Hi, to be brief, my partner and I have booked our holiday for this year, 17- 25 Sept, 7 nts, Faliraki, Studio Apts, flying from Manchester.
Unfortunately due to financial difficulties, we are now unable to go.
The holiday itself HAS been booked and fully paid for.
We contacted the travel agents and were told we could lose a minimum of £240. (we paid £476).
We are now uncertain of what to do, should we cancel and lose our money, or see if there is anyone willing to buy the tickets (when they arrive), and change the names on the tickets to thier own (not sure how this is done though).
Any advice or help is greatly appreciated.

Did you book through a tour operator because if you did have a look in the brochure and you will find a scale that shows you what percentage you will lose and what point based on the number of weeks remaining before departure. Remember though that this is based upon the total cost and not the deposit.

Also have a look at www.holidaytruths.co.uk you can get some really good advice on there.

Basically the contract is legally binding but it is really your decision. Why have you paid the full balance already they generally are not due until 10 weeks before departure?

I fyou haven't booked through a tour operator it's a little more complicated but your travel agents should help they are their for your benefit and you are paying for that service in the price don't let them fob you off.

Selling the tickets off is possible but you would have to pay the admin fee for transfer but it is possible again the travel agents should help.

Booked it through Travelcare, tour operator is First Choice.
The £240 loss i originally posted was based on the info in the back of the brochure.
Paid £240 deposit, then paid the remaining balance a week later.
Was wondering if there is any more charges we would incur if we did cancel.....?
Would it be upto us to have the names changed on the tickets or the person who decides to buy (if anyone does!)

If you have taken that figure from the brochure it should be fairly accurate so you are looking at a 50% loss then.

Not really sure who's responsibility it would be to pay the transfer fee but I would imagine that would be down to you since the original contract was with you. I would imagine that Travelcare should be able to help on that question but check out the other forum I mentioned they have lots of good advice from experienced people on there they even have a solicitor that specialises in travel cases and gives free advice where necessary.

Just an observation but if you have already paid the balance why worry you will only need to find enough funding for spending money and it is possible to keep this to a minimum it could give you a welcome break. You've got over 6 month to put something on one side. As for other expenses such as airport parking could someone give you a lift and pick you up that would save parking costs and friends/family look after any pets. Either way in 6 months time you may wish you hadn't cancelled and be in need of the break but really it's up to you.

travel insurance and then ....... not for me to say!
(the less you tell us the better)

Travel insurance doesn't cover you for a change in financial circumstances unfortunately.

cg....IF your talking about travel insurance then we got that free anyway so we wont be losing out there... its just the other charges im curious about

Originally posted by wendy
Travel insurance doesn't cover you for a change in financial circumstances unfortunately.


hi wendy yes we know that we are not looking to claim it back just wondering about other incurred charges.. etc

Originally posted by jonluvsnique
hi wendy yes we know that we are not looking to claim it back just wondering about other incurred charges.. etc
No I was just answering cgksheff's suggestion. It 's common misconception that travel insurance covers this and I assumed he/she was suggesting that you make a claim on this.

Originally posted by wendy
No I was just answering cgksheff's suggestion. It 's common misconception that travel insurance covers this and I assumed he/she was suggesting that you make a claim on this.

ahhh right i see..... no i think the insurance only covers medical stuff and that has to be proven

If you do sell your holiday, you could e-Bay it. Lots of people buy hols on E-bay and since it costs different amounts in different areas of the country, you might get someone from London to buy for example.
All they have to do is get the names changed with your permission and at their cost.
I've never done it but it seems successful enough.

Slightly OT but remember folks you do not have to buy the travel company's insurance.Here's a quote I have just received :-
Type of Cover Requested :Single Trip

Family Cover : No Winter Sports Cover : No
Length of Policy : 11 Days Days Start Date : 24/03/2005
Quote No. Company Policy Name Premium Buy Online
IQ-1905048 Insure & Go £9.25 Bronze Cover
IQ-1905049 Options Travel £10.00 Premier Cover
IQ-1905050 Direct Travel £11.00 Standard Cover
IQ-1905051 Options Travel £13.75 Premier Plus Cover
IQ-1905052 Direct Travel £14.50 Premier Plus
IQ-1905053 Insure & Go £14.92 Silver Cover
IQ-1905054 Essential Travel £15.57 Standard Cover
IQ-1905055 Essential Travel £16.40 Superior Cover
IQ-1905056 Insure & Go £18.61 Gold Cover
If you do not purchase a policy for any of these quotes, they will be deleted from our systems after three months.
PS here is the link :-
http://www.fool.co.uk/insurance/insurance.htm
There are others of course.

