Package holiday cancellations

I just booked a holiday online, how do I know if it is a package holiday?

• Re-routing at a later date that is suitable for you

Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, and a member of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors. She is also a Careers Advisor - For details see www.mycareerplan.ie or follow @ mycareerplan on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Traineeships

Traineeships combine learning in the classroom and experience in the workplace to improve employment outcomes for participants. There are over 75 traineeships available nationally across a variety of industries including business, health and social care, constructions, engineering, transport and logistics, finance, hospitality, fashion and beauty, ICT and more. They start at various times during the year. More details can be found on https://www.solas.ie/programmes/traineeship/ also from the local Education and Training Boards (ETBs).

National Learning Network

The National Learning Network (NLN) offers specialist training, courses and support services for students and adults who need extra support to progress in their education or into the workplace. A key aspect of the NLN is a welcoming and supportive environment, small class sizes and the flexibility for students to learn a pace which suits their needs. More information can be found on www.nln.ie

Direct Entry Courses

There are over 200 direct entry courses to various college across Ireland in a variety of areas of study and duration. These can be researched by using the Course Finder facility on www.careersportal. ie and www.qualifax.ie . These include some private colleges.

Study Outside Of Ireland

There are still opportunities to apply for colleges in the UK and Europe. The UCAS Clearing system is open until October 17th which allows students to apply for vacant college places in the UK. See www.ucas. com for details. Applications are still open for some colleges and universities in Europe, where entry requirements are often lower than similar options here in Ireland. See www.eunicas.ie and www. medicalpoland.ie for more details.

Package holidays can be ready-made or customised packages. A package holiday is sold at a total or inclusive price, must last for more than 24 hours, or include an overnight stay. It does not matter if you are asked to pay separately for different parts of the package (such as, the flight or transport), your holiday is still a ‘package holiday’. Package holidays include at least 2 of the following:

• Transport, like flights, a cruise, or train or coach journeys

• Accommodation

• Other tourist services, like tours, excursions, guides, or tickets for concerts or theme parks

· Car rental

What happens if I need to cancel my package holiday?

You can cancel your booking at any time before travelling, although you should try to give reasonable notice. However, you may have to pay a cancellation fee. If there are unavoidable or extraordinary circumstances happening at or near your destination that will affect your holiday (for example war or a natural disaster), you may be able to cancel for free.

Have I a right to transfer my contract?

You can transfer your holiday to another person once you give the travel organiser reasonable written notice (at least seven days) before the start of the package. You and the person you transfer the package holiday to are responsible for paying the balance of money due to the travel organiser. You are also responsible for any other costs the organiser has to pay to carry out the transfer. What happens if the organiser cancels my package holiday?

If the travel organiser cancels the package holiday or changes a term of the contract, including the price or type of accommodation, they must give you the option of either:

• A replacement holiday of the same or better quality

• A lower grade holiday, with a refund of the difference in price

• A full refund within 14 days

The organiser has the right to cancel the package due to factors out of their control. This includes an act of God, or where they didn’t get the number of people they needed for the package holiday.

What happens if my flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a choice of:

• A refund with 7 days

• Re-routing to your final destination as soon as possible

You may also be entitled to compensation.

If your flight is cancelled and it is part of a package holiday, you have additional rights regarding the rest of your holiday. You should contact your travel organiser to talk through your options for rearranging your flights. If this is not possible and your holiday has to be cancelled, you are entitled to a replacement holiday or a full refund. Read more about holiday cancellations on https://bit.ly/PackageHolidays

Does my travel organiser have to help me if I encounter any major difficulty while on the holiday?

The travel organiser must give appropriate help if you are in difficulty. This includes:

• Giving you information about healthcare, local authorities, consular assistance (for example if you have had a serious accident)

• Helping with communications, for example helping you make long distance calls or other forms of contact so you can find other travel arrangements

How can I make a complaint if I am unhappy about the holiday?

If you need to make a complaint, read your contract to see how to do this. It will explain who you should complain to – and how (that is, in writing or another way).

If you have a complaint while on your trip away, you should report the problem at once to your local holiday representative or travel organiser in the area. If you are not satisfied that the complaint has been dealt with properly when you return from the holiday, you must complain in writing to the travel organiser. You must do this within 28 days from the end of the holiday.

If the travel organiser does not respond within a reasonable time, you should send a second letter of complaint. If you are still not happy with your travel organiser's response, then you have the following options:

You can get advice from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) for complaints about travel organisers based in Ireland. Get advice from European Consumer Centre (ECC) Ireland for complaints about travel organisers based outside Ireland but in the EU/EEA (EEA is the European Economic Area). In some cases, ECC Ireland may liaise on your behalf to find a good working solution with the travel organiser through the centre based in the country of the organiser.