My package holiday went wrong or the organiser collapsed — what am I entitled to?
A package (flight + hotel booked together, or a tour) comes with the strongest travel rights in the EU: the organiser is liable for every part, must fix problems on the spot, owes a price reduction and compensation for what it cannot fix, and must be insolvency-protected — if it collapses, the guarantee fund refunds you and brings you home. Complain to the organiser during the trip in writing, then claim after. Česká obchodní inspekce (ČOI) (222 703 404) advises; Evropské spotřebitelské centrum ČR (evropskyspotrebitel.cz) for an organiser in another EU country; Garanční fond cestovních kanceláří (Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj) (mmr.cz) is the guarantee scheme that pays if the organiser is insolvent.
🗣️ What to say
"Booking [number], [dates, destination]. [The hotel / transfer / excursion] was [not provided / not as described: what]. I reported this on [date] to [rep / hotline] and it was not resolved. I claim a price reduction of [%] and compensation for [costs / lost days], receipts attached."
🪜 Step by step
- Complain on the spotTo the rep or the 24-hour line, in writing (email/app). Give them a chance to fix it; keep the reply.
- DocumentPhotos, the brochure description, receipts of anything you paid to fix it yourself.
- Claim within the deadlineUsually within a month of return, to the organiser, itemised.
- Refusal: Česká obchodní inspekce (ČOI), Evropské spotřebitelské centrum ČR, ADRConsumer body, ECC for cross-border, and the travel ADR scheme if the organiser is a member.
- Organiser insolvent: Garanční fond cestovních kanceláří (Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj)The guarantee fund refunds prepayments and repatriates; check the organiser was registered — it must be.
📇 All contacts
❓ Frequently asked
Can I cancel before departure?
Yes, with a fee — unless "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" at the destination (natural disaster, serious unrest), in which case a full refund is due.
The organiser changed the hotel
A significant change lets you accept a replacement or cancel with a full refund, plus compensation in some cases. A minor change does not.
The flight was delayed — package or EU 261?
Both: EU 261 compensation from the airline, and the organiser owes a remedy for the lost part of the holiday. They cannot be claimed twice for the same loss.
📎 Sources
- Česká obchodní inspekce (ČOI) →
- Evropské spotřebitelské centrum ČR →
- Garanční fond cestovních kanceláří (Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj) →
- ČOI — mimosoudní řešení sporů (ADR) →
🔎 Common searches
Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.
- “package holiday complaint compensation Czechia”
- “tour operator insolvent refund”
- “package travel rights price reduction”
- “holiday not as described claim”
- “travel guarantee fund Czechia”
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