Refund?
 

I had made two reservations at hotels for mid-May - one in France (Nice) and one in Italy (Rapallo). Both were non-refundable but who knew????? I have emailed today requesting refunds. Anyone on the board in a similar situation? Any success with a refund?

It really depends on the small print how non refundable a booking is. You did read the small print before making the booking? Obviously not since you apparantly didn't know.
Normally a non refundable booking is just that, regardless of the circumstances. If there is still a lock down by the government at the time of your booking you may be able to get some of your money back, but I wouldn't bet on it. It is deemed an Act of God and that is normally excluded from insurances and refund policies.
The hospitality industry is really suffering because of the virus, and many places will close permanently as a result of it.

It is two months away. It may be OK to travel by then.

Non refundable means you do not get your money back. Unless you have travel insurance that will cover this.
Hotels are having a very hard time, I'd be surprised if they refunded you. Maybe a change to a later date is possible.

Mid May is a long way off, anything can happen by then. I'd be embarrassed to ask for a refund on a non refundable booking. If you are not allowed to travel to France or Italy, then your travel insurance should/might cover you for the hotel.

That is the beauty of English, a language with a rich vocabulary making the meaning of words or phrases clear and leaving no doubt as to the
intent.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f301565599.png

I once chose a non-refundable room by mistake when making reservations on booking.com. Non-refundable is non-refundable.

Lesson learned, and I now double-check myself before finalizing anything.

The last hope if things become really bad is a government obliging such places to refund everything. But they will only dare do that if they are able to guarantee equivalent compensation to the hoteliers, etc. So don't count on it.

Hilton is refunding non-cancallable reservations in some circumstances:
"Your Travel Flexibility

We remain committed to offering you flexible booking options. Given these unique circumstances we are making additional adjustments to our individual booking policies to give you extra peace of mind:

• Government Restrictions. In regions affected by government-issued travel restrictions, we will continue to waive change fees or offer full refunds. Please click here for the latest information on our travel waivers.
• Existing Reservations. All reservations – even those described as "non-cancellable" (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are scheduled for arrival before April 30, 2020, can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival.
• New Reservations. Any reservation you make – even those described as “non-cancellable” (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are booked between today and April 30, 2020, for any future arrival date, can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival.

If you need to adjust reservations made via the Hilton website, app or call center, please contact the Hilton Guest Assistance team. If you need to adjust reservations made through another travel site, please contact them for assistance."

Oh, well I nearly wrote that the big chains were certain to be more flexible but since so many people here prefer small independent hotels and disdain the chains I didn't think it was useful.

I had reservations at the Quality Inn Bordeaux for 16-18 Apr .... they are sympathetic but refused to
refund.

s

So they are probably just a franchise and not corporate owned. That's how the corporations limit the risk in case anything like this happens. Also it is a bit too early to completely justify a cancellation.

Lol kerouac. You have no idea what the circumstances were regarding why the corona virus prompted my cancellation (risk groups/travel/isolation).

s

So you can tell us what the situation will be on April 16th in Bordeaux as it relates to the virus containment? We were thinking of a mid-spring trip, but if I can know what is going on in mid-april, we'd consider traveling.

"So you can tell us what the situation will be on April 16th in Bordeaux as it relates to the virus containment? We were thinking of a mid-spring trip, but if I can know what is going on in mid-april, we'd consider traveling."

Here's my hunch about Bordeaux on April 16th (I'm good with these things). I speculate that warm weather will kill the virus and stop its spread. It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.

uuuhhh... my and my friends' personal circumstances. As I alluded to in the categories of risk, etc.

s

When one has "personal circumstances," one pays for the appropriate insurance to cover any problem. It is not the hotelier's responsibility.

Well of course I agree. I didn't think it was their responsibility. Nevertheless, it was worth it to me to ask -- politely. When they politely refused, I thanked them for their kind consideration.

I only posted here to reply to the OP on her query if anyone else had requested a refund in light of the virus and been refused.

s

I’m not sure why people think the virus will disappear in the heat. Australian numbers are rising along with other countries, and Aus is having temps of 32 c.
our insurance has advised they pay for anything to do with the virus including cancellations. We did take out top of the range though because as you get older you are more at risk.

OP update - I received prompt responses from both properties - both felt it was too early to cancel and receive refunds but both "left the door open" as to a possible refund in the future, depending on the situation in their country and also flight cancellations. That seemed reasonable to me. I am certainly hoping all will be calm and we can go.

Of course I am aware that non-refundable is non-refundable but it seems as the virus rolls along, there are many changes by various travel entities as to changes or refunds. I figure it never hurts to ask, esp. when circumstances are so unusual. But I am fine with wait and see - and hope to travel!

We had a booking at the Hoxton in Amsterdam for May. All their bookings are pay when you book and it turns out they are allowing people to get refunds or credits. Manager quickly took care of it for me via email. My husband’s conference in Paris was canceled and we are in a high risk group, so we are staying home this spring. We live in Santa Barbara so it’s a nice place to be stuck in!

I've got refunds on non-refundable things in the past. I even got a refund once on a non-refundable Ryanair ticket, which I think is a unique occurrence.

Many travel insurance companies are changing their policies to protect their asses from the coronavirus. They can't change the terms of policies already sold, of course, but they can try to weasel out of honoring claims. The English language isn't always crystal clear on the meaning of terms, as anyone who has ever argued with an insurance company over the meaning of "pre-existing condition" can tell you.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/20...ce-insureandgo

I saw a headline saying that some travel insurance companies had agreed to allow coronavirus claims. On reading the article, I learned that in future they were going to cover claims for people who got coronavirus while traveling, or, in the case of trip cancellation insurance, if they got it before traveling. I don't see that this is much of a change at all. Most policies already cover this kind of thing.

