Renters: dealing with covid cancellations and travel restrictions

[DebBrown]

If you rent your unit, did you have to deal with refunds/cancellations and other issues due to covid travel restrictions? How did you resolve? I am working with an owner to rent a unit next Jan/Feb and he has a no refund policy. Normally I am ok with this and understand the risk but things are crazy now. We all hope life will be back to normal in a year but there are no guarantees. What is a fair resolution if there are travel restrictions in place?

I appreciate reading about your experiences.
Thanks.

 

[flindberg]

I personally have been more flexible than usual in allowing cancelations *because* of the pandemic. I personally wouldn't give my money to someone who is trying to capitalize on the situation - especially when the booking is so far in advance! I'd look elsewhere. Just my 2 cents...

 

[bnoble]

If the agreement is no refunds, you should assume that is what will happen if you cannot travel for any reason, and anything else is just a nice extra that you cannot assume or expect.

 

[Dean]

If you rent your unit, did you have to deal with refunds/cancellations and other issues due to covid travel restrictions? How did you resolve? I am working with an owner to rent a unit next Jan/Feb and he has a no refund policy. Normally I am ok with this and understand the risk but things are crazy now. We all hope life will be back to normal in a year but there are no guarantees. What is a fair resolution if there are travel restrictions in place?

I appreciate reading about your experiences.
Thanks.

I didn't have much but the one I did have was a well informed timeshare person who booked knowing the covid situation. This was a Marriott in HI. When they decided to cancel on two 2BR for a week I told them if I could reallocate the points I'd refund half of the 25% deposit. I could and I did. They knew and were OK with the risk and were appreciative of the compromise.

 

[Tank]

It’s pretty normal to have a
No cancelation policy pre- Carona
Travel insurance available by company’s online.

I offer if our resort is closed because of Covid 19 at your check in date I’ll give a full refund only now.

 

[VacationForever]

I had a rental for March 2021 in which I contacted an out of country renter in December offering a full refund even though the rental contract specifically said no refund. Because the renter was not allowed out of the country for non-essential travel, I proactively offered her a full refund outside the 60-day window so that I could deposit the weeks into II without restrictions. It was a win-win and established goodwill for when she could travel and rent again.

 

[DebBrown]

When we've rented our own timeshare to others, I've always had a policy that if I find another renter for the week, I will refund that amount to the original renter. So if I rented it originally for $1500 and ended up getting a replacement renter on the Last Minute forum for $700, I'd refund the $700 to the original person who canceled. That seemed fair.

The person I am dealing with isn't willing to write any exceptions into his contract. I've decided not to rent from someone who can't be flexible. That's his right and mine.

 

[dioxide45]

When you are looking for a cheaper deal booking direct from an owner, you have to expect certain restrictions. If you want refundable reservations, there are other sources you can go to and pay much more.