Booking
How does booking with you actually work?
You send us an enquiry — destination, rough dates, budget, party size. Within a working day you get a quote with real hotels and real flights. You say yes (or ask for changes — usually one or two rounds, we don't mind). We then send a booking form, take your deposit, and from that point we hold the arrangement and you start a group chat about who's bringing what adaptor.
Is a quote really free?
Yes, always, including the back-and-forth. We only earn money if you actually book. If you take our quote and book it yourself elsewhere, that's allowed too — we'll survive, mostly. It happens less than you'd think, because our prices tend to win, but we won't chase you.
How far ahead should I book?
For summer Mediterranean trips, January to March gets you the good hotel contracts and sensible flights. Later than that you're choosing from what's left. Long-haul like Thailand: three to six months ahead. City breaks: we can often turn those around in a week, sometimes less if you're flexible.
Can you book flights only, or hotels only?
Sometimes, if it makes sense for you. Fair warning: on flight-only we'll tell you when booking direct with the airline is cheaper, because often it is. We're a package agency — our prices come from combining things, not from splitting them.
Payment
What does it cost to secure a booking?
A deposit of 20% of the package price, due when you return the booking form. The balance is due 28 days before departure. For bookings made inside 28 days of departure, the full amount is due at once — that's not us being awkward, it's when the hotels and airlines want their money.
How can I pay?
Bank transfer (SEPA) or card — Visa, Mastercard, Amex. No credit-card surcharge, because surcharges are a tax on not thinking about it. Cheques and cash in an envelope are charmingly retro but no.
Can I pay in instalments?
Sort of: after the deposit you can pay the balance off in as many chunks as you like, as long as we've got the full amount 28 days before you fly. We don't run credit, we just don't mind getting paid in pieces. Everything is documented on each invoice.
Is my money safe if you go bust?
Yes — that's the law for package holidays (§ 651w BGB), and it's not optional. Our insolvency protection covers every booking, so if anything happened to Trips House, your money and, if you're already travelling, your trip home are secured. The certificate is linked in your booking confirmation. It has never been needed, which is the best thing you can say about insurance.
Cancellation & changes
What if I have to cancel?
Tell us in writing (email counts) as early as you can. Cancellation costs depend on how close to departure it happens — the standard scale is: free up to 60 days out minus a €50 handling fee per person, then 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the price as departure approaches. Inside 14 days it's usually 90–100%, because by then the hotels have turned other guests away for you. Travel insurance with cancellation cover exists precisely for this; we recommend it and can point you at policies, though you're free to use any insurer.
What if something happens — family emergency, illness?
Call us first. We can often rebook rather than cancel: move dates, change the hotel, swap a traveller. Where there's a genuine emergency, most of our hotel partners meet us halfway on fees, and we pass that on rather than pocketing it. Insurance typically reimburses what we can't recover. This is the bit of the job we're proudest of, and also the reason our office phone is never truly off.
Can I change a name on the booking?
Yes, up to a few weeks before departure — usually €50–120 depending on the airline, sometimes free. A swapped traveller who needs a different room type might change the price; we'll always tell you before doing it.
What if you have to change something?
Flight times move, ferries get rescheduled (our Greek island travellers know this well), occasionally a hotel closes. If it's minor we fix it and tell you after. If it's significant — a different hotel category, a changed route — you decide: accept the change, take an alternative of equal value, or cancel with a full refund. That's the deal under EU package travel rules, and it's a good deal.
While you're travelling
What if something goes wrong mid-trip?
Call us. A person answers, 24/7, including the out-of-hours number in your travel documents. We've rebooked flights from moving tuk-tuks (long story, ask Jonas) and moved a family between islands during a ferry strike in under an afternoon. If it's fixable, we fix it; if it's a complaint about the wallpaper, we'll still listen, just maybe with less urgency.
Do I need travel insurance?
Medical cover abroad: yes, non-negotiable, get it — your EHIC/GHIC card helps in the EU but doesn't cover repatriation or the fun bits. Cancellation cover: strongly recommended, see above. We don't sell insurance ourselves, which means the advice you get on it isn't commission-flavoured.
Still stuck?
The fastest answer to almost anything is the contact page — WhatsApp for quick things, email for itineraries, phone if you like talking. Or read what previous travellers asked at 2am before their flights: our reviews cover most of the real-world scenarios.