Hi everyone

I really need your help/advice!!!

I was supposed to go to Dar Es Salaam (from London, via Amsterdam, on KLM booked via budgetair.co.uk) on 15 - 24 May to visit a friend (and she and I were going to go to Zanzibar for 3 days).

My friend was mugged last week, and yesterday her boss was murdered in a mugging that went wrong. She is returning to the UK this weekend permanently. Horrible.

I can't go any longer because a) her boss getting murdered has put me off, b) I was only budgeting to pay for half of a hotel cost for 3 nights, not a whole hotel cost for 7 nights.

I think I will manage to get a refund on the hotel because of the Distance Selling Regulations because I booked it within the past 7 days.

However, for the flight - I called KLM and they said I had to contact the travel agent with regards to any refunds (the travel agent is now closed and I need to call them tomorrow). KLM has said it looks like my ticket is non changeable, non refundable and I can 'probably get my airport tax back'.

My fare code is L between London and Amsterdam and V between Amsterdam and Dar Es Salaam (and same for the way back). I paid £512.94 for the roundtrip tickets and it looks like the fare is £110.00 and the rest of it are taxes.

Do any of you have any experience with this or advice? I am desperate to get at least some of the money back because it's a shame that I can't go any more, but I don't want to be out that £512 as well...

I have travel insurance but it doesn't really cover this instance