My ill son got a raw deal on his refund – can you help?

Simon Calder answers your questions on getting your money back, direct routes to Bangkok and Irish passports

Antalya in Turkey is a popular destination for UK holidaymakers (Getty)

Q My son has been recently hospitalised and unfortunately is too ill to go on holiday from 2 to 10 June this year to Turkey. The package holiday cost £687 but he has been offered a refund of only £230 through his travel agent. I feel this is unjust! Can you help?

Name supplied

A I am sorry to hear about your son’s health and I hope he makes a good recovery. The standard advice – which he may have already have been offered – is to claim on travel insurance. I infer from your enquiry that, for whatever reason, that is not a possible avenue. (As I mentioned in my answer to yesterday’s question, taking out insurance at the same time as paying for a holiday is the best plan; but I recognise that in many cases this does not happen.)