Package travel
Package holidays: what do you need to know?
As a consumer booking a package holiday, you benefit from a high level of protection under EU rules. These important rights protect you throughout the entire process: before and throughout the booking process, and up until your holiday ends.
Good to know
A package holiday is a combined trip that you book with a travel organiser. The trip takes at least 24 hours and consists of at least one overnight stay and transport or some other form of tourist service such as an excursion. The organiser offers these components as a package and is responsible for all aspects of the package.
Prices may only be increased if the contract states that this may happen and if it relates to changes in:
- The cost of fuel
- Taxes
- Travel service fees
- Exchange rates
If the price increase exceeds 8% of the total price of the package, you have the right to end the contract and get a refund without paying a termination fee. If the price change results in a price decrease, you are entitled to a refund of the difference in price. The price of the package may not be altered within 20 days of the start of the package.
You can end the package travel contract at any time before the start of the package, although the organiser may require you to pay a termination fee. The terms and conditions of your contract should tell you what happens and any fees that apply if you cancel.
If you are cancelling your package holiday due to circumstances outside your control, for example, a war or a natural disaster, you have the right to cancel the contract without having to pay a termination fee.
If something goes wrong with your holiday, the travel organiser must address the problem. If significant parts of the holiday are not as specified, you must be offered suitable alternative arrangements.
If the travel organiser does not provide a solution within a reasonable period of time, you may make alternative arrangements and they should refund you for any necessary expenses.
If the problem substantially affects your package holiday and the organiser fails to remedy the situation within a reasonable period of time, you have the right to terminate the package travel contract without paying a termination fee and request a price reduction and compensation for damages.
