Travel plans, abandoned holidays and refund advice

[Bahnhof Strasse]

We're supposed to go to Mallorca on the 22nd July. Our Ryanair flight was cancelled but we have changed to the 23rd (and they charged me 14p to change it ). The hotel is currently closed and not planning to reopen before 15th July.
However the biggest problem is we can't self-isolate for two weeks when we get back. Does anyone know if that is grounds to get a refund?

Do you need to isolate when you return, or are you concerned about the UK’s quarantine? If the later I would be amazed beyond words if it is still in place in August. I fully expect it to be dropped at the first review date, which is the 29th or 30th June. As it stands it is totally not being enforced and being widely ignored.

 

[Thora]

I'd have to comply with it if that's the rules or my insurance wouldn't be valid so I couldn't work. So I guess we just hope that the hotel is open and quarantine is dropped by next month.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Spain is now go for next month according to the news

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Just booked a two week holiday to Germany for the end of July. Not sure how things like taxis work there, for example here most won’t allow front seat passengers, but there’s four of us, so...?

 

[Reno]

Just booked a two week holiday to Germany for the end of July. Not sure how things like taxis work there, for example here most won’t allow front seat passengers, but there’s four of us, so...?

There are Taxis which seat up to 5 people in the back. You'll heave to wear a mask.

 

[Petcha]

Not sure what the great rush is to jump on a potentially disease ridden flight to a destination where they’re actually observing the rules and you risk a huge fine if you’re busted, unlike here. I’ll wait it out a bit methinks.

 

[planetgeli]

Just booked a two week holiday to Germany for the end of July. Not sure how things like taxis work there, for example here most won’t allow front seat passengers, but there’s four of us, so...?

Germany has federal laws on lockdown. Where are you going? I could ask my friend in Dusseldorf if you like?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

There are Taxis which seat up to 5 people in the back. You'll heave to wear a mask.

Thanks. I might bug you for more info if you don’t mind?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Germany has federal laws on lockdown. Where are you going? I could ask my friend in Dusseldorf if you like?

Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich & Konstanz.

 

[planetgeli]

Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich & Konstanz.

That's...a lot of travelling north to south. Not her area obviously but I've asked anyway.

 

[Reno]

Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich & Konstanz.

You should get them in all major cities. The last time I took one of the was from Tegel airport in Berlin. The word is Grossraumtaxi.

 

[planetgeli]

Are you driving from Berlin to Munich Bahnhof Strasse ? That's a hell of a taxi fare. I've driven from Munich to Kassel and that was a long day's drive.

I presume you're getting a train though.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

You should get them in all major cities. The last time I took one of the was from Tegel airport in Berlin. The word is Grossraumtaxi.

Thanks, I shall impress BB1 with that, she's the German speaker in our family

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Are you driving from Berlin to Munich Bahnhof Strasse ? That's a hell of a taxi fare. I've driven from Munich to Kassel and that was a long day's drive.

I presume you're getting a train though.

Fly to Berlin, train to Nuremberg, train to Munich, hire a car to Konstanz for a week floating around that area, drive back to Munich for flight home. We were supposed to be going to Japan for the same dates, but this should be nice and Germany will be empty as all the Germans will be in Spain

 

[Reno]

Fly to Berlin, train to Nuremberg, train to Munich, hire a car to Konstanz for a week floating around that area, drive back to Munich for flight home. We were supposed to be going to Japan for the same dates, but this should be nice and Germany will be empty as all the Germans will be in Spain

I think most of us Germans are holidaying at home this year, but you'll be competing with fewer tourists.

I was going to be in London this week and for my big holiday destination I chose New York in September.

 

[High Voltage]

Got the EasyJet element of our holiday refunded . . . I did have a horrible feeling that they were trying to kick the can down the road for paying out, but, fair does, the full amount was refunded 28days'ish after I put the claim in

So now, the only thing we're out of pocket on is the holiday insurance, which, tbh, I can live with

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Got the EasyJet element of our holiday refunded . . . I did have a horrible feeling that they were trying to kick the can down the road for paying out, but, fair does, the full amount was refunded 28days'ish after I put the claim in

great to hear, i've got 2 flights cancelled still waiting for the £££

 

[High Voltage]

great to hear, i've got 2 flights cancelled still waiting for the £££

I'll be honest it was a concern. Against my better nature I was persuaded by Mrs Voltz to "independently" book our holiday

Not as crazy and out there to normal people but massively out of my comfort zone so when things started going wrong I was really struggling with the "I fucking told you"

And a £1200+ EasyJet loss would've been the end of alternate holiday arrangements a far as I would've been concerned. But all's good

 

[oryx]

We finally got a full refund via Paypal, as my partner had used them to pay.

Impressed with Paypal - they were helpful and dealt with it quickly.

