When it comes to travelling, it is hard for us to think that something bad could happen to us and, with the excitement with which we prepare and wait for the trip, we are not aware that there may be unexpected surprises that can cause us more than one headache.
How to travel safely through travel agencies
You should bear in mind that, if you choose to travel through a travel agency, you should pay attention to choose the right one, as it is the one that will take care of everything. You have to check that it has good references and, above all, that it is a member of arbitration.
The fact that a company is a member of arbitration means that it has agreed to resolve any conflict that you present to it outside of the courts. In the event of any complaint that you present and in the absence of an agreement with the company, it will be the City Council's consumer services that will intervene to reach an agreement for the benefit of consumers. These companies usually place a sticker at the entrance to the establishment indicating that they are members of arbitration.
How to travel safely through Internet contracts
When contracting online, it is important that you read the general conditions carefully and remember that you always have a period of fourteen days to withdraw from the contract. This right of withdrawal gives you the possibility to cancel or cancel the contracted service for whatever reason. You do not have to give any kind of explanation to the company nor can you suffer any penalties.
Travel insurance
It is highly recommended that you take out travel insurance. It is an investment that protects you from unforeseen events and allows you to travel with confidence and peace of mind. A good health care cover, transfer of injured and deceased people, as well as legal defence and claims for damages is the minimum that your travel insurance should include.
How to travel with peace of mind through package tours and/or individual services
Package tours, i.e. those that form a package between accommodation and flight, for example, have more guarantees than single services, those that you contract individually, such as a flight, a hotel and that are not included in a package. This is because we always have more legal protection.
The travel agency, for example, is just as liable as the company providing the service; the organiser and the retail agency are jointly and severally liable. You can claim against both.
How to travel safely through private individuals or tourist rentals
If, on the other hand, you choose to rent a property directly from a private individual or a tourist rental, you must do everything in writing. It is also advisable to give priority to those services that can be cancelled and the money refunded.
It is very important to be clear about the dates on which you want to travel because, in most cases, if you want to cancel your trip with less than fifteen days notice, you may suffer significant penalties ranging from 5% to 15%.
In any case, keep all the documentation you have. Keep everything that proves your booking, as well as any advertising brochures or web screenshots you may have seen. Advertising is linked to the contract and companies are obliged to deliver what they offer. If you have been the victim of a scam, if the trip you booked does not exist and you want to complain, contact us.
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