Recently we got a question from a reader who had booked a tour that ended up being cancelled by the tour operator. The tour operator was refusing to refund the traveler’s tour cost.
I looked at the tour operator’s cancellation policy, and saw that there was no explicit language about refunds. Instead, it said that if the tour company cancelled a tour, the guest could choose a different tour or departure date, but that was it.
Considering how strict and generally unforgiving cancellation policies are for travelers, it can feel like poor form for tour operators to not hold themselves to similar standards. As a traveler, my assumption would be that if the tour operator cancelled a tour, a refund would be a standard option. But that’s not necessarily the case.
Different tour companies, different cancellation policies
When I dug into tour operators’ cancellation policies based on tour operator (not traveler) cancellations, I was surprised at how much variation there was. Some tour operators offer either refunds or future travel credits, while others only give future travel credits. And in all cases, associated travel costs (like airfare to get to the destination or hotels you booked on your way) were the sole responsibility of the guest.
For reference, here’s some of the language around tour cancellation from a few major tour operators (for reference, force majeure is a catch-all term for events like hurricanes that are out of the control of the tour company):
- EF Go Ahead Tours: In the event a tour is cancelled due to low traveler numbers, guests can choose another tour or departure date. In the event of a force majeure event, the company will give travelers a future travel voucher. Read EF Go Ahead Tours full cancellation policy
- Globus: If the tour operator cancels a tour due to a force majeure event, guests will receive a future travel booking credit. Guests can also notify the company within 21 days to receive a refund for the portion of the trip not taken. If the tour operator cancels a tour due to another reason, it will try to rebook the same trip on a different date or a similar trip. It will refund the price difference if the rebooked tour is lower, and you’re responsible for paying the difference if the price is higher. If rebooking is not acceptable, the company will refund the “amounts paid by you for the reservation.” Read Globus’ full cancellation policy
- Tauck: Tauck says “We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule any departure for any reason. If we cancel, except in the case of extreme circumstances as detailed below, we will offer alternate arrangements. We may at our sole discretion offer travel vouchers or refunds in accordance with our cancellation policy above.” Read Tauck’s full cancellation policy
- Trafalgar: If the tour operator cancels due to a force majeure event, it will offer a travel credit. If it cancels for another reason, “provider will provide an alternative comparable trip (if available), if an alternative is not available then a refund will be made.” Read Trafalgar’s full payment and cancellation policies
My advice
Here are the two pieces of advice I’d give to anyone booking a tour:
- Read the fine print about cancellations. Yes, it’s dull, but it’s also important to understand what happens in the event you need to cancel or the company cancels either for a force majeure reason (like a hurricane) or for any other reason. Because tour companies’ cancellation policies vary, you might end up choosing a different operator because it has a better cancellation policy.
- Purchase cancel-for-any-reason trip insurance. Tour companies often offer this as part of the booking process but you can also independently buy a policy that will cover you for all travel during a stated period. It’s expensive, but when you factor in the overall cost of a trip (and understand that the tour company may not refund your investment), it makes more sense.
If your tour is cancelled, it’s a good idea to act fast to figure out what your options are. Some tour operators require an extra step to get a refund, and if that’s the outcome you’re hoping for, you’ll have a limited time to jump through the extra hoops.
