Trafalgar Tours cancelling European tours

[Dalescott]

My wife works with someone who has booked a Trafalgar Tour around Europe for 16th of March??. But have been informed that it is now cancelled. They have also been told, that they are not getting their money back.
1. Has anybody heard that Trafalgar Tours are being cancelled.
2. Any news of the company in strife
3. I thought that they would have to return there monies.
4. They have booked everything else (Airfares, Hotels, Cars, time off work etc. Is there recourse to get this back.

They are now in quite a state, as this is there first trip overseas, can anybody shed some light on this.

 

[koonyaflyer]

My wife works with someone who has booked a Trafalgar Tour around Europe for 16th of March??. But have been informed that it is now cancelled. They have also been told, that they are not getting their money back.
1. Has anybody heard that Trafalgar Tours are being cancelled.
2. Any news of the company in strife
3. I thought that they would have to return there monies.
4. They have booked everything else (Airfares, Hotels, Cars, time off work etc. Is there recourse to get this back.

They are now in quite a state, as this is there first trip overseas, can anybody shed some light on this.

Trafalgar, and several other European tour companies, will advertise more tours than actually depart. In a busy year most will depart, but in a slow year it is not unusual to have cancellations. Some of the tours are guaranteed departures, and with others they can cancel.

I am very surprised at the late notice, although I have experienced this myself as a customer years ago, and we ended up not being able to find a suitable alternative. Ended up buying Eurail passes and self touring through Europe (which was a much better, if not more expensive option).

Later when working in travel industry I found out the March is one of the worst months for these cancellations, and it is a real headache as most people have arranged air and accommodation which are difficult to change.

I would suggest that their travel agent is the best place to start, as they will have transparency of similar tours they can book with similar departure dates.

I would be very surprised if the statement that they were not getting a refund is totally correct. They usually try to accommodate you on another departure first, and then refund. Travel Insurance should cover any other expenses.

I can only feel for your wife's colleague. You just don't expect it, and of course they would now be getting super excited!

 

[markis10]

They should be getting their money back, sounds a bit odd.

 

[MELso]

My wife works with someone who has booked a Trafalgar Tour around Europe for 16th of March??. But have been informed that it is now cancelled. They have also been told, that they are not getting their money back.
...

If Trafalgar are the ones doing the cancelling, they should get their money back. A call to Consumer Affairs may be in order.

 

[MAX_1]

Make sure that when booking any escorted tour, it is marked "Guaranteed departure"

 

[serfty]

Maybe the agent is considering trousering the refund?

Nah! Couldn't be...

Posted on a wing & a prayer

 

[Travel Guru]

Ive never heard of a client 'not getting their money back', sounds like a case of chinese whispers to me.

Trafalgar is an extremely professional company that I've never had a problem with.

Sure the tour cancellations are an issue, but by the same token, would you really want to sit on a coach with only 4 or 5 other people?

As one of the posters said, always book 'guaranteed departure' dates to avoid this problem.

TG

 

[Austman]

Sure the tour cancellations are an issue, but by the same token, would you really want to sit on a coach with only 4 or 5 other people?
TG

No!! It's 4 or 5 too many! But seriously it sounds wrong. Sometimes heavily booked coach tours get a last minute reverse itinerary. That upsets many also.