Holiday plans left in ruins by shock closure
Thursday November 26 2009
Among those who had their holiday plans ruined is Padraig Hannon (60), from Dublin, who was to travel to the island of Madeira off the coast of Portugal to spend Christmas there with a friend of his. But then the bad news broke yesterday afternoon.
"I run a business on Baggot Street in Dublin," explained Mr Hannon. "Various people came in to me and mentioned the trouble with Budget Travel during the day, so I had to come down this evening to see what's going to happen with my holiday."
He said that he booked the holiday last August.
"It was meant for December/January to get over there for Christmas. I paid an initial €200 by Visa in August, and then in October they wrote to me and asked me to pay the remainder -- so the full total was €938.
"I've paid for the whole holiday and the tickets never arrived -- I presume they're void. Hopefully I have some chance of getting my money back.
"I'll have to find some other way of getting there. Maybe I'll try and fly through London."
Budget Travel said last night that it may be possible to arrange a similar package with an alternative firm for people who have booked with them.
- stephen gleeson
Irish Independent
