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With the ever-changing pandemic situation, travel plans can change with little warning at the moment, and it’s easy to find yourself out of pocket for a canceled trip, whether vacation or corporate. You don’t want to get caught out and not be able to get your money back, so follow these tips to protect your money.
Check The Rules
The rules are changing all the time in different parts of the world, so keep a close eye on the rules for where you’re traveling to. Check if there are any requirements for where you’re heading, to find out if you will need something like a negative Covid-19 test or a period of self-isolation when you get there. If you know the rules, you can make time to quarantine or get a test if you need to and avoid any delays. There are lots of news sites and Twitter feeds regularly updating with these rules, as well as the Coronavirus rates in different places. Keep a close eye on both.
Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance has always been needed, but it’s more important than ever. Buy travel insurance as soon as you book a trip to make sure you’re protected. Read the terms so you understand what you’re covered for. Make sure you’re covered for cancellations due to the pandemic, including if you become ill yourself and are unable to travel. Check that you will be covered for medical assistance if you get Covid-19 while you’re traveling. You also need coverage for companies that you have booked with going into administration.
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Read The T&Cs
Before you book anything, read the terms and conditions thoroughly to make sure you can cancel or change your trip without being charged. Package holidays are usually better prepared for this than trips where you have booked flights and hotels yourself. If you are booking everything yourself, book a hotel that will let you amend your booking up until the day of arrival without charging you.
Pay On A Credit Card
Whether you’re booking hotels or booking Seaworld San Antonio tickets, pay on a credit card. Debit cards do come with a chargeback scheme, but it can be much trickier to get your money back if something has been canceled and the company won’t refund you. It’s easier to get a refund with a credit card, as the card company will have insurance for problems like this, and can get you your money back without you having to fight to recover it from the company.
Stand Your Ground
Many travel companies have been quite reluctant to offer cash refunds for canceled trips, in an attempt to avoid a cash flow issue with so many trips being canceled at once. They may offer you a change of dates, vouchers, or a credit note instead of your money back. Remember that you don’t have to accept this if you don’t want to. Stand your ground until you get the refund you are entitled to have.
