Can I cancel a package holiday for free in Liechtenstein?
Yes — for extraordinary circumstances you cancel free of charge, otherwise against a reasonable fee. The Package Travel Act (PRG, LR 944.2), in force since 1 February 2020, transposes the EU Package Travel Directive (2015/2302) via the EEA. Before departure you may withdraw at any time — normally against a reasonable, standardised cancellation fee. It is free, with a full refund, where unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances at the destination significantly affect the trip — war, terrorism, epidemic, natural disaster. The organiser must then refund everything within 14 days. The myth: „If I cancel, the money is gone — like in Switzerland." Wrong — Switzerland is not in the EEA and still has the old Package Travel Act of 1993 (SR 944.3) without this free-cancellation right. Liechtenstein gives you the modern EU rights.
📋 The rules
- Withdraw at any time before departure: You can terminate the package travel contract at any time before departure. As a rule a reasonable cancellation fee falls due, depending on timing and the costs saved.
- Free for extraordinary circumstances: If unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances arise at the destination (war, terrorism, epidemic, natural disaster), you cancel without a fee and get the price back in full.
- Refund within 14 days: Where the organiser must refund, it has to pay within 14 days of the withdrawal at the latest. The same applies if the organiser itself cancels the trip.
- Substitute traveller and price limits: You may transfer the trip to a substitute traveller. If the organiser raises the price by more than 8%, you have a free right to withdraw.
- EU law, not Swiss law: The PRG transposes Directive 2015/2302; as a non-EEA state Switzerland still has the Package Travel Act of 1993 (SR 944.3). Same statute name, different number — and a completely different level of protection.
🔓 Exceptions
- No extraordinary circumstance: Mere reluctance, a scheduling clash or illness without a travel warning is no free-cancellation ground — then the cancellation fee stands. Travel cancellation insurance may step in here.
- Single services instead of a package: Anyone booking only a flight or only a hotel separately has no package — then the provider's terms apply, not the PRG. Linked travel arrangements have their own, weaker rules.
- Insolvency of the organiser: If the organiser goes bankrupt, the statutory insolvency protection (return journey and refund) applies, not the ordinary right of withdrawal — the claims run through that safeguard.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The costliest mistake is to cancel for the wrong reason. Anyone who withdraws without an extraordinary circumstance pays the cancellation fee — the closer to departure, the higher; without travel cancellation insurance that money is gone. Conversely: if the organiser does not pay the due 14-day refund, the claim stands; you must enforce it if necessary through the Regional Court (Landgericht) and an execution — there is no debt-enforcement office as in Switzerland. Not obvious: anyone who books flight and hotel separately to save money loses the PRG protection and is often left empty-handed if there is a cancellation. In a dispute the consumer contact point helps; you should carefully document the evidence for the extraordinary circumstance — travel warnings, situation reports.
📎 Official sources
- LILEX — Package Travel Act (PRG, LR 944.2) and Package Travel Ordinance (legal register home page) →
- Office of Economic Affairs — package travel, consumer information (National Administration, home page) →
- Consumer contact point — help with travel and contract questions (National Administration, home page) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I cancel a package holiday at any time?
Yes, before departure you can withdraw at any time, but as a rule only against a reasonable cancellation fee. The withdrawal is free only in the case of unavoidable extraordinary circumstances at the destination.
When do I get my money back in full?
For unavoidable extraordinary circumstances such as war, terrorism, epidemic or natural disaster you cancel free and get the full price back. The organiser must pay within 14 days of the withdrawal at the latest.
What counts as an extraordinary circumstance?
Meant are events beyond your control that significantly affect the trip, such as an official travel warning, an outbreak of war or an epidemic. Mere reluctance or a scheduling clash is not enough and triggers only the ordinary cancellation fee.
Does this also apply if I book flight and hotel separately?
No, the Package Travel Act protects only packages and, in part, linked travel arrangements. If you book everything separately, the individual providers' terms apply and the strong PRG protection falls away.
Is this like in Switzerland?
No, Switzerland is not in the EEA and still has the Package Travel Act of 1993 (SR 944.3) without the free-cancellation right for extraordinary circumstances. Liechtenstein adopted the modern EU Directive 2015/2302 with the PRG (LR 944.2).
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