Unfortunately I booked a private tour With Locals in Munich without reading the cancellation policy. First of all they immediately charged my card in spite of over two weeks before the tour. At cancellation over two weeks before the tour they are charging a 10% service fee for nothing.
Follow Rick Steves and be careful who do business with!
Making payment at time of bookings and a cancelation fee is common across the tour industry. The important lesson is to make sure you've read the terms.
Are you trying to cancel? All of our tours with local guides this last month in Europe asked to be paid up front. And if you look at it from the guide’s point of view, if you cancel they may be losing business for a date they could have filled.
margie, exactly.
Its one reason the cancelation polity of Airbnb changed. I have a friend in the business and 2 in 10 bookings was getting canceled. If all you have is one apartment to rent that can be devistating. And I see it here from time to time where someone says they booked a lot of places just to be sure that they would have something, then they go back at a later date and cancel and change to what they really want. That kills small time operators like guides. Booking to hold a spot in case you want it (not at all saying thats what the OP did, but others do and thats why the fee) is not a good thing to small time tour operators and guides and apartment owners. A 10% holding charge is fair More than fair.
I figure one should always read the cancelation policy before booking. Seems like 10% cancel fee is a deal. What would be the charge inside of two weeks?
Treemoss, No Refund would be appropriate since you have more than likely caused a loss of money for that guide or business. I know there were many activities we paid for up front including museums, chocolate making, train tickets, etc., that there were no refunds offered at all.
