out there. Daughter returned home to Norway from Valencia yesterday after two weeks that were intended to be sun and relaxation prior to the Norwegian winter. She had sub-zero overnight back home. 

bagand96

Relevant information can be found on  Thomas Cook | Booking terms and conditions and Your Package Rights | Thomas Cook 

From the Package Rights page:

Travellers may terminate the contract without paying any termination fee before the start of the package in the event of exceptional circumstances, for instance if there are serious security problems at the destination which are likely to affect the package

The T&C's page elaborates on this further:

18.2       You have the right to cancel your confirmed Package Holiday before departure without paying a cancellation charge if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occur at your travel destination or its immediate vicinity significantly affecting the performance of the Package Holiday or significantly affecting transport to the destination. In these circumstances, we will provide you with a full refund of the monies you have paid but we will not be liable to pay you any compensation. Your right to cancel in these circumstances will only apply where the Foreign Office advises against travel to your destination or its immediate vicinity. 

The FCDO are not advising against travel to the area currently Spain travel advice - GOV.UK  You could see where you stand with your travel insurance, but it may be the same answer and be based upon FCDO advice.

eskbanker

bagand96 said:

Relevant information can be found on  Thomas Cook | Booking terms and conditions and Your Package Rights | Thomas Cook 

From the Package Rights page:

Travellers may terminate the contract without paying any termination fee before the start of the package in the event of exceptional circumstances, for instance if there are serious security problems at the destination which are likely to affect the package

The T&C's page elaborates on this further:

18.2       You have the right to cancel your confirmed Package Holiday before departure without paying a cancellation charge if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occur at your travel destination or its immediate vicinity significantly affecting the performance of the Package Holiday or significantly affecting transport to the destination. In these circumstances, we will provide you with a full refund of the monies you have paid but we will not be liable to pay you any compensation. Your right to cancel in these circumstances will only apply where the Foreign Office advises against travel to your destination or its immediate vicinity. 

The FCDO are not advising against travel to the area currently Spain travel advice - GOV.UK  You could see where you stand with your travel insurance, but it may be the same answer and be based upon FCDO advice.

Perhaps worth noting that the Package Travel Regulations themselves don't define such unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances by reference to FCDO advice and that's just included by Thomas Cook (among others):

Many travellers, travel companies, and travel insurers use the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) advice as a ‘rule of thumb’ when evaluating whether there are unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occurring at a location. While this advice will be a critical consideration, it should not be seen as the only criterion and the individual circumstances of the traveller(s) may also be considered. For example, a new outbreak of Zika virus in a destination would have additional implications for pregnant travellers. 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62dea082e90e0766afece5ee/package-travel-regulations-2018-guidance.pdf

DullGreyGuy

FCDO are just saying to keep an eye on the weather forecast and so effectively deciding not to go will be treated as a change of mind with the costs typically associated with that. 

The Valencia Tourist Board are saying most tourist things are open and the centre/northern parts weren't directly impacted

twopenny

Are you going to Valencia itself? Because the centre is unaffected and some smaller bars may be having erratic hours as they help otherw with the clear up - but that was a while ago.

I think you would be reassured if you put "is it ok to go to valencia now" into a search. A lot of reassuaring information comes up.

As said, there's no travel advice against going, a lot of public transport is operating, it got heavy rain but not the floods shown on tv so it's like it was, people are still travelling there for holidays so it is your choice.

Grumpy_chap

Drewmclaren267 said:

Hi, I’m due to go to Valencia next week (14/11/24) and given the situation out there, it won’t be a holiday (we’ll be trapped in our hotel) as far as I’m aware the local authorities in Valencia region are saying not to travel unless essential, however Thomas Cook are saying it’s fine to travel and won’t help us out. Thomas cook have offered to move the holiday to next year, but want €283 euros as an amendment fee which is ridiculous. Does anyone know where we stand legally? We don’t want to go as we don’t feel it’s safe and the local authorities say essential only. They’re asking people to keep the roads clear too for emergency access so couldn’t go out anywhere even if we went. Any help asap would be greatly appreciated, TIA

Where are you actually travelling to?

Valencia Region is a large area - about 300 km north to south and about 100 km east to west.
As a comparison, Wales is about 200 km north to south and about 100 km east to west.

I was in the Valencia Region on the exact week that the flooding hit and the tragic events unfolded.  While is was terrible for those involved, our trip was in no way impacted by the events that were a good hour or more drive away from where we were staying.

The impacted areas that gave rise to the TV newsreels was a very small part of Valencia city outskirts itself, but the majority of the city remains unaffected and even the affected areas will be cleaned up by now and making some return to normality.