Cancelling your trip
Cancelling a trip is not always free-of-charge. You may not book a trip, a hotel, a rental car, an air ticket, etc., and then invoke the right of withdrawal. The law does not provide for the right of withdrawal, neither online, nor at a travel agency. Once your trip (transport and/or stay) has been confirmed, you are committed.
Do you want to cancel or change your trip after you’ve booked it?
- Check the general terms and conditions of your agreement,
- or of your insurance – if you are insured.
What do the general terms and conditions provide?
It is not mandatory to provide a cancellation clause in the general terms and conditions. If there is such a clause, check under what conditions and at what cost you can cancel. You will often be required to pay a percentage of the total amount, or a predefined fixed amount, depending upon when you cancel.
Did you take out a travel insurance?
Many people who book a trip are also offered the opportunity to take out extra insurance cover. For example, a general travel insurance, a cancellation or a luggage insurance.
Cover and rates vary from insurance to insurance. You should therefore check:
- whether your situation is covered
- how much the insurer will reimburse you
- which costs are excluded
- whether there is a franchise (i.e. minimum claim)
- which documents you should submit
- what procedure you should follow to obtain a reimbursement
Good to know: Travel insurance exists in a variety of forms, both on a one-off basis (for one trip), and on an annual basis. A useful consideration when you plan to book a trip: travel insurance for a full year is often only fractionally more expensive than short-term insurance. Are you travelling abroad more than once? Then it can be more economical.
