Even on this summer vacation things are not going well.
Despite Corona, it should be more carefree and unregulated than last year.
More vaccinated people and hardly any entry restrictions should make this possible.
But things turn out differently again.
Portugal became a virus variant area for two weeks, and all Germans rushed home to avoid quarantine in Germany.
Now the country has lost this status, but the number of infections is still high.
Cyprus, Spain including Mallorca, Greece and the Netherlands have also become risk areas again.
Or even to the high incidence area, so the numbers are particularly high there.
Dyrk Scherff
Editor in the "Money & More" section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
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Many Germans have booked their vacation in these countries.
You are now asking yourself the question: can you still cancel?
Does any insurance pay the cost?
And those who are still about to go on vacation want to know: What insurance should they take out for the trip?
Cancellation insurance usually does not help
Due to the name, travel cancellation insurance seems to be the first option. It costs EUR 50 or more for a travel price of EUR 1,500, and EUR 80 or more for EUR 3,000. But the protection is full of holes. It only pays if a trip cannot be started due to unforeseeable events. It is usually understood to mean an illness or an accident, sometimes a death in the family or sudden water damage. However, if a country becomes a risk area and you want to cancel your trip because of this, it does not pay. Covid disease is also not always accepted as a reason for cancellation. Because some insurance companies rule out pandemic cases.
If, on the other hand, they are included, it must still be clarified with the provider whether a positive test is already considered an illness or only in connection with symptoms and a doctor's visit or hospitalization - and whether fellow travelers are then also allowed to withdraw. As is so often the case, the traps lurk in the small print of the insurance conditions. Cancellation insurance must also be taken out in good time, usually at least 30 days before the start of the journey. Some providers also accept short-term contracts a few days in advance, but then often only in connection with the travel booking itself and with additional restrictions on the services. The insurance does not reimburse anything for those who cancel their trip for fear of a corona infection.
But sometimes it works without such a policy. Because if the number of infections increases sharply in a country, package tour providers often cancel trips on their own initiative. Vacationers then get their money back without any fees or can rebook. This also applies if an airline cancels its flights or changes the times. It is safer if you book the new cancellation packages from the provider when booking a package tour. Depending on the total price of the trip, they cost from 40 euros, sometimes nothing at all in promotions. In this case, cancellation is possible up to a few days before the trip, even if you do not fall ill. It is more difficult if you do not travel as a package, but put your trip together individually. He should then book the hotels that can be canceled free of charge a few days in advance. And fly with airlineswhich allow a free rebooking of the flight one day in advance. Lufthansa is currently still offering this option, for example. There is no money back, but vacationers can flexibly change the time or travel destination. However, if the new flight costs more, which is usually the case with last-minute changes, you have to pay the price difference.