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Advice re last minute holiday change

2

Comments

  • Emal3440
    Emal3440 Posts: 5 Forumite
    They fly at 12.45 so land mid afternoon.

    Ah! It is a bank holiday. Thanks for that!!

    I appreciate all of the suggestions regarding what they could do, or how they could get about, but they have specifically booked a trip in which they now wont get one night in the hotel they booked. Do you know if they are entitled to ask for a refund for the initial night? Or do they just have to put up with what theyve been given?
  • bradders1983
    bradders1983 Posts: 5,684 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    What have Co-Op travel said about it, they would need to be the people to ask.
  • MEM62
    MEM62 Posts: 5,372 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Emal3440 wrote: »
    I only know it's a 16 minute journey to the hotel, so assume it's in Barcelona itself.

    The city is a lot more than 16 minutes away from the airport so I am not so sure that is right.
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 23,163 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    I presume they are not paying for the room at the airport hotel for that night.
  • Emal3440
    Emal3440 Posts: 5 Forumite
    No, not being asked to pay for the hotel room. The issue is just that their mini holiday they booked has changed only a few days prior to the outward flight. They would not have booked these dates had they known about the public holiday and feel this should have been communicated to them on booking.
    I appreciate there are many options for a run of the mill couple to take to get round this, but given their ages, mobility etc, they feel very uneasy about the last minute changes being made.

    I just want to know, on their behalf, whether this is something they just have to put up with, or whether there is any code of conduct, or legislation which covers part of the holiday being changed last minute...for an event which the travel agents should have flagged up when booking.
  • bradders1983
    bradders1983 Posts: 5,684 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    I dont want to sound too brutal here, but here goes...if your father in law can barely walk anyway, they must have gone to Barcelona to sit in a hotel for four days so does it really matter what hotel they are in? A bizarre place to choose for someone who has little mobility.

    Sorry if this sounds harsh.
  • peachyprice
    peachyprice Posts: 22,346 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 11 September 2019 at 8:54AM
    Emal3440 wrote: »
    They fly at 12.45 so land mid afternoon.

    Ah! It is a bank holiday. Thanks for that!!

    I appreciate all of the suggestions regarding what they could do, or how they could get about, but they have specifically booked a trip in which they now wont get one night in the hotel they booked. Do you know if they are entitled to ask for a refund for the initial night? Or do they just have to put up with what theyve been given?

    They would be entitled to a refund for the difference in cost between the original hotel and the airport hotel, but why would they be entitled to a free night?

    Many stations on the Metro lines have lifts, there's a guide here
    https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/transport/metro-in-barcelona.html

    Are any of those near their original hotel? How were they planning on seeing Barcelona anyway if a 25 min Metro ride from the airport is an absolute no-no?
    Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear
  • peachyprice
    peachyprice Posts: 22,346 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    MEM62 wrote: »
    The city is a lot more than 16 minutes away from the airport so I am not so sure that is right.

    25, 12km mins to the city centre, not that much more.
    Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear
  • bradders1983
    bradders1983 Posts: 5,684 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 11 September 2019 at 9:55AM
    peachyprice wrote: »
    They would be entitled to a refund for the difference in cost between the original hotel and the airport hotel, but why would they be entitled to a free night?

    Many stations on the Metro lines have lifts, there's a guide here
    https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/transport/metro-in-barcelona.html

    Are any of those near their original hotel? How were they planning on seeing Barcelona anyway if a 25 min Metro ride from the airport is an absolute no-no?

    The short trip from the airport to the Metro station over the road is also fully covered by lifts and escalators.
  • Emal3440
    Emal3440 Posts: 5 Forumite
    Thanks for your replies.

    Regardless of whether you or I think their trip is going to be enjoyable, whether they can get around, whether they will see all the sights, or whether they indeed will be stuck in a hotel room for the entirety of the break. Regardless of whether my father in law has mobility issues, why they have chosen to book what they have....this is what they have booked. I dont think it is entirely helpful to comment on those factors.

    I appreciate the posts in reply, but my question was to try to find an answer to help them in their situation, not criticise their choices.

    They are upset that their break had been changed last minute and felt aggrieved. I just wanted to know whether they are entitled to complain about it. I shall go into a travel agents and ask.
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