May 24, 2025, 9:29 am | Read time: 6 minutes

Popular travel destinations in Greece, Italy, and Turkey have repeatedly been affected by earthquakes in recent days and weeks. TRAVELBOOK explains what travelers need to be aware of during earthquakes and when they can cancel their trips. A lawyer specializing in travel law provides insights.

Must the Organizer Inform About Earthquake Risks?

Whether a vacation destination is in an earthquake zone or not, travel organizers are not required to provide this information. This is according to Kay Rodegra, an attorney specializing in travel law. Earthquakes could theoretically occur almost anywhere in the world and are thus considered a “general life risk.”

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Can You Cancel a Vacation Due to Earthquake Warnings?

The vacation is just around the corner, and suddenly you hear in the news that the destination might be affected by earthquakes. Fear sets in, images of destruction play out in your mind, and the desire for the vacation fades. Can I cancel the upcoming vacation for free due to fear of earthquakes? No, because fears and worries about an earthquake alone are not sufficient grounds to cancel a package tour for free. Any cancellation fees must be borne by the traveler in such cases.

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For example, this was the case in Istanbul when there was a severe earthquake at the end of April. Some geologists saw it as a precursor to an even stronger quake. Attorney Rodegra says, “In some regions of the world, super earthquakes are expected, which could occur tomorrow or in 1,000 years.” Therefore, fears alone are not reasons to cancel a booked trip for free. Instead, travelers should consider the earthquake risk at the destination before booking a trip.

Vacation Directly After an Earthquake?

When Istanbul experienced multiple earthquakes in a short period, the situation was initially unclear. Rodegra states that canceling a trip shortly before departure is indeed possible in such cases. “If a trip is scheduled for the next day to an area where there was panic due to an earthquake and the situation is not resolved, I see the option for cancellation.” However, once it is clear that the trip will not be affected and no major damage has occurred, cancellation is no longer possible. Therefore, two pieces of advice apply in such cases:

1. Contact the travel organizer. They also closely monitor the situation and usually cancel planned trips themselves if there are high risks or expected disruptions.
2. Do not cancel hastily. At least not if the trip is scheduled for several days or weeks later. If it turns out that the region can be visited without issues, you may be stuck with the costs.

According to expert Rodegra, this was evident in the severe earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand at the end of March. A high-rise building in Bangkok, still under construction, collapsed, resulting in many casualties. However, other buildings, including infrastructure in the Thai capital, remained intact. The popular coastal vacation areas were not directly affected. “There was no impairment or danger for a trip to Thailand,” says the expert. Anyone who canceled a trip to Bangkok scheduled for a few weeks later would have been stuck with the cancellation costs.

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What Happens in the Case of Massive Destruction?

Collapsed houses, damaged roads, and airports: If there are massive damages at the vacation spot or nearby, Rodegra says it constitutes an unavoidable, extraordinary circumstance. In such cases, a free cancellation of a package tour is possible if significant impairments or dangers are expected.

If the travel organizer does not accept this, affected individuals can argue with media reports about the extent of the destruction or assessments from the Foreign Office—a travel warning from the ministry for a region is a strong indication of unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances.

Even here, the rule is: Do not cancel too early. If the trip to an affected area is scheduled for six months later, you should wait. Rodegra explains, “At the time of cancellation, it must be clear or very likely that there will be significant impairments or a danger at the destination or nearby, making the trip unreasonable for the traveler.” Therefore, in many cases, travelers must first wait to see how the situation develops in the travel country.

Multiple Destinations in One Country?

For tours, the question of free cancellation depends on whether they can be carried out largely without disruption. If only one of many places on the trip is affected by the earthquake and cannot be visited, that is not sufficient grounds for a free cancellation of the travel contract. However, a missed program point could justify a price reduction, according to the expert.

What Happens with Individual Travel?

Unlike package travelers, those who have booked flights and hotels individually cannot rely on their organizer in the event of natural disasters. Instead, they must deal with each contract partner individually, such as the airline, hotel, or vacation rental agency.

Rodegra provides an example where the accommodation is assumed to be so damaged by the earthquake that it is uninhabitable. However, the flight to a more distant airport in the country still takes place. “You have to pay for that, even if you might not use it anymore because you no longer have accommodation.”

So the rule is: If at least two travel services are combined and sold in a package, it is generally considered a package tour. A classic example is flight package tours that include flights and a hotel. But a combination of flight and rental car can also count.

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Earthquake During Vacation – What Are My Rights?

If you are affected by an earthquake during your vacation, travel organizers are obliged to inform you. If, for example, the accommodation is no longer safely habitable, they must provide alternative accommodation.

“If it is no longer reasonable for travelers to stay in the area after a natural disaster, the organizer must arrange an earlier return flight and cover all additional costs,” says Rodegra. This is provided the flights were part of the package tour and not booked separately by the travelers.

If everything was booked independently and without a travel organizer, you are unfortunately responsible for arranging replacements yourself. In emergencies, German embassies and consulates can serve as points of contact.

(With material from dpa)