In this publication4 photos
• a hall of superyachts with six- and seven-figure price tags that you can walk aboard
• a deep pool for diving workshops
• a winding pool for kayaks and Optimist dinghies
• the latest equipment and boats from major brands, to inspect, touch and climb into
• service providers, from electronic logbooks and insurers to sailing schools
• a chance to meet sailing ‘stars’ and bloggers such as Erik Aandera
I really wanted to go. To avoid the crowds, I chose the closing days: €300 for a hotel, €180 for return high-speed train tickets for Masha and me, and €42 for the show. A week before the trip, the news broke that German railways would strike for the whole following week. I hoped the high-speed trains might escape. On Tuesday morning, though, the cancellation email arrived. I searched every way of reaching Düsseldorf, but the remaining FlixBus, FlixTrain, BlaBlaCar and flight options were already unavailable.
That evening, I began trying to recover the money:
1. Emailed boot Düsseldorf. Refunded four days later.
2. The hotel’s free cancellation period had ended. I asked whether they could refund something, at least. They agreed to charge only 50%.
3. The train tickets were non-refundable. I submitted the claim form and am still waiting.
So: €42 back, €135 lost, €180 unresolved and not looking promising. Lessons? Don’t underestimate EU strikes, try to book hotels with cancellation up to the final day, and insure your holidays and travel. I’ll try again next year.
UPD 21.03.24: After three months, I received the €180 train fare refund.
#notes
• a deep pool for diving workshops
• a winding pool for kayaks and Optimist dinghies
• the latest equipment and boats from major brands, to inspect, touch and climb into
• service providers, from electronic logbooks and insurers to sailing schools
• a chance to meet sailing ‘stars’ and bloggers such as Erik Aandera
I really wanted to go. To avoid the crowds, I chose the closing days: €300 for a hotel, €180 for return high-speed train tickets for Masha and me, and €42 for the show. A week before the trip, the news broke that German railways would strike for the whole following week. I hoped the high-speed trains might escape. On Tuesday morning, though, the cancellation email arrived. I searched every way of reaching Düsseldorf, but the remaining FlixBus, FlixTrain, BlaBlaCar and flight options were already unavailable.
That evening, I began trying to recover the money:
1. Emailed boot Düsseldorf. Refunded four days later.
2. The hotel’s free cancellation period had ended. I asked whether they could refund something, at least. They agreed to charge only 50%.
3. The train tickets were non-refundable. I submitted the claim form and am still waiting.
So: €42 back, €135 lost, €180 unresolved and not looking promising. Lessons? Don’t underestimate EU strikes, try to book hotels with cancellation up to the final day, and insure your holidays and travel. I’ll try again next year.
UPD 21.03.24: After three months, I received the €180 train fare refund.
#notes
Original and discussionOpen post in Telegram ↗
