With ongoing uncertainty over when lockdowns will be lifted and whether vaccines will be required for overseas travel, booking a summer holiday is risky. But if you’re still tempted to secure a UK cottage break, you can protect your trip with a flexible booking.
Even if the government does give the green light for UK holidays, you may face local restrictions at the time of your trip and there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to stay with more than one household.
However, many reputable cottage providers offer free amendments if COVID-19 restrictions mean you aren’t able to travel, while others offer full refunds.
Here, we round up some of the best flexible policies from UK holiday cottage companies – including two Which? Recommended Providers (WRPs) – who performed well in our recent survey.
National Trust flexible booking
The National Trust has more than 400 cottages, a few lighthouses, castles and manor houses to choose from. And the money you pay is used to preserve historical properties, so there’s a feel-good factor when booking with this charitable organisation.
But, more importantly, the company offers flexible bookings up to 31 October 2021 (which will extend if coronavirus restrictions continue). During national lockdowns when the properties are closed you get your money back. If local restrictions prevent you from travelling, you fall ill with COVID-19, you’re told to isolate by NHS Test and Trace, or you’ve booked a large property but can only travel with a small number of people, you’ll also be refunded. All these changes and refunds are free.
If you’re simply not inclined to travel anymore, charges will apply for cancelling, which vary depending on how close to the trip you cancel. For a date change, if you let the National Trust know 30 days or more before the trip starts a £25 admin fee is applied.
The National Trust is a WRP and readers ranked it highly in our recent survey of UK cottage holiday companies. It was praised for the quality of its accommodation. See the full review.
Forest holidays flexible booking
WRP Forest Holidays’ sustainably built log cabins are situated in 11 spots across the UK in the likes of Sherwood Forest, Forest of Dean and Thorpe Forest.
The cabins aren’t the cheapest but each comes with a hot tub, which helps to justify the price.
If you’re looking to book one of these woodland holiday homes, you needn’t worry about getting stung by COVID-19 restrictions. The company will provide you with a refund (without admin charge) in almost every instance, including local lockdowns, quarantines and suffering from COVID-19.
If your large party can no longer travel because of government rules restricting numbers, you can also get a refund. Alternatively, you can swap to a smaller cabin if there’s availability, so you don’t have to forgo your trip.
If you have simply changed your mind about travelling, you’ll be subject to normal terms and conditions. But if it’s just one member of the party not keen, you can change their name on the booking free of charge.
Rural Retreats flexible booking
Rural Retreats has more than 590 properties across the UK and Ireland, mostly located in the countryside or close to coastline. More than 200 of the sites are dog-friendly.
The luxury company is pricey but worth every penny, according to readers. In our recent survey it scored five out of five for the quality of accommodation and four stars for value.
Most COVID-related scenarios are covered in its flexible policy, so you can expect a refund. But the property owners may ask for proof of a party member falling ill with COVID-19 or being asked to isolate to get your money back.
If you don’t wish to travel, refunds are at the owner’s discretion. If they say no and you cancel, Rural Retreats will refund your money if it manages to re-rent the property for those dates.
English Country Cottages flexible booking
You’ll find more than 2,300 properties on English Country Cottages’ website. They’re located nationwide from Cornwall and the Lake District to Norfolk and Northumberland. They can even be filtered to include niche preferences such as cinema rooms and private saunas.
As for flexibility, you’ll get your money back in local lockdowns, as well as if you’re asked to isolate by the NHS Test and Trace app, or you catch COVID-19. There is no admin charge, but be aware you may be asked for proof.
The only instance where you can’t get your money back is when you don’t want to travel; the charge will be judged by a sliding scale depending on how close the trip is at the point of cancellation.
Landmark Trust flexible booking
Landmark Trust’s properties should appeal to history buffs. The charity rents out castles, forts, towers and cottages with historical, architectural or cultural importance and uses the money made to preserve them for people to enjoy as holiday homes. They are designed for holidaymakers to disconnect and so don’t include wi-fi.
If the properties are forced to close due to lockdown, you’ll receive a full refund – as expected. And if you book for 10 and you’re only allowed six people at the time of travel, for example, you will be offered a refund, rate reduction, or date change for properties that sleep over six.
It also has a deferral scheme in place for bookings up to 27 September 2021. If you choose not to stay for any reason (including disinclination) you can gain a credit note and travel another time before the end of 2022, but not a refund. This change will be free of charge.
You need to give a minimum of 14 days’ notice in order to cancel, so if you’re notified of a local lockdown a few days before you travel you might come unstuck. However, Landmark Trust said to call in this instance and it can consider your circumstances.
Find out where it came in our cottage holiday company survey results.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/02/uk-holiday-cottages-with-the-best-flexible-booking-policies/