Fogyasztóvédők Magyarországi Egyesülete

Contract for travel services

How to chose the proper travel agency?

There are several aspects that affect the passenger when choosing the right journey and travel agency. One of the most important aspects is the price of the service. Therefore, it is important that consumers be fully informed in respect of travel costs. It is important that the contract also contains a detailed description of the services for which the passenger pays. In addition, it is also important that the commercial communication line with the actual services rendered.

Disclosure obligation

The brochures include details of the travel agents offer. It is important to contain severeal information as shown below:

• The organizer's name, location, the registration number of the Hungarian Trade Licensing, telephone number
• The destination, the route, the exact location and time of departure, major places of residence
• The type of the accomodation, describing it's most important characteristics, comfort level by the rules of the visitor country, if theres is a difference, the equivalent domestic comfort level.
• The price in hungarian forint, to which services it covters,
• Means of transportation and its features,
• Information about the alimentation
• Information about main and facultative programs
• The lowest number of passengers to start travel and the deadline of the notification, if theres is not enough passenger to start the travel.
• Information about necessary insurances
• General contract terms and conditions
• etc.

The organizer is responsible for the performance of contract. If it is not possible, it has to be replaced with similar services.

Practical advices

In hungary travel agencies must have the licence of the Hungarian Trade Licensing Office
classification of accomodations may differ by countries, 3 stars in Tunesia does not equivalent with 3 stars in Hungary
The travel agency must inform passengers about need of visa
The travel agency must inform passengers about its representative in the destination country
The charges must not rise within 20 days before departure

Cancellation of travel arrangements

The passenger has the right to rescind the contract. The cancellation must be announced in writing. If the reason of the cancellation is an 8% rise of charges, or the destination country is not recommended for travel by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign affairs, the passenger has the right to demand:

• an equivalent service or
• repayment of the prices

The earnest money

If the cancellation is not based on the previously written reasons, the travel agency may demand for earnest money. The earnest money shall not be more, than 10 percent of the total price, if the cancellation of travel arrangements is made 45 days before departure. Over 60 days earnest money is not be demanded.

(For more please see 281/2008. (XI. 28.) Gov. decree and Council Directive 90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package tours)