However, it is of course possible to agree this in writing with the hotelier in advance, so that in the event that the trip becomes impossible due to restrictions, the hotel will not have to be paid for.

At this point in time, the VKI cannot say who bears this risk.

However, it is of course possible to agree this in writing with the hotelier in advance, so that in the event that the trip becomes impossible due to restrictions, the hotel will not have to be paid for. With that you can protect yourself.

Is it advisable to book a vacation for the more distant future - e.g. winter vacation 2021 - at this point in time?

The same applies here as for summer holidays in Austria. Because: Now you book with the knowledge of this danger - and the situation has not suddenly become more dangerous afterwards. And, according to the VKI, this is the essential element to argue for a free withdrawal, even if the organizer can fulfill the contract: It must suddenly, unpredictably, have become unreasonably dangerous.

All information comes from a conversation with Dr. Barbara Forster, lawyer European Consumer Center Austria. Many thanks.

Further information, questions and answers and sample letters are available at

www.europakonsument.at

Read news for 1 month now for free! * * The test ends automatically.

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"

Due to the

corona

-Crisis that dominates the whole world, many people are currently wondering what the summer vacation looks like. Should you cancel already booked vacations to Italy, for example - or should you wait a little longer? And what about holidays in Austria? Is it advisable to book something now? That's what the VKI says.

You can read all current developments in the Corona crisis here

The summer vacation in Italy, Croatia, etc. has been booked for months. Is it advisable to cancel it immediately - or to wait?

First of all, it is important to distinguish what type of contract has been booked. A package tour (e.g. a contract for transport plus accommodation, but also for a hotel and city tour) is legally different from a pure hotel booking and a separate transport booking.

Package tour

In the case of a package tour, this is roughly the same in all countries due to an EU directive. A free withdrawal is not yet possible. You can inquire at the tour operator, because some offer as a goodwill gesture to rebook all trips free of charge up to a certain date.https://123helpme.me/ A free withdrawal is only possible if it is clear that either the organizer cannot fulfill the trip (for example if the borders in Italy remain closed) - then there is a right to a refund. Or the second reason is that the consumer finds it unreasonably dangerous at the holiday destination because there is a much higher risk of infection there (which was not clear at the time of booking) or, for example, one is allowed to enter, but then 14 days must be in quarantine. These objections can be raised about a week before the start of the holiday - and then there is a free right of withdrawal, even if the organizer carries out the trip.

flight

The situation is also similar for a flight: At the moment, it is not yet known whether the airline will cancel the flight booked or not. The VKI recommends looking at the airline's website first. Here, too, many offer a change of booking out of goodwill - this offer is usually possible up to a certain date. This date is relevant because you can rebook until shortly before the day of departure - even if the flight should take place, it is advisable to wait. If the flight is canceled anyway, you can ask for the money back. If not, you can always accept the rebooking offer.

Attention: If the flight is canceled, many airlines offer vouchers (vouchers that can also be used for other routes), but the voucher does not have to be accepted according to the EU passenger rights regulation. There is also the right to get the money back. You may have to write to the airline for this - a letter if necessary.

What if the airline is unavailable?

If the flight is canceled, it is advisable to take a screenshot of the email with the information. Then you can also make sure that you get the money afterwards.

If you have waited and the flight takes place, but the airline has offered a voucher as a goodwill gesture, then there is the problem of non-availability. Here it is important to be able to prove that you have tried to contact the airline - and not at the very last minute (email with read confirmation or screenshot of the completed and sent contact form, for example). A little poker is always with me, so also the VKI, waiting to see whether the flight might be canceled and the opportunity to rebook for free, but:

"The chance that I will get out of the number for free is always higher if I wait."

hotel

According to the VKI, a general answer for a pure hotel booking is the most difficult, because this is based on the law of the country where the hotel is located. In most countries, if the hotel is closed, you get your money back. If the hotel is open, however, this is very different. However, many offer vouchers for a later date.

Coupon Risk

The VKI sees the general risk with all of these vouchers - whether hotel, airline or tour operator - that they are not protected against insolvency under the current legal situation. So if a company goes bankrupt, the voucher won't do anything.

Also interesting:

All corona measures at a glance

How about a vacation in Austria? Should you book it now?

“No one can legally say with certainty what is,” according to the VKI, meaning that it is unclear what happens if customers book now (as long as the hotels have to be closed) and you because of exit restrictions, for example in summer not allowed to go on vacation.

Because: If you book a hotel now, at a time when the trip is not possible due to restrictions and the location is not getting worse, it cannot be guaranteed that it can be canceled free of charge. The reason: You have already booked in the knowledge that you are not allowed to. So this is a difference to trips that were booked before the Corona crisis. At this point in time, the VKI cannot say who bears this risk.

However, it is of course possible to agree this in writing with the hotelier in advance, so that in the event that the trip becomes impossible due to restrictions, the hotel will not have to be paid for. With that you can protect yourself.

Is it advisable to book a vacation for the more distant future - e.g. winter vacation 2021 - at this point in time?

The same applies here as for summer holidays in Austria. Because: Now you book with the knowledge of this danger - and the situation has not suddenly become more dangerous afterwards. And, according to the VKI, this is the essential element to argue for a free withdrawal, even if the organizer can fulfill the contract: It must suddenly, unpredictably, have become unreasonably dangerous.

All information comes from a conversation with Dr. Barbara Forster, lawyer European Consumer Center Austria. Many thanks.

Further information, questions and answers and sample letters are available at

www.europakonsument.at

Read news for 1 month now for free! * * The test ends automatically.

More on this ▶

NEWS FROM THE NETWORK

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E-Scooter in Vienna: All providers and prices 2020 in comparison (autorevue.at)

"

Due to the

corona

-Crisis that dominates the whole world, many people are currently wondering what the summer vacation looks like. Should you cancel already booked vacations to Italy, for example - or should you wait a little longer? And what about holidays in Austria? Is it advisable to book something now? That's what the VKI says.

You can read all current developments in the Corona crisis here

The summer vacation in Italy, Croatia, etc. has been booked for months. Is it advisable to cancel it immediately - or to wait?

First of all, it is important to distinguish what type of contract has been booked. A package tour (e.g. a contract for transport plus accommodation, but also for a hotel and city tour) is legally different from a pure hotel booking and a separate transport booking.

Package tour

In the case of a package tour, this is roughly the same in all countries due to an EU directive. A free withdrawal is not yet possible. You can inquire at the tour operator, because some offer as a goodwill gesture to rebook all trips free of charge up to a certain date. A free withdrawal is only possible if it is clear that either the organizer cannot fulfill the trip (for example if the borders in Italy remain closed) - then there is a right to a refund. Or the second reason is that the consumer finds it unreasonably dangerous at the holiday destination because there is a much higher risk of infection there (which was not clear at the time of booking) or, for example, one is allowed to enter, but then 14 days must be in quarantine. These objections can be raised about a week before the start of the holiday - and then there is a free right of withdrawal, even if the organizer carries out the trip.

flight

The situation is also similar for a flight: At the moment, it is not yet known whether the airline will cancel the flight booked or not. The VKI recommends looking at the airline's website first. Here, too, many offer a change of booking out of goodwill - this offer is usually possible up to a certain date. This date is relevant because you can rebook until shortly before the day of departure - even if the flight should take place, it is advisable to wait. If the flight is canceled anyway, you can ask for the money back. If not, you can always accept the rebooking offer.

Attention: If the flight is canceled, many airlines offer vouchers (vouchers that can also be used for other routes), but the voucher does not have to be accepted according to the EU passenger rights regulation. There is also the right to get the money back. You may have to write to the airline for this - a letter if necessary.

What if the airline is unavailable?

If the flight is canceled, it is advisable to take a screenshot of the email with the information. Then you can also make sure that you get the money afterwards.

If you have waited and the flight takes place, but the airline has offered a voucher as a goodwill gesture, then there is the problem of non-availability. Here it is important to be able to prove that you have tried to contact the airline - and not at the very last minute (email with read confirmation or screenshot of the completed and sent contact form, for example). A little poker is always with me, so also the VKI, waiting to see whether the flight might be canceled and the opportunity to rebook for free, but:

"The chance that I will get out of the number for free is always higher if I wait."

hotel

According to the VKI, a general answer for a pure hotel booking is the most difficult, because this is based on the law of the country where the hotel is located. In most countries, if the hotel is closed, you get your money back. If the hotel is open, however, this is very different. However, many offer vouchers for a later date.

Coupon Risk

The VKI sees the general risk with all of these vouchers - whether hotel, airline or tour operator - that they are not protected against insolvency under the current legal situation. So if a company goes bankrupt, the voucher won't do anything.

Also interesting:

All corona measures at a glance

How about a vacation in Austria? Should you book it now?

“No one can legally say with certainty what is,” according to the VKI, meaning that it is unclear what happens if customers book now (as long as the hotels have to be closed) and you because of exit restrictions, for example in summer not allowed to go on vacation.

Because: If you book a hotel now, at a time when the trip is not possible due to restrictions and the location is not getting worse, it cannot be guaranteed that it can be canceled free of charge. The reason: You have already booked in the knowledge that you are not allowed to. So this is a difference to trips that were booked before the Corona crisis. At this point in time, the VKI cannot say who bears this risk.

However, it is of course possible to agree this in writing with the hotelier in advance, so that in the event that the trip becomes impossible due to restrictions, the hotel will not have to be paid for. With that you can protect yourself.

Is it advisable to book a vacation for the more distant future - e.g. winter vacation 2021 - at this point in time?

The same applies here as for summer holidays in Austria. Because: Now you book with the knowledge of this danger - and the situation has not suddenly become more dangerous afterwards. And, according to the VKI, this is the essential element to argue for a free withdrawal, even if the organizer can fulfill the contract: It must suddenly, unpredictably, have become unreasonably dangerous.

All information comes from a conversation with Dr. Barbara Forster, lawyer European Consumer Center Austria. Many thanks.

Further information, questions and answers and sample letters are available at

www.europakonsument.at

Read news for 1 month now for free! * * The test ends automatically.

More on this ▶

NEWS FROM THE NETWORK

Win true wireless earphones from JBL now! (E-media.at)

New access (yachtrevue.at)

8 reasons why it's great to be single (lustaufsleben.at)