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🇫🇷 France /Disasters & Emergencies

Fires in the Southwest: Can you cancel your vacation and get a refund?

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Wildfires in southwestern France are disrupting summer vacations for thousands of tourists.
  • Consumers may be entitled to full refunds if their accommodation is destroyed or in an evacuation zone.
  • Refunds for transportation depend on company policies and whether flights or trains are canceled.

Thousands of tourists are facing disrupted summer holidays due to raging wildfires in France's Gironde and Landes regions, prompting questions about consumer rights and refund policies.

In cases where a booked accommodation has been destroyed by fire, the contract is rendered void, entitling the consumer to a full refund. If an alternative is offered, the client can choose to accept it or demand their money back. Similarly, if the accommodation or planned activity is located within an evacuation zone, cancellations without penalty and full refunds of deposits are possible, according to Laurence Jégouzo, a lawyer specializing in tourism law.

the contract no longer has an object and you are entitled to a full refund.

— Laurence JégouzoExplaining the rights of consumers whose accommodation is destroyed by fire.

Tourists who are evacuated during their stay are entitled to a pro-rata refund for the unused nights. For package holidays that include transportation, the inability to stay at the destination generally allows for a full refund. However, professionals are typically not obligated to provide additional compensation for such events, which are considered force majeure.

The situation with separately purchased transportation, such as flights, is more complex. Refunds depend on the airline's specific exchange and cancellation policies. If flights are maintained, companies are not obligated to offer refunds even if the planned trip is no longer feasible. However, if a flight is canceled due to the fires, the airline must refund the ticket but is not required to pay further compensation. French national railway company SNCF has offered exceptional free cancellations or exchanges for tickets to the affected southwestern region.

Cancellation without charge is possible, with full reimbursement of the deposits paid.

— Laurence JégouzoDescribing the conditions under which consumers can cancel bookings in evacuation zones.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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