“What do I do if my hotel no longer exists?”

The images of the forest fires on the Greek holiday island of Rhodes have triggered uncertainty and fear among many people who want to spend their summer holidays there. In addition to the question of whether the trip should be started at all, there are still uncertainties about the possibility of free cancellations and rebookings. The OÖ Nachrichten asked Gernot Fieber from the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor and Felix König (travel agency division of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce) about the legal framework.

Is there a right to free cancellation of a planned Rhodes holiday?

In the case of a booked package tour that starts in the next two days and leads to the areas directly affected, cancellation is free of charge in any case. Most organizers have already canceled trips to the south. If the trip takes place anyway, it can be argued that the objective risk has increased since the booking was made and it is therefore not reasonable to start the trip. How the situation will develop cannot be estimated at this point in time. With cooler temperatures or rain, the forest fires will be extinguished quickly.

What do I do if I have booked a holiday in the affected areas but do not want to go?

In the case of a package tour, the tour operator should be contacted. They may offer to rebook the holiday free of charge, or make it possible to book another holiday destination for a small surcharge. With Austrian tour operators, it should be possible to fly to another country.

And what do I do if the hotel I booked was caught in the fire?

If the hotel no longer exists, the situation is simple: the tour operator cannot fulfill the existing contract and has to return the money already paid.

How should holidaymakers behave who had to leave their luggage on Rhodes?

This is where your home insurance comes in. Those affected should pass on a damage report that is as detailed as possible with a list of the objects to the insurer. However, it is also worth trying to claim the included travel insurance from the credit card provider.

What is the chance of getting your money back if you booked your flight and hotel yourself via a website?

Here it is much more difficult for holidaymakers. In contrast to a package tour, where there are contact persons for travelers from the organizer, in this case you bear the entire responsibility. Getting money back can be very tedious with individual trips and is often only possible directly on site. The legal situation of the respective holiday country usually applies. As a rule, the customer is not protected by the duty of care and processing.

What should I do if I am currently stuck in Rhodes?

Here, too, the tour operator should be the first point of contact. In exceptional or dangerous situations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be contacted. It is also important to follow the instructions of the local security forces. According to the tour operators, the situation at Rhodes airport is becoming more organized every day, as many people have already left the island.

Are there any flights to Rhodes at the moment?

Some tour operators still fly to the island with the commissioned airlines. However, the planes are usually relatively empty to make room for returnees. Rhodes can still be flown to at the moment because there is no current travel warning.