PPS don't fall for the old free insurance trick.

What did you decide to do in the end? Did you cancel or are you still going?

Just curious :D

Hi wendy, we have decided "to hell with it all"
we have decided to go, had very little interest and no one has given us much more info/advice. :sad:

its going to be very hard and tight saving up for 6 months on the income we have coming in at the moment, but we are going s/c, so we will no doubt spend 10 hrs on the beach, 8 hrs asleep and 5 hrs in the bar, a day.
(i know it only comes to 23hrs, but the other hr is me waiting for our lass to get ready!!!)

Sorry babes, only kiddin'!
Thanx for asking wendy and for posting, much appreciated.:thumbsup:

why dont you just change the date of holiday only costs around 30 pounds at least it would give you a bit of extra time to save up for spending money etc

Hi panda, :) we're going mid sept, if we change it to within 2006, thats great, but are we only allowed to change the date within the yr its originally booked for?:huh:
We have been to greece before, last year, and after the start of october, everyone starts to close down for the end of the season and it gets colder. So we may just go ahead and go anyhow.
:)

aaah yes Faliraki, otherwise known as the pit of hell :gag:


I would personally suggest getting out to Rhodes Town on the regular buses - that's beautiful, especially the Old Town.

My abiding memory of Faliraki is armies of drunk Brits variously fighting, being sick and shagging in the street. Nice.

Originally posted by spook

My abiding memory of Faliraki is armies of drunk Brits variously fighting, being sick and shagging in the street. Nice.

it sounds like town on a saturday night :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

can i go now.........?:hihi::hihi:

hi all me and jon have just come back it was a fantastic holiday so glad we didnt cancel... and it is not what its like in the press eg drunk fighting Brits at all everyone was friendly and having a good time.... IT was great the best :thumbsup: :clap: :D

oh spook are you sure you went to the same place ??? :P

..............

Oh, yes, it was the best holiday I've been on, well, it was only my 2nd time abroad!!
Our apartments were only about a 10 min walk from the main drag. (Bar street), and although we brits have the reputation of being p***heads 24/7/365, we NEVER saw anything like what they show on the telly, there was no trouble that we saw, and after 12pm, the bars (not the clubs) are not allowed to have music playing out onto the street, apparently one bar owner told us it was an instant 2000 euro fine, dont know if I actually believe that tho!
We went out partying till at least 4:30am, went on a day cruise to Lindos, and saw the ancient ruins of the Acropolis, and went swimming off the boat when it stopped off Tsambiki beach, about a couple of miles out to sea, and went snorkelling, THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
Got some pics, will post a link on here when I upload them if anyone would like to see them!!:thumbsup:

Album uploaded, if anyone would like to have a look, they're here.
Faliraki 2005 (http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonluvsnique/album?.dir=d4e2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jonluvsnique/my_photos%3furlhint=actn,del%253as,1%253af,0)
I've uploaded them to Yahoo, it seems that you dont to log in to have a look, and before anyone says owt, you cant access anything in my account!! (even tho it looks like you can!)

I came back on Saturday from a fortnight in Faliraki, and also stopped about 15 mins walk from the centre. I have to agree that I was a bit worried about the reports, but had a brilliant time. Did the trip to Lindos and the acropolis (thanks for the pics jonluvsnique!), also went scuba diving a couple of times which was great.

All in all a really nice holiday, and would definately go again.

Ja5e, whereabouts did you stay.....?
We were in the Dias apartments, they weren't kidding when they said they were basic self catering apartments!!
Tho' the pool was big, beautiful and clean, and the bar really WAS A 24 HOUR BAR!!!!
Good uncle bill always did the nightshift, and we caught him napping wednesday night, which was changeover night!!
:rolleyes:

We stopped in Elipda beach studios, and they don't lie when they say its right on the beach! We also had the 24 hour bar which was handy!:D