Some are already making vacation plans for this summer. From the current perspective, it is not yet possible to foresee which trips and where will be possible.

"Anyone who already books for the summer now runs the risk of the fact that the trip cannot ultimately take place due to the uncertain situation caused by the corona," says ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner. “Basically, the safest way to book a package tour is that you are legally protected in the event that the trip cannot be started or in the event of the organizer's bankruptcy.” It can also happen that the trip has to be canceled by the organizer - in this case, however, you will get back the payments already made.

However, there is also a residual risk when booking a package tour: “If you ultimately decide against the trip, because z. If, for example, there are corona-related restrictions in the travel destination or you have health concerns, free cancellation may not be possible, ”explains the mobility club's lawyer. "A free cancellation of the trip could be refused by the organizer if a certain circumstance was already known at the time of booking the trip." So the argument could be: At the time of booking, you had to expect that the corona pandemic could continue to spread. A free cancellation could then only be granted because of new extraordinary circumstances, e.g. B. after a natural disaster at the holiday destination.

“If you want to book in spite of the uncertain situation for the summer, you should definitely get a written assurance from the organizer that a free cancellation is possible due to the pandemic,” recommends ÖAMTC expert Pronebner. The down payment for package tours may not exceed 20 percent of the travel price when booking through Austrian tour operators (often 25 percent for German tour operators). Additional payments may only be accepted by the organizer if the travel documents are handed over at the same time, from which the claims of the customer emerge and not earlier than 20 days before the start of the journey.

Individual travel - what is important when booking a hotel or flight only

If you only want to book a hotel in Germany or abroad, it is important to pay attention to the respective cancellation conditions. "Here, too, when booking for this year, it is advisable to make an individual agreement with the accommodation provider that 'corona-related' can be canceled free of charge until shortly before arrival," advises the ÖAMTC lawyer. "Local businesses are often very accommodating in this regard." The question of whether there is a right to free cancellation, for example if the accommodation is not allowed to accommodate tourists or the hotel guest is not allowed to travel due to corona-related measures, is always based on the law of the state in which the accommodation is located. In Austria, a free cancellation would be possible in these cases.

“If you only want to book one flight, it can be more difficult: a free ticket cancellation is then not certain. Because basically you have booked a safe and largely punctual transport to the desired destination, but not the problem-free stay on site, ”clarifies the ÖAMTC lawyer. It should also be noted that there is still no protection against airline bankruptcies and therefore booking and paying for the flight early can be risky for the traveler. This also applies to hotels and other accommodation providers.

If you have any questions, the ÖAMTC legal advisors are available to club members free of charge - all information is available at www.oeamtc.at/rechtsberatung. All current regulations regarding entry and exit regulations for Austria and all of Europe can be found in the holiday service of the mobility club: www.oeamtc.at/urlaubsservice.

The ÖAMTC travel agency offers a wide range of package tours - to be found at www.oeamtc.at/reisen. There are attractive car trips available for self-drivers and those who want to rent a larger car for the holiday trip will also find what they are looking for.