Regent Holidays offers Russia and Ukraine alternatives

Regent Holidays, a specialist tour operator in holidays to the Ukraine and Russia, is offering all customers with bookings in the region up to May 31 the chance cancel or reschedule.

The policy applies to bookings made for trips to Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Moldova, and Regent said it would contact all clients as an “immediate priority”.

Cancellations will include a refund and bookings can be switched to different destinations within Regent’s portfolio.

The operator said it “thankfully” has no customers currently on trips to the area.

Clients with bookings after June 1 are being asked to wait for those due to depart sooner to be dealt with.

Russia invaded Ukraine today after tensions built up at the border over recent weeks and months. Missile attacks and explosions have been reported while the Civil Aviation Authority has instructed UK airlines to avoid Ukrainian airspace, which has been closed.

The Foreign Office warned commercial flights could be “severely disrupted” as a result of the conflict.

Andrea Godfrey, brand manager and Russia and Ukraine specialist at Regent Holidays, said: “In light of the escalating tensions between Russia and Western Europe and the shock of this morning’s news, our thoughts are naturally with our many friends and partners in both destinations.

“Needless to say we are following these events extremely closely and are in touch with many friends on the ground in Kyiv and beyond.

“As one of the UK’s leading specialist tour operators to Russia and Ukraine and having spent years living in both countries, I am truly saddened by the events unfolding.

“While there is great uncertainty as to how events will unfold in the coming days, weeks and months, our immediate priority is to contact all our clients with departures up to May 31, 2022, to Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Moldova, to discuss their options, which will include cancellation and refund, rescheduling to a later date or a new booking to a different destination within the Regent portfolio. Thankfully, we do not have any clients currently in any of these destinations.

She added: “Clients departing after June 1, 2022, are being asked to bear with us as we strive to service those clients departing imminently as quickly as possible. We are currently handling a heavy volume of calls and emails from concerned clients.”

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