While I’ve never booked a nonrefundable hotel room, I did book (for this week and the next 2 weeks) train tickets in Italy and a hotel shuttle in Amsterdam, all of which say right on the ticket “Non Refundable.” I emailed the hotel shuttle (Connexxion), and have already received the credit to my credit card. The train tickets are being cancelled by Trenitalia the day before scheduled travel, and they’re offering refunds for the tickets they’ve cancelled. I’ve applied for 2 of those so far; I’ve gotten a “received” receipt from one, not even that from the other, and I’m not real optimistic that I’ll ever see any of that money again. But we’ll see. I hear they’re pretty busy right now.



My only advice would be, if you don’t ask, you won’t get it. You may not get it anyway, but it sounds like you’re making some headway.



BTW, here’s a shout out to CONNEXXION in Amsterdam – great customer service!

I just got back $173 of my $440 non refundable British Airways ticket that I canceled two days ago. I was pleasantly surprised, I didn't even ask for it, just thought I'd do the right thing and tell them I wasn't going.

If the hotels in question are small I think what would be fair to both parties (the hotel and the guest) would be to offer to reschedule sometime.

I think it is unreasonable for people to expect special refunds when they deliberately booked a nonrefundable rate, and accepted all responsibility and risks that should go with that. People do that to save money (at least I can't think of any other reason, I never do except when required in some resort areas), and thus I think it is their own responsibility to suffer the economic loss if they decide not to go for any reason. There are lots of reasons a trip may not happen and anyone who books a rate like that should take the risk. I don't understand the logic that the situation is unusual so a hotel should suffer the loss, not me. The hotel is not responsible for the situation, why should they suffer, what exactly si the thinking there.

I think perhaps asking for a postponement would be at least a little more reasonable, rather than a refund. In fact, once when I did book such a rate as it was the only one available, and I cancelled just due to travel plans, the hotel itself voluntarily offered me a postponement for six months, as I recall (ie, we will give you a credit for this amount to be used within 6 months).

You might be more likely to get that than a flat cash-back refund. In fact, I think that is basically waht airlines are doing, it's like a cancellation but without the change fee penalty.

The SNCF always gives a 100% refund for non refundable tickets if they are the ones who cannot honor the contract or if exceptional circumstances (strike, pandemic…) disrupt the service.

I have a non refundable booking for the end of April. If I cancel I shan't ask for my money back though I may ask if I can have a credit instead. Businesses are struggling because of this virus, especially small businesses and they have a right to survive.
Airlines are really struggling as well - KLM is laying off 2000 people and putting most of the rest on part time work.

Well that's a first!

That's good to know. Although I think my ticket only has a $5 charge if i have to cancel.

I just cancelled a Hilton room (domestic US) without penalty. The reservation had a 4 day cancellation policy and it's for Sunday night. I called the hotel directly, told them I was Hilton Diamond and asked if they would consider making an exception. I was speaking to the General Manager and she said they were honoring cancellations for everyone. Excellent customer service during these unusual times!

I got a gift card from Maldron for a nonrefundable room. Aer Lingus cancelled our flight and I let them know asap and she sent me a coupon good for a year. I didn't ask just told her I was so sorry to miss the overnight there. I rarely book nonrefundable but it was a huge difference and never thought weather would cause a cancellation out of Orlando.

I only book non refundable tickets if I have trip insurance. They are less expensive for a reason.

Oh, I will add that my trip that included Bordeaux was to start on 2 Apr; Bordeaux was the last stop before flights out, my friends back to the US and me back to Germany. So just on the edge of the right time/too early.

s

Most likely the taxes. You have a right to get that back

People tend to act differently. You are less likely to huddle together when the weather warms . In addition kids tend to be out of school. Kids seem to be less at risk from this virus but they still likely spread it.

Flu season tends to happen during the winter because people are more likely to share spaces. The problem isn't one person getting sick it's that one person sharing

I booked a nonrefundable room in London in April, though looks like now we're cancelling the trip. I reached out and was given a credit/extension to September much to my surprise...! I am now trying to negotiate further as not sure when this covid-19 passes and I can get there, but will do my best to comply as long as safe to do so.... Now I am going to try the same tactic w/the Nile cruise...:)

They will extend if Covid extends -- too soon to negotiate.

My cousin cancelled a May trip to Amsterdam and Brussels and did not get a refund from either Hyatt Hotels or KLM.
I would have thought airlines would at least give a travel voucher but not so in her case.

I have a trip booked to Florida in early April. United is offering travel vouchers for cancelled flights - with a $50 change fee.

Excellent news!

These are special times and humans can make decisions on behalf of their guests.

I rented a car for less than 72 hours for 3/14-3/17 in Florida using booking.com for the transaction. I canceled with less than 48 hours in advance (because I was honestly still considering taking the quick flight south from Albany, NY for the weekend).

I understand the rate is non refundable, but in light of the circumstances, I am going to request a refund or credit from the company. If they refuse, whatever. It’s $123 and it won’t break me. There are other people who need the $$ more than I do currently.

Things around here shifted very significantly yesterday during the morning, with closures starting to roll in, and I was afraid I’d get stuck in FL. It started to feel reckless to go. And I’m adventurous, but not reckless. Hoping things improve so I can follow through on my travel plans for July. Stay well, all.

FYI - Hilton is responding appropriately - 3/14/2020

• Government Restrictions. In regions affected by government-issued travel restrictions, we will continue to waive change fees or offer full refunds. Please see below for the latest information on region specific travel waivers.
• Existing Reservations. All reservations – even those described as non-cancellable (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are scheduled for arrival before April 30, 2020 can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival.
• New Reservations. Any reservation you make – even those described as “non-cancellable” (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are booked between today and April 30, 2020 for any future arrival date, can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival