Can this (Vegas)trip be saved? Help!

[yoopermom]

I went against all my instincts when I booked our 20th anniversary trip for next week to Vegas. To save $$ I booked through Travelocity, didn't buy trip insurance, and got our rental car through Hotwire (nonrefundable).

You guessed it--crisis. DH's BF died last night (He had cancer, but was diagnosed after our reservation was made, and was predicted to live for months more...)

If we cancel/change by the 72 hr mark (this evening), we'll get $83 back (our room, I presume), and for $150 change fee (plus the differerence in rates), can change our tickets (through Airtran). Unfortunately, it would be more expensive to change than what our whole package cost (over $500 to change, and we only paid $498).

Is there ANYONE's mercy I can throw myself on? Airtran/Travelocity/Hotwire? Because of DH's work schedule, we're stuck going M-F, and prices are high for the next two months.

I'm just sick at heart, for the BF's family, for DH, and for us as a couple, as well. Sigh... Might as well have just thrown $650 out the window...

Any advice except for telling me how stupid I was (that I already know!)?
TIA!
Terri

 

[FredinFL]

Try asking them if they can help because of a death in the family. A lot of places will make an exception for that. It never hurts to try.

 

[yoopermom]

Thanks. As soon as I find out the visitation date, I'm going to do that . Can't hurt to be sincere and try...

Terri

 

[happygirl]

Try asking them if they can help because of a death in the family. A lot of places will make an exception for that. It never hurts to try.

Expect it wasn't a death in the family, it was his best friend.

Is there anyway you have friends who might buy the trip from you?

 

[ols386]

Expect it wasn't a death in the family, it was his best friend.

Is there anyway you have friends who might buy the trip from you?

And if you say it's a death in the family (which is not true), would you be required to have some kind of documentation to present to whomever would be refunding you money?

Hope yet it worked out, op.

 

[DizBelle]

I don't think there is anything you can do. This is what trip insurance is for.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I am so sorry for your loss and sometimes a BF is family.

I would call and ask everyone you booked with for help and ask them what their policies are and if there is anyone else you can talk to, like a supervisor or above. I wouldn't lie but you can say he was just like family, which in our case with our BFs would be the truth.


And you are not stupid for beig frugal on a trip. Get that right out of your head now. Life happens and it isn't something you can plan to happen. I book Travelocity and Priceline all the time to save money and in the long run, it was very smart of me to do so.

 

[yoopermom]

I would NEVER lie and say it was a family member, I hope that wasn't implied. The price difference between booking it as a package vs air/hotel individually was HUGE (as was the one between hotwire and the regular rental sites), but I don't think I'll take the chance again. And I looked now (after the fact, I know), and most travel insurances would not have covered us in this type of situation (although a few "all inclusive" ones would have). I swear I'm going back to driving.

Thanks for all the suggestions...

Terri

 

[mamacatnv]

What about just going? The BF wouldn't want you to not celebrate your anniversary. It might be just what you all need.
I'm sorry for your loss, it sucks to lose someone we love.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would NEVER lie and say it was a family member, I hope that wasn't implied. The price difference between booking it as a package vs air/hotel individually was HUGE (as was the one between hotwire and the regular rental sites), but I don't think I'll take the chance again. And I looked now (after the fact, I know), and most travel insurances would not have covered us in this type of situation (although a few "all inclusive" ones would have). I swear I'm going back to driving.

Thanks for all the suggestions...

Terri

Heavens no, I wasn't implying you would lie. I was implying that you don't have to and that most people will understand and I hope you get somewhere.

Because of the travel boards here, we use insuremytrip.com and they've been great. They also have a lot of "cancel for any reason" policies to choose from, which I don't use! I used to go online and sort out my own insurance, but I just found it is so much easier calling them and explaining what you want covered and they pick the right one for you.

I do hope it works out for you, though.

 

[DizBelle]

What about just going? The BF wouldn't want you to not celebrate your anniversary. It might be just what you all need.
I'm sorry for your loss, it sucks to lose someone we love.

I wouldn't want anyone to cancel their trip even if I died. If I were the BF, I'd want you to go.

 

[pirate bride]

I would call and see if they can help since there was a death. If not I would still go. You can celebrate his life and also your anniversary.

I am sorry for your loss.

 

[Diegosmom]

What about calling the hotel direct and also the car rental place. Not sure the airline would be much help. I know southwest will put the money in your account as a credit to be used in 1 year but not sure how Airtram is (werent they the one just bought out by southwest?)

 

[yoopermom]

Great news: the funeral has been set for a week from tomorrow(Sat), so we can go and still get back for it, huzzah!!

I love DH, but...when the diagnosis was first made, he agreed with those of you who said "BF would want us to go..." but then in the past week the "reality" of it has hit him, and he just didn't want to miss it. I patiently explained to him that I could have gotten trip insurance if he would have just thought this through a little better in the beginning.

BF was an outdoorsman, so we're going to do a daytrip where we explore the old miningt/ghost towns, BLM land, etc, which I know he would have enjoyed and appreciated. DH also has a special dollar that he wants to drop into "just the right" slot machine in his honor.

Thank you ALL for your suggestions. Anytime we do a package after this, I'm insuring it and that's all.

erri

 

[Uncle Remus]

Great news: the funeral has been set for a week from tomorrow(Sat), so we can go and still get back for it, huzzah!!

I love DH, but...when the diagnosis was first made, he agreed with those of you who said "BF would want us to go..." but then in the past week the "reality" of it has hit him, and he just didn't want to miss it. I patiently explained to him that I could have gotten trip insurance if he would have just thought this through a little better in the beginning.

BF was an outdoorsman, so we're going to do a daytrip where we explore the old miningt/ghost towns, BLM land, etc, which I know he would have enjoyed and appreciated. DH also has a special dollar that he wants to drop into "just the right" slot machine in his honor.

Thank you ALL for your suggestions. Anytime we do a package after this, I'm insuring it and that's all.

erri

Sounds like a great memorial!