Hotel in Portugal won't issue COVID Refund

Esse85

Hi,

Has anyone else successfully gotten a refund from a hotel in Portugal that closed for COVID?

I booked through booking.com and the hotel cancelled the booking yey won't issue me a refund, they'll only issue a credit note which doesn't suit.

Here's the response they gave:


Dear Madam

We have inform all the clients that Due to the Pandemia Covid - 19 and Government recommendations / State of Emergency Declaration/ Calamity, which affect the operation of Hotel units, we decided to close our unit Luna Hotel da Oura from 28/03/2020 to 30/05/2020.



Please be informed that for all the no-refundable reservations.

who are unable to travel in the year 2020, the Portuguese Government stated that Hotels must issue a voucher valid until 31th December 2021.

According to the Emergency Declaration, Decree-Law 17/2020 of 23/04/2020, hotels are not obliged to return the deposits.

We will send you a voucher on the next days

Melhores Cumprimentos, | Best Regards,

bluenose1956

I had a similar situation with a Spanish hotel who said no refund on a non-refundable reservation. They didn’t even offer a credit note.
I did a chargeback on the credit card (BOI).
Got my refund within days but not sure if the hotel relented or it was through the chargeback.

Esse85

bluenose1956 wrote: »

I had a similar situation with a Spanish hotel who said no refund on a non-refundable reservation. They didn’t even offer a credit note.
I did a chargeback on the credit card (BOI).
Got my refund within days but not sure if the hotel relented or it was through the chargeback.

Thanks for your reply.
I tried a charge back with my bank PTSB and they said they could do nothing. They were incredibly bad and offered no help or guidance.

bluenose1956

That is very strange. They should at least give a reason.
All I put on the chargeback form was “hotel closed” but as I said I’m not sure who/what brought about the refund.
Hope you get your money back.