Many of us are used to planning our vacation ahead of time. However, amid a worldwide pandemic, thousands of people are forced to change their plans. The plans for the May holidays were no exception.
Prime Minister Rutte this week urged not to make plans for the May holidays. But what if you've already booked and paid for your vacation? What rights do you have?
Below you can find answers to the main questions:
Do I need to change my ticket to an open date voucher?
“Usually, if an airline cancels its flights, we receive a refund or offer to replace the flight on the same day. But this option is not available now because it is not yet clear when the plane will fly again,” says Marieke Hannink from EUclaim’s customer service department.
To prevent airlines from having to pay compensation to all passengers at once, they can temporarily offer a voucher from the Ministry of Economy. You can use it for a year. The risk of such a voucher is that you will have to pay extra if the airfare rises. In the worst case, the voucher will lose its value if the airline goes bankrupt.
“That’s why I advise people not to choose a voucher right away, but to ask if they can rebook on a flight in a few months,” says Hannink. “In this case, you do not risk facing additional costs.” And with KLM and Transavia, among others, travelers can rebook at any cost, regardless of whether the flight is canceled or not.
I have booked an all inclusive vacation or similar tour. What should I do?
The same situation is with tours. Tour operators are usually required to refund the entire travel amount in case of cancellation. However, just like with the airlines, they are now allowed to offer travelers a voucher for six months to a year.
Please note that this only applies if the cancellation is initiated by the service provider. “Don't cancel your holiday now because in most cases you will have to pay the costs yourself,” says Mirjam Drezme from travel organization ANVR. She advises waiting until the tour operator makes a decision on compensation or exchange.
What if I have booked train tickets to another country?
Transport connections between EU countries are decreasing every day. “This is why a large number of flights are being cancelled,” says Hessel Koster from NS. “People who have an international train ticket in the coming weeks can get their money back.” We advise travelers to check refund policies because arrangements vary slightly depending on the provider. Eurostar, which operates services to London, is currently only offering an e-voucher to travelers with tickets before 30 April. While Thalys allows customers to rebook or cancel their tickets free of charge until April 30, regardless of whether the flight is cancelled. If you have a ticket for May or June, you can cancel or rebook up to a month before your trip.
Can I just go to a camping or holiday park in the Netherlands?
When it comes to campsites and holiday parks in the Netherlands, much is still unclear. Each region made its own decision, so the rules are different everywhere. In one region, recreation parks must close, in another - not. There are also big differences in camping conditions. Some places allow people to stay in their RVs, while other campgrounds are completely closed. For example, some parks and campgrounds that are still open are closing restaurants, bowling alleys and pools. Therefore, parents with children may want to cancel their holiday, as there is now little entertainment there. "If you booked a holiday home while these services were still available, you are entitled to a partial refund," said Joyce Donat from the Consumers' Association. If you want to cancel your trip because these services are not available, you can cancel for free and receive a cash or voucher, according to the Consumer Association.
I rented an apartment through Airbnb, can I cancel it for free?
Airbnb has also changed its booking conditions due to the coronavirus. If you booked an apartment or room through the platform before March 14th - with a check-in date before May 31st, you can cancel your reservation free of charge and choose either a refund or a travel voucher. All bookings after the end of May are subject to the landlord's normal cancellation policy.
If you are booking or have already booked only after March 14th, there is no “special” arrangement. Because, according to Airbnb, you already knew there was a risk of vacation cancellations due to the coronavirus. But even here there is an exception if the tenant or landlord himself is infected with the virus.
Of course, none of us are happy about the cancellation of a long-awaited tour or trip. But this is no reason to be discouraged! Self-isolation has its advantages: you can finally spend time with your family, do your favorite hobbies, for which there was no time before. Watch a good movie or book that has been put off for a long time. Or study languages. The Nalog.nl team wishes you a pleasant weekend!
Be healthy!
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2329378-wat-te-doen-met-je-al-geboekte-en-betaalde-meivakantie.html
Publication Date: 04.04.2020
