Bed change in the middle of snow chaos - in some places he worked. Holidaymakers who wanted to leave the snow-covered ski area Obertauern were able to drive out in a convoy on Sunday afternoon. At the same time new guests arrived.
In other affected areas, on the other hand, things are different. Much new snow, avalanche danger, closed roads. Some hotels in the Alps are difficult or almost impossible to reach. Tourists need to know that now:
- Tourists are usually dependent on the goodwill of the hotelier or landlord, if they can not reach or leave their accommodation as a result of heavy snowfall. But there are special rules.
- For about 1400 members of the Austrian Hotel Association (ÖHV) applies: If the arrival at the resort or in the booked hotel is impossible, no cancellation fees may be charged. However, it is not enough that holidaymakers have to drive around a closed road, for example, or the journey is only difficult because of snowfall. Even if the journey is possible again within three days, the free cancellation rule is no longer required. Conversely, if a guest is prevented from leaving, he has to bear the additional costs for the extension of the stay himself, according to the ÖHV. If the hotelier has made other arrangements with the guest, these are valid.
- If the ski holiday including travel has been booked with an organizer , the traveler can cancel the contract due to force majeure before departure, if the winter sports resort is completely out of reach. He then gets the money back for the trip.
- Those who are not able to ski on the slopes because of the high avalanche danger and closed lifts are unlucky. Ski resorts and lift operators usually exclude a refund due to bad weather in their terms and conditions. In the face of new possible snowfalls, the province of Tyrol is preparing for the highest avalanche warning level in Austria.