What can I do if my reservation is affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?
We are in unprecedented times and understand you may have hesitations or there may be complications to travel in light of COVID-19. Situations are evolving on a daily basis and there is a lot of uncertainty that may affect your vacation plans. We want you to make the best decisions for your family’s safety and well-being, but we also understand how this affects homeowners who list on Carolina Vacation Home Rentals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the current outbreak of the coronavirus, known as COVID-19. We're closely monitoring official guidance from local governments, health authorities and state governments, as well as listening to feedback from our travelers, property owners, and property managers. We will update this article as more information becomes available.
Here are some tips for handling current or future reservations:
What you can do after booking
- If you are currently on vacation in an area affected by travel restrictions, please check your trip details for safety information and local emergency numbers, and follow recommendations from local authorities.
- Review your rental agreement and travel insurance policies. Please review your rental agreement to determine what the cancellation / re-booking policy is for the home you booked. If you purchased travel insurance (which we always recommend), review the conditions in which a cancellation may be covered. Not all insurance policies are the same so it is important for you to understand what coverage you have.
- Reach out to the owner. Homeowners and property managers who list their homes on Carolina Vacation Home Rentals each have their own cancellation policies. We have never required any of them to adopt a cookie cutter policy and do not regulate what their policies are. We encourage you to try to work out exceptions to their policies with them, but please keep in mind that they may not be able to have the flexibility due to financial or other concerns.
- If you purchased travel insurance, contact the insurance company directly with any questions regarding coverage.
- If you booked with a credit card, contact your financial institution to see if travel insurance is provided and what it covers.
What you should do before booking
- Review local travel recommendations and restrictions for your destination in addition to following guidance from the World Health Organization.
- Review the property's cancellation policies. Homeowners and property managers each have their own polices for cancellations and refunds. You can find the owner's refund policy on their property page.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance which may provide coverage for illness due to COVID-19 should you be diagnosed and prevented from travel at the time of your departure. It may not provide coverage for travel bans, quarantine, or fear of travel. Be sure to carefully read the policy coverage for details. There are many companies offering "cancel for any reason" travel insurance. Please review their policies so you fully understand what is covered before purchasing.
- As you evaluate future stays, we encourage you to review local travel recommendations and restrictions, in addition to following guidance from the CDC.
State COVID-19 Advisories & Resources
Everyone deserves something to look forward to, and will need a break to reconnect with one another when this situation resolves itself. There are vacation options throughout North & South Carolina, and we hope Carolina Vacation Home Rentals can play a role in your family’s next great vacation, whenever that may be.
