A trip abroad is a dream for most people, but sometimes things go awry. Flights get canceled, trains get delayed, hotels have bugs and tours don’t live up to their promises — unfortunately, unexpected issues can pop up when traveling. Even if you are visiting one of the cheapest countries, these surprise expenses can burn a hole in your wallet.
When you’re out of the country, it’s not as simple to call and demand a refund when you can’t speak the language or it costs money to make that call in the first place. Plus, there may be different consumer laws and regulations in other countries, too.
But there are things you can do to get your money back when you experience a travel roadblock. Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure a refund from anywhere in the world.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
1. Have travel insurance before you go
Travel insurance is a smart way to protect yourself when you go on any trip. While most travel insurance options won’t offer complete reimbursements, they will get you sizable refunds for common trip headaches, like stolen luggage, canceled transportation and shoddy accommodations. You can compare rates with providers like Faye Travel Insurance.
“Before you book your trip, check if the credit card you plan to use offers any travel insurance or assistance that might be useful to you. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to begin shopping for travel coverage through a carrier that offers comprehensive travel coverage,” advised Mark Friedlander, the director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute.
If anything comes up, you can then contact your travel insurance to try to get a refund. Jenna Hummer, the director of publicity for Squaremouth, a travel insurance company, said your steps should “then be to:
- Have all receipts from your trip ready ahead of time
- Obtain documentation from your travel supplier proving you canceled your trip
- Provide as much detail as possible in your claim form and interview
- Be prepared to send in additional information or documentation to support your claim"
Of course, not everyone needs to invest in travel insurance, Hummer added.
“Travelers with existing protection through their travel credit cards, airline, or through others means, travelers that don’t have any prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses, travelers with few trip expenses, or taking relatively inexpensive trips, travelers with existing medical coverage that covers them for their trips” likely won’t want to buy travel insurance, she said.
Pro Tip: Before you travel abroad, get your paperwork organized. Keeping your financial, insurance and medical documents accessible and secure can make handling travel disruptions easier. Consider using platforms like Google Docs and Quicken LifeHub to store key information.
Check out How to Organize Your Financial Paperwork for tips on keeping your paperwork in order.
2. Check the policies
Let’s say you’re one of those people who didn’t choose to get travel insurance. You may still be protected in another way. Look at what your credit card offers, for example, as there are credit cards with travel insurance.
You can also check out the policies on the offending company’s site: The airline, hotel, or vendor may already have a structure in place for people experiencing problems.
3. Contact the company directly
If you don’t have travel insurance or the company doesn’t offer an automatic resolution, you’ll want to reach out directly. The fastest way is probably via phone, so try to make these calls while you’re already abroad. If you’re already back in the United States, you can use calling apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or FaceTime to help make a free or low-cost international call.
Of course, you may run into an issue if you don’t speak the language. In that case, you can always try to contact the company via email or social media, where you can use a translation app to help get your message across, Friedlander suggested.
4. Get a local to intervene on your behalf
If your emails are going unanswered or you just can’t communicate with the vendor, consider turning to a local for help, Friedlander said. They can mediate for you and help you advocate for what you need.
Don’t know anyone directly on the ground in this country? “Asking a bilingual employee at the hotel where you are staying may be another option,” he explained.
5. Dispute the credit card charge
Unfortunately, sometimes the vendor just won’t be responsive, regardless of how you communicate. That’s when it’s time to talk with your credit card company.
Contact them to explain the situation and dispute the credit card charge. Just make sure you have the proper documentation to back up your claims. Typically, chargebacks are simple to do and are often approved.
What to do next
When travel plans go off the rails, these five simple steps can help you recover what you've spent, but your work doesn't stop once you hit "send." Keep a paper trail, save receipts, emails and screenshots, stay polite but firm and don't be afraid to escalate your claim to local consumer‑protection agencies if the vendor stays silent.
If all else fails, use your credit card to dispute the charge, armed with documentation and persistence. Preparing digitally, such as scanning relevant documents to the cloud and keeping contact info at hand, can turn a travel nightmare into a manageable hiccup. Stay organized, stay calm and you'll boost your chances of making things right.
Related Content
-
Tech Sells Off While Trump Stirs the Fed: Stock Market TodayWe've reached another important part of earnings season, though markets remain captivated by the president, the Fed, and interest rate policy.
-
We bought a vacation home for retirement, but we never use it. Should we sell, or rent it out and wait for mortgage rates to come down?We ask financial planning experts for advice.
-
Where I'm Stashing My Emergency Fund Before Rates ChangeKnowing what's coming can help savers prepare and maximize returns.
-
My Car Is 10 Years Old. Should I Drop Down to Minimum Coverage on My Car Insurance?Reducing your car insurance to minimum coverage could save you thousands on premiums. But when is it worth the risk?
-
Don't Be a Sucker: The Truth About Guarantor and Cosigner AgreementsThere are significant financial and relationship risks involved if you agree to be a cosigner or guarantor. Make sure you perform your due diligence, and know exactly what you're getting into, before agreeing to such a commitment.
-
Amazon Expands Free Fresh Grocery Delivery to 1,000 CitiesAmazon's expanded grocery delivery service costs less than Amazon Fresh. Is it a better deal?
-
Is Crypto Investing Coming to a Credit Union Near You?Credit unions are getting in on crypto investing through partnerships with third-party platforms, but the risks to investors still apply.
-
My First $1 Million: Retired Army and Health Care Worker, 52, HoustonEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
Seven Things You Should Do Now if You Think Your Identity Was StolenIf you suspect your identity was stolen, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself, but make sure you take action fast.
-
How AI and Human Expertise Are Changing Wealth-Management ServicesWealth-management software helps you keep track of your investments and manage your money. We look at Range's all-in-one platform to see how it works.