Very unimpressed with lastminute. When we booked to go to Prague back in January, we thought there was a slight risk as they're not meant to be great anyway, but having dealt with them over the refund, and subsequently seen some of their (terrible) reviews, we will not be using them again.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Reno, a question if you'd be so kind; how is the money situation in Germany, with regards to accepting card payments? Been a few years since my last visit but seem to remember it being much more geared towards cash than the UK, where right now due to Covid many places are refusing cash and card payments are the norm for transactions of a few pennies. Do taxis take cards, or do we need a load of cash?

Danke.

 

[Reno]

Reno, a question if you'd be so kind; how is the money situation in Germany, with regards to accepting card payments? Been a few years since my last visit but seem to remember it being much more geared towards cash than the UK, where right now due to Covid many places are refusing cash and card payments are the norm for transactions of a few pennies. Do taxis take cards, or do we need a load of cash?

Danke.

Cards are getting accepted more but still not as much as in the UK. Bars rarely take cards, most but not all restaurants do. Shops should be fine. Taxis I don’t know as I rarely take them. I have a feeling they don’t take cards. So do take cash.

 

[Maltin]

Cards are getting accepted more but still not as much as in the UK. Bars rarely take cards, most but not all restaurants do. Shops should be fine. Taxis I don’t know as I rarely take them. I have a feeling they don’t take cards. So do take cash.

Most taxis in Berlin do take card. I seem to remember reading that it is the law for those that pick up from the airport but I’m sure some might try to get you to pay cash.

Uber aren’t that popular in Germany but most taxis in Germany use an app called FreeNow which enables you to pay via the app.

 

[Reno]

I still find the general aversion to paying with cards in Germany hugely irritating but I've now gotten used to always have enough cash on me. It's getting better though, they've introduced cash back in supermarkets recently and I hope Covid-19 will speed up the process a little. Whenever I tell people how convenient it was to pay with a card at every pub and bar in London, they react with distrust.

 

[krtek a houby]

I still find the general aversion to paying with cards in Germany hugely irritating but I've now gotten used to always have enough cash on me. It's getting better though, they've introduced cash back in supermarkets recently and I hope Covid-19 will speed up the process a little. Whenever I tell people how convenient it was to pay with a card at every pub and bar in London, they react with distrust.

Lol, same here. Cards are very, very slowly being introduced but there is still resistance. Am part of that, admittedly. We only take cash and vouchers, for now.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Lol, same here. Cards are very, very slowly being introduced but there is still resistance. Am part of that, admittedly. We only take cash and vouchers, for now.

Heh, we were supposed to be going to Tokyo on Friday, obviously not now though. Reading up that cards are hardly taken and you need loads of ¥ got Frau Bahn worries about being mugged and that, in Japan

 

[krtek a houby]

Heh, we were supposed to be going to Tokyo mom Friday, obviously not now though. Reading up that cards are hardly taken and you need loads of ¥ got Frau Bahn worries about being mugged and that, in Japan

The only crime is the price of a pint, it's complete robbery.





(Disclaimer: there is, of course, crime in Japan. It's just comparatively speaking lesser than some other countries)

 

[Teaboy]

Barclaycard do a platinum Visa credit card (or at least did) which allows you pay abroad without charge and take money out as well without you being charged at the UK end. In recent experience though I often still get charged by the local bank for taking cash out.

 

[Thora]

I wonder if anyone knows what happens in this situation since it's impossible to contact Loveholidays:
We were supposed to go to Mallorca today, everything (flights, airport parking, transfers, hotel) booked through Loveholidays.
The hotel is shut so the holidays has been cancelled, but the Ryanair flights are still going.
Loveholidays have said they will refund the hotel and transfers but have been silent on the flights & parking. The info on their website only talks about refunds where the flights have been cancelled.

 

[oryx]

I wonder if anyone knows what happens in this situation since it's impossible to contact Loveholidays:
We were supposed to go to Mallorca today, everything (flights, airport parking, transfers, hotel) booked through Loveholidays.
The hotel is shut so the holidays has been cancelled, but the Ryanair flights are still going.
Loveholidays have said they will refund the hotel and transfers but have been silent on the flights & parking. The info on their website only talks about refunds where the flights have been cancelled.

Is it a package holiday?

Bahnhof Strasse 's advice to me (post 143 and around) was helpful, as was the MoneySavingExpert site.

We had a poor/officious response from lastminute and pursued it through Paypal - so if you paid via them it is worth a go. Your credit card company (again if you paid via them) are also worth a go.

 

[planetgeli]

RyanAir still being assholes. Promised a refund in March. This morning I received an email offering me vouchers. Everything said vouchers, vouchers, vouchers until in tiny print it said "click here if you don't want vouchers but want a refund".

Clicking it took me to a page where it told me how to use my voucher.

Nowhere on the page did it say about a refund, just the click the chatbot thing. Which I clicked, answered more questions, and got the bot to say I would get a refund in 4-6 weeks.

We'll see eh.