When ordering travel services, planning a summer vacation, you should carefully study the contract, make sure that the tour operator has a valid license and financial security, and pay attention to the details, the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection advised, UNN reports.
"Summer vacations, both family and children's, should be planned in advance, taking into account a number of factors. When ordering travel services, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection advises consumers to make a conscious choice based on a thorough study of the information," the agency said.
First of all, as noted, it is necessary to study the contract for travel services. "The contractor (tour operator) must have a valid license and financial security. You can check this information in the License Register of Tour Operators," the agency said.
As the Consumer Service advises, if you order services from a travel agent, you should pay attention not only to their data, but also to the data of the tour operator whose services the travel agent offers.
The law stipulates that a travel services agreement shall specify the essential terms of the agreement, namely:
- the duration of stay at the place of provision of travel services, indicating the start and end dates of travel services;
- characteristics of the vehicles involved in transportation, including their type and category, as well as the date, time and place of departure and return (if transportation is part of a tourist product);
- hotels and other temporary accommodation facilities, their location, category, as well as the term and procedure for payment for hotel services;
- types and methods of nutrition;
- the minimum number of tourists in the group (if necessary) and, in this regard, a three-day period for informing the tourist that the trip will not take place due to a shortage of tourists;
- a program of tourist services;
- types of excursion services and other services included in the cost of the tourist product;
- other tourism entities (their location and details) that provide tourism services included in the tourism product;
- an insurer that insures tourists at the request of the tourist, other risks associated with the provision of travel services;
- rules for entering and staying in the country (place) of temporary residence;
- cost of travel services and payment procedure;
- form of payment.
Ukrainians are advised to be careful when ordering travel services, and if consumer rights are violated, they should contact the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection and its territorial bodies.