advance trip and paying for it now

[leon]

Hi Guys, just out of curiosity with what is going on around the World and Covid related issues would it be safe enough to plan and pay for an approximately $8000.00 trip in Australia 9 months in advance.

Just asking for opinions please.

Thanks

leon

[xelasnave]

It should be but I wouldn't.
But then I wont fly.
I dont like leaving money with anyone as in the event they go belly up you lose your cash ...life is a game so I never place a bet in most cases that has the remotest chance of losing...enough can go wrong that you cant control...I expect there is a discount if you pay early..I still would not bother...I am probably negative but years in a legal office having to tell folk they wont get their money cause it is gone makes me that way.


Alex

[Startrek]

Depends on where your going and whether you can take out travel insurance that covers things like -
Cancellation of Tours
Medical / hospitalisation ( including COVID )
Transfers
Theft and Lost baggage etc
And so on ......
Flights shouldn’t be an issue as you can usually pay next level up to cover flight cancellations, re bookings etc...
Haven’t been OS since late 2018 so things might be different now due to COVID

Comprehensive travel insurance for any OS trip in any case whether flying out or cruising out soon or in 9 months time is a must !!!

Some banks like the Commonwealth offer travel insurance when you pay by Credit Card

Thoroughly check about what travel insurance covers as things might be totally different as a result of COVID

Cheers

[gary]

Hi Leon,

This Sydney Morning Herald article, from a couple of weeks ago,
6 March 2022, may be of interest :-
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/trip-of-a-lifetime-cancelled-and-18-000-in-vouchers-left-unused-20220301-p5a0rv.html

[alpal]

I wouldn't -

not when an unknown strain of Covid could hit the world
that might be far more dangerous and change everything.
Also - with the war in Ukraine we just don't know what will happen.
Travel companies rip people off every day even when there are no good reasons.

[drylander]

as do fuel companies.....often

[leon]

Thanks Guys all good advice and reasonable reasons of why not to do it just yet.

I will tell you what I have planned.

Early next year 2023, I want to go to Darwin and do some lightning Photography, I have done this before but last time i used my own Caravan and traveled to Darwin.

It was a long haul nearly 8000 kilometers, meaning 3days driving up and 3 days back home, 6 full 12 hour days.

So this time i decided to Fly up, rent a unit on the Nightcliff Foreshore hire a small car, and spend 5 weeks enjoying myself.

I have checked out a place that i would like through Airbnb and have settled with this one although I have not booked it quite yet.

Things book out pretty quick up there, however the wet season is a little slower and leaves a good selection of places to rent.

The rental would be $4500.00 for the 5 weeks and the remainder of the approximately $8000.00 is for Flights and Car rental and some other small expenses.

The policy with airbnb is that if i cancel this listing for any reason i basically lose my money and only get a small amount back.

Yes, it is a bit risky but if i dont book it I am sure to lose that listing that i really want.

This is what Airbnb's Cancel policy for long term rentals tells me, and I have to agree it is pretty poor.

I will be going on the 29th Dec 2022 and returning 2nd Feb 2023 about 36 days.

This is there cancellation policy, and it seems that the longer you stay the least you are entitled to if for some reason you have to cancel
Cancellation policy


Before you book, make sure you're comfortable with this host's cancellation policy. Keep in mind that Airbnb's Extenuating Circumstances policy (https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1320/extenuating-circumstances-policy) doesn't cover cancellations due to travel disruptions caused by COVID-19.


Cancel by48 hours after booking
Full refund: get back 100% of what you paid




29 Dec 2:00 pm (check-in)


Partial refund: the first 30 nights are non-refundable but you’ll get back every night after that.

So If i were to cancel i would lose 30 days of my payment and just get back 6 days

[alpal]

Your friend is Google.

Poor Airbnb reviews - nearly all of them very bad:


https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/airbnb


https://au.sitejabber.com/reviews/airbnb.com


https://au.trustpilot.com/review/www.airbnb.com

[leon]

Wow now you have scared me and given me something to think about.
but to be fair, surly not every rental is disastrous event

Leon

[leon]

And just to add to this, I have sorted out three places that i like however as yet have not made a final decision on which i would like.

Now with all these listings i have actually been in contact with the hosts of all the properties, and ask numerous questions with a very helpful responses i might add from all of them.

There was one host that went to the trouble of taking a photo of the view across the water from the balcony, and sent it directly to my phone,

So I expect all listings are not as described in a bad reviews, surly there are genuine people out there.

Leon:thumbsup:

[sil]

In other words do you trust the government wont change the rules and will support you when they do and you lose everything?

Unless you’re talking a RV trip around australia. Dont count on anything that not yours directly to control, bushfires floods fuel nothing is certain.

[sil]

No but you can’t control they person previous to you who might use the place to film some messy porn orgy videos and trash the place. Stuff happens.

[leon]

Steve what you say, can happen i guess, and i know life changes and things happen, but one has to take a chance sometimes.:shrug:

I am a very trusting person and believe that there are plenty of decent people out there, and i will have a positive experience.;)

I agree things can change and things can go wrong, I do hope this is not the case.

The three places I have liked have had excellent reviews, only with the one place having a small point taken off because they did not have a TV, which was mentioned in the listing from the beginning.

With everyone here against Airbnb I now feel worried, but i have to take a chance in life and the decency of people, and if i get screwed i will be a bit sad but life goes on.:sadeyes:

Thank you all for your response.

Leon:thumbsup:

[Outcast]

My wife & I have used AirBNB a couple of times & had a wonderful time.

I think it's like anything Leon, do some research, make a decision... which, you seem to have done...

Life is risk, you manage it the best you can... otherwise, no point in being here really...

Enjoy your trip Leon, sounds like you should...

[leon]

Thank you Carlton, I certainly have done my research, probably a bit over the top anyway I feel comfortable with the three hosts i have had dealings with through contacting them personally.

I will be booking one of the three soon and expect a smooth and enjoyable time away when the time comes.

Thanks for your positive response. :)

Leon :thumbsup: