In Austria, a so-called “lockdown for unvaccinated people” has been in effect since Monday and at the same time the Alpine state and the Federal Republic of Germany land on more and more “red lists” with regard to entry requirements. That doesn't exactly make vacation planning any easier and there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First of all, those wishing to take a vacation should carefully check their existing insurance and, if anything is unclear, contact the relevant insurance company. It is particularly important to find out whether - and if so, under what circumstances - you have travel cancellation insurance. The conditions vary depending on the provider. It is advisable to inquire whether there is cover in the following situations: 1.) Entry into the holiday country not possible due to unfulfillable entry requirements, 2.) Lockdown at the destination (e.g. closed hotels), 3.) Covid disease of travelers, 4.) official travel warning from the federal government and 5.) quarantine as a suspected case or K1 contact person.

It is expressly recommended that the request be made by e-mail, letter or fax so that the insurer must respond in writing. If the worst comes to the worst, it can be helpful to have something in hand with which to confront the insurance company if you later refuse to pay.

It is also important that the conditions are strictly adhered to when using travel cancellation insurance. For example, there are deadlines for submitting the documents that must be taken into account. Further details can be found in the respective insurance conditions.

Short-term bookings are useful

When booking vacation trips, one should rather rely on the short term due to the unpredictable further development of the corona pandemic. The shorter-term tickets or trips are booked, the higher the likelihood that nothing will come between them. For long-term bookings, both the tour operator and the insurer can argue that it was foreseeable that the situation would continue to deteriorate.

Many airlines and tour operators are now reducing the majority of their capacity within a week of departure. So you don't have to worry that your dream destination is already sold out, because the supply is currently greater than the demand. In terms of price, it is a kind of lottery game, because sometimes the remaining contingents are downright sold off and sometimes also deliberately sold at high prices because the majority of those willing to vacation only book at short notice.

Regardless of whether it is general or individual: read the small print carefully

If you book a package tour, you should read the fine print carefully. Starting in Germany, there is a trend that fewer and fewer tour operators allow free cancellations in the event of travel warnings. You should have this confirmed in writing by the travel agency, but even better by the operator himself. Fee-based cancellation packages can also be an option, but it is important to pay particular attention to the small print and any ambiguity should be confirmed in writing.

If you book flights, hotels and other services yourself, you have to look carefully at each service provider. In the case of accommodation providers, it should be noted that in the event of a dispute, the law of the respective country and not that of the home country applies. If possible you should book a flexible tariff with payment at the reception. If this is not possible, you should definitely agree a cancellation option with the hotelier and do so in writing. It is also advisable to make any down payments only by credit card or SEPA direct debit, in order to have more leverage in the event of a dispute, because the money can be retrieved in many cases. It's not that easy with bank transfers.

When booking flight tickets you should only book directly with the respective airline, because many broker portals turn out to be a serious problem in the event of a dispute and shine with virtually non-existent customer service or even incorrect information. Some airlines allow at least one free rebooking. It should be noted that if the new flight is more expensive, then the tariff difference must be paid later. Caution: not all airlines offer this option! Before clicking on "Book" you should read the conditions carefully. This also applies if you book a more expensive flexible tariff, because some airlines only provide a possible refund as a voucher.

Keep an eye on entry regulations

In summary, it should be noted: Vacation is times of corona waves is possible, but travelers must observe and take a few steps themselves in order to be able to protect themselves and their money in the event of an emergency. It has never been so important to read the small print and have any questions answered in writing.

You should also note that you have to meet the entry requirements of the holiday country and those of your home country for the return journey. These can differ greatly and can also change quickly without prior notice. You should therefore keep an eye on them so that there are no unpleasant surprises.