Travelling in the EU
You have consumer rights when you are travelling in the EU. These EU laws also apply if you are in Iceland, Norway or Switzerland.
There are specific rules for package holidays and linked travel arrangements, and you can read about what you are entitled to if your flight or ferry is cancelled or delayed.
Hotels and accommodation
Hotel bookings are not specifically regulated by EU law, unless they come as part of a package holiday or linked travel arrangement. If you are booking directly with a hotel, or using a booking website, you should read the terms and conditions of your booking carefully.
You have the right to receive accurate information to enable you to make an informed decision, and you have the right not to be misled or coerced into making a booking. You can read more about unfair commercial practices on Your Europe.
Cancellations and complaints
You may have paid for your stay up front, and you may not be entitled to a refund if you cancel your booking. You should read the terms and conditions of your booking carefully. The country you are visiting may also have national regulations that will apply to your booking.
During your stay, if you are not happy with the service you are receiving, you should talk to the manager of the hotel. It is better to try to resolve issues at the time rather than make a complaint afterwards.
Holiday rentals
If you plan on booking private accommodation, like a self-catering apartment or holiday home, you should use a reputable online platform. Only make payments and communicate through the platform. Do not send payments through money transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram, because these payments cannot be traced.
Rental scams are common, and you should be aware of what to look out for.
Shopping
This section has information about your consumer rights when you make purchases while you are travelling in the EU. Different rules apply if you buy online from a trader based in the EU.
Your consumer rights when shopping in the EU are the same as when you shop at home. The item you buy must be:
- as described by the seller
- fit for the general purpose of the product
- of merchantable quality
The seller should not mislead you, make false claims about the product, or try to pressure you into making a purchase. Prices must be clear and include all taxes.
Terms in consumer contracts must be fair and written in plain language. EU consumer law protects you against:
You should not be treated differently as a consumer because you are not a citizen of the EU country you are visiting.
If something goes wrong
The CCPC provides a separate dedicated service that helps consumers with cross border issues, called the European Consumer Centre Ireland (ECC Ireland). They help consumers who are having issues with a business in another EU country, Iceland, Norway, or the UK.
On their website, ECC Ireland has consumer information about your rights for shopping and travelling in the EU. They also provide complaint letter templates to help you when making your complaint.
If you have complained to a business and are unhappy with the response, you can make a complaint to ECC Ireland. You will need to submit proof of purchase and details of your formal complaint to the business. They will then look at your complaint and, if they think you have a case, will contact the European Consumer Centre where the business is based to mediate on your behalf. If it is not possible to mediate in your complaint, you will get information about any alternative options you have.
Last updated on 4 April 2024
