Forest fires in Europe: can I cancel my holiday?

Created: 07/20/2022, 14:32

By: Jasmin Pospiech

The forest fires are raging in many parts of Europe.

This applies above all to popular holiday regions.

But what if you don't want to go there anymore?

Many areas in the southern countries of Europe are affected by devastating forest fires.

Firefighters and rescue workers work tirelessly to contain them.

But it is difficult, especially since the temperatures in Spain, France and Greece are reaching heat records of up to 40 degrees Celsius.

In addition, wind and the ongoing drought are further heating up the catastrophic situation.

For this reason, many tourists who have planned their summer vacation there are concerned whether their holiday region will also be affected.

And if so, what to do?

If I cancel the holiday preventively, will I get my money back?

Forest fires in Europe: can I cancel my holiday?

Finally, some don't feel comfortable with the thought of lounging on the beach or pool knowing that wildfires are raging all around them.

After all, this can end up being dangerous.

Added to this is the flight chaos at many European airports.

Flights are cancelled, passengers have to wait for hours on the plane or at the airport itself.

If a fire breaks out in the holiday resort, it is time to return home.

© Michael Weber/Imago

Currently popular holiday regions in southern Europe are actually affected by fires.

These are as follows (as of July 20, 2022):

If you want to get a visual overview, you can use an interactive map of the so-called "Copernicus program" of the European Union (EU).

This uses temperature measurements from satellites to locate the fires.

Basically, the following applies: If you have booked a package tour, you have better cards than individual travelers.

The offers often state that you can still cancel your trip (free of charge) until shortly before departure.

If not, it should also be possible to cancel without penalty if your trip is impacted by extraordinary and dangerous circumstances for the foreseeable future.

Forest fires near the booked hotel are definitely a reason for this, as well as political dangers and outbreaks of dangerous diseases in the country.

Lawyer Roosbeh Karimi from Berlin, however, explains to the

that record temperatures alone do not count.

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Forest fires in Europe: Package travelers have it easier to cancel

But what if the holiday is only a few weeks away?

Then it's not that easy.

The question of whether the fires will be out by then cannot be answered weeks in advance.

In addition, your own holiday region must also be affected.

So there is no right to free cancellation, you can only cancel at short notice.

Individual travelers, on the other hand, have to take care of how to get home or look for alternative accommodation.

What to do if a fire breaks out in the resort area in the middle of vacation?

Here, too, package travelers have better cards again.

They can either cancel the contract by informing the tour operator and going home.

Alternatively, they can stay but ask for a price reduction.

You should also take advantage of this, as the Bremen consumer advice center expressly points out, and to have the cancellation of the trip confirmed again by e-mail.

You should urgently avoid these mistakes in travel cancellation insurance

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Forest fires in Europe: when they break out suddenly

However, if you have to leave quickly due to an emergency and don't have time to report it to the tour operator, you don't have to bear the costs.

Instead, you can have all receipts, for example for tickets for the departure and home journey as well as the remaining vacation, refunded by the organizer.

At the end of the day, send him all the bills that come up by e-mail, according to the consumer advice center in Bremen.

Individual travelers, on the other hand, do not have to pay for flights or accommodation if the holiday region is closed for reasons of danger.

However, if the accommodation is accessible and you still want to cancel the trip, the only option is to contact the provider yourself and arrange it with them.