With the containment imposed by the Covid-19 epidemic, the Easter holidays are falling apart and you cannot take advantage of the stay bought a few weeks ago? A short guide to determining what you are entitled to ... or not.
Have you booked an all-inclusive stay (flight, accommodation, transfers, etc.) with a travel agency or tour operator?
You are one of the travelers - around 350,000 for those who planned to leave in April on an "organized trip" formula - the best off because, by calling on the services of a travel professional, you benefit from real guarantees. Stays planned until May 15 are postponed. Agencies must reimburse the sums paid within 14 days but can also offer a credit to be used for a future reservation. If not used, this credit will be fully refunded after 18 months maximum.
Have you booked a train or coach ticket?
At SNCF, the costs of exchange and reimbursement of TGV INOUI, Intercités, OUIGO and TER tickets are free for journeys until April 30. Travel by Eurostar until June 1 may be canceled and replaced by a voucher of an equivalent amount valid until September 30. The two main coach companies, FlixBus and BlaBlaBus (formerly Ouibus), all of whose lines are suspended, reimburse them only in the form of a voucher.
Have you booked a flight?
The cancellation, or postponement, of a plane ticket bought “dry”, that is to say directly from an airline company or via an online distributor or comparator (Opodo, Misterfly,…), depends on the contractual conditions of each company. It is therefore necessary to negotiate on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer service. Air France allows the cancellation of a ticket purchased before March 31, and for a flight before May 31, 2020, in exchange for a non-refundable credit for one year. It is also possible, without charge, to postpone this ticket until September 30 for a new trip that must start before November 30.
Have you booked a hotel room or rental accommodation?
For a room in France, the hotelier can offer you a credit instead of a refund. If the hotel is abroad, you must negotiate directly with its owner. The operation is facilitated if the reservation has been made via a platform like Booking, or even Expedia, which offers cancellation and reimbursement under certain conditions.
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For accommodation rented directly from an individual, in France and abroad, you must negotiate with the latter. On Airbnb, reservations made until March 14 for an arrival date until May 31 (and no longer until April 14 as there were a few days ago) can be canceled free of charge against, as desired, a "credit trip ”or a full refund.
What to do in case of litigation ?
If, despite your reminders, no solution is found despite these commitments, it is possible to contact the Tourism and Travel Mediator (MTV), online at mtv.travel.
