Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Ellen Kirwin

Holiday rights for booked trips to Wales as country goes into fire breaker lockdown

Wales has been put under new coronavirus restrictions, meaning all travel in and out of the country is banned.

Mark Drakeford announced that from Friday, October 23 until Monday, November 9, the region will take part in a 'fire break' to combat the rise in covid-19 infections.

The two week lockdown is essentially taking Wales back to March restrictions.

This means all non-essential retail and hospitality must close and people must stay at home unless for exercise or going to work.

Events and tourism businesses such as hotels, must also shut.

Drakeford said: "Difficult as it is, this is the best chance we have at getting back on top of the virus and to turn it back to a position where it is lower and slower for the rest of the period up to Christmas."

What does this mean if I have a holiday booked in Wales?

Under the Welsh legislation, travel into Wales from high-risk areas is already prohibited.

Those living in Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas of England - including Liverpool, Lancashire and Greater Manchester are not allowed to cross the border.

Now under the new restrictions, those with holidays booked in Wales will likely have their bookings cancelled by the hotel or business it is booked with.

Keep up to date with coronavirus cases in your area by using your postcode below

Travel to a workplace in Wales is permitted, as is travelling from Wales to a workplace that is another part of the UK.

But Mr Drakeford said those who have booked holidays in Wales would not be able to enter as it is not classed as a reasonable excuse.

Ultimately, decisions on refunds are a matter between the business and the customer, which will be determined by the terms and conditions of the booking.

However, Which? believe that people with bookings affected by the latest restrictions should be able to get a refund or move their stay to another time.

They said: "We believe that if you had booked accommodation in or were going on holiday from one of the Tier 3 areas of England or locked down Wales, or any other area that introduces similar restrictions in the future, you should be entitled to your money back.

"If the terms and conditions of your accommodation or holiday provider exclude refunds in this scenario, they could be challenged on the basis that they are potentially unfair.

"If the booking contract doesn’t specify what happens in this situation the consumer is entitled to a refund."

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.