Even though the global travel warning issued by the German government is deemed to have been lifted as of June 15, this warning has been extended until August 31 for some areas of the world. These include popular holiday destinations for Germans, such as Turkey and Egypt.
Quite a few people want to cancel their already booked accommodation in these areas. However, they are not always guaranteed a full refund . What general rules can customers rely on? And what rights do they have when cancelling their vacation?
Basic consumer rights during a pandemic
In general, a package holiday can be cancelled free of charge if “extraordinary circumstances” arise that could affect or even prevent the holiday. A pandemic such as the spread of the corona virus and the associated travel warning from the government or the Foreign Office also counts under this criterion.
However, it depends on the individual case and country whether these exceptional circumstances actually exist at the moment or not. Even with an individually booked trip, a free cancellation is not necessarily guaranteed.
In general, however, it is important to mention: always instagram database ask or check before you book! This means that when making new bookings, you should read the general terms and conditions of your respective accommodation carefully. This is because the specific cancellation conditions of the hotel or holiday apartment are listed in the ” Cancellation ” section. It is important to filter out whether and up to what date before the actual start of the trip a cancellation is free of charge.
Bookings via online portals or directly with the accommodation (individual travel)
If you have booked a trip , it can happen that the provider cancels the service (in this case: the overnight stay). In this case, the customer can request a refund of any payments made. If the vacationer wants to cancel free of charge, he can only do so under German law if the individual service cannot be guaranteed. This means, for example, if he cannot travel to the vacation region because there are entry restrictions for it.
But be careful: “If you booked your hotel directly abroad or through an online accommodation agent, foreign laws
apply!” says Dr. Stoiber ( lawyer in Basel ). Since hotel extraction techniques must be used operators in many EU
countries are allowed to set their own cancellation fees, cancellation fees may apply or the entire amount may have to
be paid. In this case, the traveler should clarify the situation directly with the provider – in the event of disagreements,
in the most unpleasant case, with a lawyer at their side.
Some providers and organizers offer vacationers a travel voucher for the canceled trip, which can be redeemed directly
with them when booking later. However, you are NOT obliged to accept this! After the EU Commission offered the
federal government a voluntary voucher redemption, it decided on the key points for such a measure. However, you can
always choose between this alternative and the reimbursement of your travel price!
Bookings through a tour operator (package tours)
The easiest way to cancel your vacation is through a tour operator or travel agency, such as weg24.de . Here you have
competent and professional specialists at your side who can help you cancel your trip. In addition, in most cases you
are covered by the travel company and get your money more quickly, as the organizers have knowledge of travel law
and will stand up for your customer rights in case of doubt!
In addition, if the holiday was cancelled by the tour estonia leads operator itself, you will always receive a full refund.
Similar rights apply if you have to cancel because the tour operator makes too many and too significant changes to the
service.
If the traveler cannot see the packages booked during their vacation (e.g. central sights such as the Eiffel Tower), they
can also withdraw from the trip and cancel free of charge. If they accept the travel voucher offered for their package
holiday and it cannot be redeemed by the end of 2021, the vacationer will also receive their full money back.
And again: Even if you have not booked your holiday through a tour operator, but have individually found the hotel via online portals, you are under no circumstances obliged to accept the vouchers quickly offered by the accommodation providers for a later stay!
Here too, you as a consumer have the right to a full refund of your costs – in accordance with the cancellation policy applicable at the time of your booking in combination with the exceptional.