Know your rights: Package holiday cancellations

I booked a package holiday in July. Can I get a refund or money back if I cancel?

Yes. There is specific advice about package holiday cancellations for holidays due to start before or after 20 July 2020.

Package holidays are treated differently to bookings for accommodation or flights on their own. A package holiday is a pre-arranged or customised holiday. It must last more than 24 hours or include an overnight stay. It is sold as a whole deal and can be made up of at least 2 elements, such as transport, accommodation, car rental or tourist services like tours and excursions.

If your package holiday is due to start:

• Before 20 July – you are entitled to a full refund. You do not have to pay a cancellation fee.  The travel organiser can offer you a State-guaranteed refund credit note if they cannot offer you a cash refund. 

• After 20 July – you are still entitled to
  cancel and can get a refund or a State-guaranteed refund credit note, but you
  may have to pay a cancellation fee.

• After 20 July and if the travel organiser has already cancelled the holiday – you are entitled to a full refund or a State-guaranteed refund credit note. You don’t have to pay a cancellation  fee.

Your tour operator or travel agent can offer
you a State-guaranteed refund credit note for your package holiday if they
cannot give you a cash refund. The State guarantee means that if your travel
agent or tour operator goes out of business and cannot pay you back, your
refund is protected.

The refund credit note has a future date. You
can exchange the note for a cash refund or book a replacement holiday by that
date. However, you do not have to accept a refund credit note.  You can get a full refund or you can get a
part refund and part cash.

You also have the right to cancel your
package holiday before the start of your holiday for free if there
are  ‘unavoidable and extraordinary
circumstances’ such as disease or serious conditions at your destination.

If you are planning to travel
abroad, you should follow the travel advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA). You can use the DFA’s Travelwise app or you can
phone DFA’s dedicated phone line on (01) 613 1733.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Citizens Information Centres are offering a phone and email service. You can access information and advice from:

• The Citizens Information Phone Service: call 0761 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
• Our national call back service: visit citizensinformation.ie/callback to book a phone call from an information officer.
• Your local Citizens Information Centre: find the phone number on the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.