Is there any recourse for this?

robman60

So my parents booked a holiday to Spain in March. As it happened when they arrived at Dublin Airport they were informed that the flight was cancelled. It transpired that the reason for the cancellation was that French air traffic controllers were on strike.

They got the flight money back unsurprisingly but the hotel refused a refund. My parents didn't really make much of an attempt to get a refund, and I suspect they're not entitled to one, but I'm curious nonetheless.

Of course, Spanish law may be somewhat different but I imagine the difference is quite insignificant.

hullaballoo

When they booked the hotel, there would have been attendant terms and conditions. Have a look at those and see what they say. There may be recourse for the circumstances but we cannot give you legal advice. If you google 'frustration of contract ireland holidays', there is an interesting article a few results down.

robman60

hullaballoo wrote: »

When they booked the hotel, there would have been attendant terms and conditions. Have a look at those and see what they say. There may be recourse for the circumstances but we cannot give you legal advice. If you google 'frustration of contract ireland holidays', there is an interesting article a few results down.

I don't think my mother is even interested in trying, so I am not seeking legal advice. I thought the circumstances would satisfy the requirements for frustration as it wasn't the fault of either party, was unforeseeable, and was fundamental to the contract.

She said that the contract did say something along the lines of no refunds but I figured such a clause may not be in line with consumer protection legislation.

P. Breathnach

It's for problems like this that travel insurance is useful.

iwillhtfu

I'm not sure how it works in Spain but if you were to cancel a hotel booking at short notice over here I think you're only liable for the first nights stay?

coylemj

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I'm not sure how it works in Spain but if you were to cancel a hotel booking at short notice over here I think you're only liable for the first nights stay?

Hotels in holiday destinations tend to operate differently since they're not getting short stay business guests. Hence they tend to offer you a price, you pay in advance and if you fail to show up, tough. No refunds.

However a lot of Irish and UK hotels will often offer you a 'no-refunds' price which will be lower than the price which has the option of cancelling with no penalty with 24 or 48 hours notice. You take your chances etc.

Agree with the other poster who mentioned travel insurance, that's one of the things they do cover - losses caused by cancellation (you can't go) or curtailment (you have to come back early).

MarkAnthony

On travel insurance - reacquainted with a friend from School a few years back now flying air ambulance. The cost of getting back with any kind of broken bone in the leg or anything more serious is eye watering.

P. Breathnach

MarkAnthony wrote: »

On travel insurance - reacquainted with a friend from School a few years back now flying air ambulance. The cost of getting back with any kind of broken bone in the leg or anything more serious is eye watering.

"Anything more serious" includes dead.

Because I am a cheapskate about travel, I could take the hit if arrangements fell asunder - say something like the situation OP describes. The main reason I have travel insurance is to cover medical or repatriation costs.