Planning your summer holiday to the South of France and the coronavirus outbreak
Last updated 11th of June 2020:
We understand that you may be worried about how the COVID-19 virus may affect your holiday to the South of France.
We have been keeping up to date with all the latest information available from the UK and French governments.
The lockdown in France ended on the 11th of May after which deconfinement measure are slowly being rolled out. As of the 2nd of June, restaurants, cafes, bars, parks, holiday homes, campsites, hotels, gardens, beaches, lakes, rivers, museums and theatres are open again and the 100km travel restriction has been removed; allowing free travel within the country. It has also been confirmed that international travel is possible from the 15th of June.
Our team on the ground in France is happy to confirm that life has resumed to normal over the past few weeks and that we are all looking forward to receiving guests, both domestic and international, this summer.
I am planning my holiday to the South of France
If you are planning your holiday to France, we would like to offer you as much security as we can. That’s why we are happy to offer you a reduced balance due date from 9 weeks to just 6 weeks, on the majority of properties, with arrival date before 30/09/2020.
In order to protect your holiday as much as possible, we strongly advise that you take out adequate travel insurance.
Do keep in mind that for any holiday booked after the 11th of March 2020 our standard cancellation policy applies, with the above exception on balance due date.
I have booked a holiday to the South of France
If you have booked your holiday before the 11th of March 2020, and your arrival date is before 18/07/2020, we can offer you the below options
- We can delay your balance payment until 4 weeks before your arrival date to give you more time to see how the situation develops.
- You can move your reservation to a later date in 2020, or in 2021. Your deposit will be transferred over with the booking. Subject to availability and agreement of owner.
- If your balance payment is still due and you wish to cancel your booking, you can do so with zero cancellation fees. Note that the deposit remains non-refundable and that we are happy to provide you with a proof of cancellation for you to request a refund with your travel insurer.
If you have booked your holiday before the 11th of March 2020, and your arrival date is after 18/07/2020, we advise you the below.
- We delay your balance payment until 4 weeks before your arrival date to give you more time to see how the situation develops.
- If you wish, you can move your reservation to a later date in 2020, or in 2021. Subject to availability and agreement of owner. Note that this is considered a non-essential date move which will be subject to our standard £200 administration fee.
- If your balance payment is still due and you wish to cancel your booking, you can do so with zero cancellation fees. Note that the deposit remains non-refundable and that we are happy to provide you with a proof of cancellation for you to request a refund with your travel insurer.
If travel restrictions have been temporarily lifted, but then are reinstated again within 28 days of your holiday start date, we would work closely with the owner to try to find a solution for postponement.
What happens if we’re advised we can’t travel?
If the FCO advises against “all but essential travel” to your destination we will liaise with the holiday property owner on your behalf to defer your holiday, free of charge.
What if I decide I don't want to travel?
If the FCO advice has not changed, your holiday will be subject to our usual booking conditions and standard cancellation charges will apply.
My balance is due for my holiday. Do I have to pay this?
If there are no specific travel restrictions for your holiday dates, then it is still scheduled to go ahead as planned. Therefore, you will need to pay your balance unless you wish to cancel your booking and claim the deposit back via your travel insurance. We are offering a 4 week extension on balance due dates and please remember that if the FCO advice changes, and you are no longer able to travel, you will still have the option to move your holiday to a later date.
Why can't I just have a refund instead of moving my dates?
SFHV act on behalf of the holiday property owner and when we collect a deposit to confirm a booking we pay it over to them to ensure that the dates are held. From that point onwards we are no longer in possession of your funds and therefore not in a position to refund them.
What if the property owner is unable to accommodate my date change for any reason?
The majority of our bookings have been moved without issue. However, all deferred holidays are subject to availability and the discretion of the holiday property owner. If a change of dates is not possible then you will be issued with a voucher to the equivalent value to use on any other SFHV holiday home.
When I move my dates is there an option to book a different property?
Deferred bookings are only eligible to the original holiday home that you booked, as the deposit payment will have already been made to the property owner.