Coronavirus Advice for Stags and Hens

Don't let the coronavirus stop you booking your hen or stag experience. Due to the amount of uncertainty surrounding the travel industry at the minute, we thought we'd put together some information to provide you with as much clarity as possible. This page seeks to answer a lot of the most common questions we are asked around Covid-19 relating to hen & stag groups.

Funktion Events are constantly monitoring coronavirus updates and new information from the government, as well as from ABTA for travel. We are continually working within the guidelines given by Public Health England and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Please Note: We only contact the lead organiser of the booking who will then be responsible for sharing the information with the rest of the group.

Information on...

• Funktion Events COVID PROMISE
• Existing bookings with FE
• If you haven't booked yet
• FAQ's
• How has FE dealt with Covid so far?

Funktion Events COVID PROMISE

If your booking is directly affected by COVID19 travel restrictions*

✓ We can postpone your trip for up to 24 months.**

✓ We can offer you a voucher - valid for 24 months.

✓ If nothing works, we can offer you a full refund.

Existing bookings with us

Bookings directly affected by COVID19

✓ All lead organisers for group bookings that have been directly affected by COVID-19 restrictions have been contacted.

Bookings that haven't yet been affected by COVID19:

If you are the lead organiser and are worried that your booking may be affected by COVID-19. For example if some of your group have said they cannot attend that date or the wedding has been postponed, then please contact us by email so we can run through your options.

If you haven't booked yet

We have spoken with our customers and suppliers and developed the most comprehensive flexibility promise on the market should COVID-19 affect your trip.  Your group can change its date, location, and activities up to 6 weeks before the event date***.

Flexi Guarantee***

Prior to your final balance, which is due 5 or 6 weeks prior to the event you can:

✓ Change your destination free of charge

✓ Change activities free of charge

✓ Postpone your trip free of charge for up to 24 months from the original event date

✓ Decrease or increase your group size as much as you like (subject to availability and minimum group size for activities)

If your booking is directly affected by COVID19 travel restrictions*

Option 1 - We can postpone your trip for up to 24 months.**
Option 2 - We can offer you a voucher - valid for 24 months.
Option 3 - If nothing works, we can offer you a full refund.

Option 1 - We can postpone your trip for up to 24 months**

An example scenario;

We will put your trip on hold with a view to rescheduling everything to new dates to suit you. We would double check if there were any pricing or availability discrepancies and then once approved, get the whole thing re-booked.

Have FE done this before?

Yes. Many hen and stag groups affected by COVID in 2020 chose this option. Most groups had seen weddings pushed back until next year, so it was very simple for the lead organiser to delay, then move everything to the new date.

Option 2 - We can offer you a voucher - valid for 24 months

An example scenario;

Any monies already paid are credited and switched to a voucher.  The lead organiser can redeem the voucher against any trip up to 24 months from the original departure date.

Have FE done this before?

Yes. Many groups whose weekend plans were directly affected by Coronavirus picked this option. Any monies already paid to us can be used across any of our 65+ destinations each with 100's of activities.  This option offers huge flexibility and choice.

Option 3 - We can offer you a full refund

An example scenario;

We have found that in the majority of cases we have been able to secure a new event for groups at the best price with the least hassle. However, if we can't help with any of the above options then we can offer you a refund.

Have FE done this before?

Yes. We had over 650 bookings directly affected by COVID. Although the bulk of groups either postponed or decided on vouchers we had to refund over £110,000 back to customers.

We ensured all the refunds were completed by June 2020, Which in comparison to other hen and stag companies was in a much more timely manner. Some companies still have not even repaid their customers - remember to check trustpilot reviews when choosing who to book with. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to go ahead with a new booking?

Absolutely, see our hen party ideas & stag parties

Funktion Events are tirelessly following government guidelines to make sure every booking is safe to go ahead whenever possible. We also offer:

✓ One Low Group Deposit*** - £40 for the entire group on any booking with us - (not per person)

✓ Deposit Guarantee*** - We'll guarantee your deposit so should you have to cancel for any reason 6 weeks or more prior to your event, we'll hold your deposit open for 24 months from the original event date.

✓ Flexi Guarantee** - You can change location/­activities, postpone your trip, change group size any time before your final balance is due.

✓ ABTA Bonded - We are governed by ABTA who have some of the highest standards in the travel industry.

Is our money in safe hands?

To alleviate your worries, we’re an ABTA bonded company so your money is protected when booking packages with us.

Do we need travel insurance?

Yes, THIS IS A MUST.  Even before the pandemic we always advise getting travel insurance before travelling – especially abroad. Now more than ever we highly recommend appropriate cover for COVID-19. 

ABTA have teamed up with AXA to offer travel insurance
https://­travelsure.­abta.­com
https://­www.­compa­ret­he­market.­com/­travel-insurance/­content/­corona-virus/
 

What is the protocol if there is another UK full lockdown?

If your trip is directly affected by COVID-19 restrictions* we have options to postpone, convert monies already paid to a voucher or a full refund. See the options above for more details.

If I contract Covid-19 or am required to self-isolate and am unable to attend the event, will I be entitled to a refund?

Unfortunately not if the activity / event is able to proceed as planned, you may be able to claim on your travel insurance.

