September 2, 2024, 4:03 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Although the flames are under control for now, the forest fire near Athens will likely worry many people planning a trip to Greece. But can you cancel your vacation for fear of forest fires? A travel law expert gives an assessment.
Fear of forest fires is understandable, especially in Greece. Many remember the fires on the vacation island of Rhodes last year when thousands of people had to be evacuated. Currently, images of the devastating forest fires near Athens are worrying holidaymakers in Greece. Given this situation, anyone who has planned a trip to the country may wonder whether they can cancel it. Travel law expert Paul Degott explains what applies in such a case.
Fear of forest fires – cancel before departure?
First things first: fear of forest fires alone is not a justified reason for canceling a booked package tour. In such a case, travelers must pay the corresponding cancellation fees stipulated in the travel contract. Degott clarifies: “Only if it is clear that the trip or the hotel stay on site cannot be carried out in a “holiday-like” manner due to the forest fires should a corresponding right of withdrawal be justified. In this case, the trip’s full price would be refunded without any fees. However, tour operators often cancel trips in such cases of their own accord.
Individual travelers, on the other hand, have a much harder time. In the case of doubt, they have to deal with the hotel or the landlord of the vacation apartment if they have not selected any flexible cancellation options when booking. According to the NRW consumer advice center, the law of the country where the accommodation is located applies. For booked flights, individual travelers must contact the airline directly. However, even if the hotel is no longer available due to a forest fire, the airline can still claim that its service – the flight – can be offered and carried out. In this case, customers can only hope for goodwill.
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What applies to vacationers on site in the event of a forest fire
If you are on location and – as happened to many tourists in Rhodes last year – are directly affected by forest fires, you can rely on the tour operator for a package tour. They are obliged to organize alternative accommodation and help with rebooking return flights – and to bear the costs. According to Degott, the travel price must also be refunded proportionately if the vacation ends early. Travel price reductions are also conceivable if the effects of a forest fire significantly disrupt the vacation. This applies, for example, to smoke or ashfall or if excursions planned as part of the package tour are canceled.
Individual travelers are also worse off in this respect. In case of doubt, they have to arrange alternative accommodation and return flights themselves. If there is not enough money for this, one option is to contact the German embassy or representation in the country and ask for financial assistance. However, this must be repaid later. What can protect against such financial consequences is travel interruption insurance – provided that forest fires or fire are listed among the insured risks in the policy. Holidaymakers should check this before taking out the policy – otherwise, the insurance may not pay out if the worst comes to the worst.
With material from dpa