Will any of our activities be altered to adjust to government guidelines?

All our suppliers are following local and national safety protocols to ensure the activity can run safely.  This could be changes to suit social distancing rules.

If one or more items on our event is unable to go ahead due to Covid-19, what are our options?

If one or more of your activities is unable to proceed, we will do our best to find a suitable alternative for your group. Failing this, we will provide a refund for the part of your package that cannot be delivered.

Our event is within 5 weeks and we want to postpone?

If you activities can't run due to being directly affected by covid-19 then postponement is fine.  However if the activity is able to run then postponement would not be an option once within 5 weeks of the event date.

When booking, do guests need to pay individual deposits?

No, we only require a £40 deposit to secure your booking***. Nothing else is needed until your final balance is due. Most other companies charge per person deposits, so check all the details when booking.

What happens if the FCDO advises against travel to our event destination?

If this is the case you should first refer to your travel insurance and review your cover, hopefully this will allow you to claim. You are looking for a cover for cancellation and/or or curtailment. All bookings are advised to ensure they get travel insurance throughout the booking process and check the details of cover. Unfortunately, if our suppliers decide your event can still go ahead because they are not in lockdown for example, you will not be eligible for a refund, voucher or postponement.

What if our flights are cancelled/­disrupted?

If your flights are affected, please direct your enquiries to your airline and travel insurance providers. Unfortunately, if our suppliers decide your event can still go ahead because they are not in lockdown for example, you will not be eligible for a refund, voucher or postponement.

If our flights are cancelled can we receive a credit from you?

Firstly, if there are any issues with your flights please contact your airline and travel insurance providers directly. Numerous airlines are offering rescheduled flights at no extra cost. If the destination is still able to run your event on your date then you will not be eligible for a refund, voucher, or postponement.

Is there an option to postpone our trip or change location once booked?

In most cases yes but other agreements might have been made when booking.  If you are 6 weeks away from the event then we can offer the Flexi Guarantee*** which means you can change location, date and activities with no charge unless different terms / deposits have been agreed.

If you are within 6 weeks you need to contact us directly so we can discuss / review your case.

Are you travelling within the next 7 days?

If your event is due to take place within the next 7 days we will contact you as soon as possible if your booking has been directly affected by COVID-19 restrictions*.

Are you travelling within the next 6 weeks?

Once we’ve contacted and helped imminent bookings, we will reach out to customers whose events are taking place within the next 6 weeks who are directly affected by Covid-19*. However, if you are concerned that your trip has been directly affected by the Covid-19 then please contact us.

What if my local area goes into lockdown & I cannot travel to the event due to COVID-19?

Unfortunately, if our suppliers decide your event can still go ahead because they are not in lockdown you will not be eligible for a refund, voucher or postponement. In this case, you will need to claim through your travel insurance provider. If you need documentation to support your claim, please email us what you need.

If the destination of my event is affected with a lockdown, what is the protocol?

In the case where a destination (abroad or UK) goes into localised lockdown and your trip is imminent resulting in all the activities not being able to take place then we would offer alternatives - postponement, voucher or refund.

If one or multiple activities on our booking are unable to run due to COVID-19, what options are available to us?

If your activities/ trip are directly affected* we will try to find a suitable alternative activity for your group so the event can still go ahead. If there are no alternatives, we will provide a refund for that activity on your package.  However, any other activities that are still able to run will not be refunded.

We’re nervous to proceed with our event due to these unsure times, are we still required to pay our final balance?

For all bookings we strongly advise you to pay your final balance on time, so the trip doesn’t get cancelled as per our normal T&C's. You can also contact your Events Manager if you have any concerns.

If your final balance is not paid on time then this would be treated as a disinclination by yourself to continue with the booking, in which case cancellation charges apply.

Please refer to the ABTA website for more information under the section “Do I need to pay the remaining balance for my upcoming holiday”
https://­www.­abta.­com/­tips-and-advice/­planning-and-booking-a-holiday­/travel-and-covid-19-what-do-i-need-to-know

What if we decide that we do not what to go ahead with our trip but there are no current restrictions?

If your trip is safe to proceed but you prefer not to go ahead then our standard terms apply. See our terms here.

My event has been cancelled due to COVID-19, can I rebook?

Absolutely! Availability is booking up for 2021 so we suggest you get in touch as soon as you can to get your event re-booked in. All new bookings are subject to availability.

How has FE dealt with Covid so far?

For further advice relating to COVID-19 when travelling:

➩ Access to country specific advice pages
https://­www.­gov.­uk/­foreign-travel-advice

➩ The most up to date guidance for British people travelling overseas -

https://­www.­gov.­uk/­guidance/­travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

➩ Travel advice from ABTA on coronavirus

https://­www.­abta.­com/­tips-and-advice/­planning-and-booking-a-holiday­/travel-and-covid-19-what-do-i-need-to-know

➩ Latest health advice from the NHS
https://­www.­nhs.­uk/­covid-19-advice-and-services/

* a trip is directly affected by COVID19 where travel is imminent and­/or your booking has a substantial quantity of elements that are unable to proceed due to COVID19 restrictions applied by the UK government.

** Subject to availability and price discrepancies.

***unless you have agreed non standard terms with your event manager