I was wondering if due to the flooding anyone has cancelled a trip to Prague, etc. If so, did you have any problems or penalties with the airline, hotels or tour company?

Why? Are you thinking of cancelling? When is your trip?

We are trying to decide what to do. We are scheduled to leave September 8th.

The Czech Tourist Board recommended that people visiting in the next 10 days to reschedule - you should be fine. Yes, there will be some flood damage but not all of Prague has been washed away..

Mark, I wouldn't be so sure about Prague being a good place to visit in 10 days. I have experienced flooding, and not to the degree the Czech Republic is having, and it took us months and months to clean up. Also, I think Susan is asking if anyone is experiencing penalties by cancelling at this time. It is a good question.

I think I read a thread discussing that people could reschedule without penalties. As for the 10 days - talk to the Czech Tourist board - they should have the best information regarding whether or not to go and when....

I have a trip scheduled to Salzburg and German Bavaria in 10 days - I wonder what I should do...

Check with your travel insurance policy, if you bought one, and they will advise on cancellation penalties, if any. Airlines rarely cancel without penalty in the event of a natural disaster as it is considered an act of God. Web discounters such as Hotwire and Priceline also will not cancel w/o penalty, sometimes 100% penalty!

Maybe you could get a refund from hotels but forget about a NON-REFUNDABLE airline ticket. Iffy about tour companies, really depends on what their suppliers say

Even a non-refundable airline ticket can be exchanged (with a penalty) and applied toward a different trip.<BR><BR>In other words you won't be able to get a refund but you'll be able to reschedule for typically $100 a ticket.

So far, we have check with the trip insurance company and they will not pay anything for rescheduling or cancelling. Will keep you informed on my situation and I am interested in how others are doing.

I have to wonder what good it does to purchase trip insurance if they do not pay in the event of massive flooding. What does it pay for then?

Good question, Lynn. I, too, wonder the same. I have a friend who once had to cancel a trip because her father broke his hip in a fall (she is his only living relative) and she had a terrible time getting compensated from the insurance policy for which she had paid several hundred dollars, and which was supplied by the tour operator.

Hi Susan<BR>sorry to hear your insurance won't pay. i'm visiting Prague, Ostrava & Olomouc next week meeting up with some friends from int'l club which i co-run in uk. they've told me the worst area affected is close to river. the area further up on the hill area where the palace is not. the water have subsided slowly in the last couple of days. if you do decide to go maybe best to visit outside prague city. enjoy your travel.

Susan, how about an update? What are you going to do about your trip to Prague? I have some friends who are also having some problems cancelling.

&lt;&lt;What does it pay for then?&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>All kinds of stuff, I think. If you are injured in a car accident or otherwise hospitalized and are not able to travel on the appointed day. If you have a personal loss like a death in the family, your house burns down, etc. And maybe even if your own house was taken by a flood right before the trip.<BR><BR>They might even cover the RE-SCHEDULE costs if your destination is hit by a natural disaster.<BR><BR>I think that a basic premise in liability is that the "injured party" has a reasonable expectation to mitigate the loss. A reasonable effort to re-schedule the trip might be part of that expectation. I'm not at all sure it applies in insurance matters - - this isn't about litigating a liability matter.<BR><BR>And I certainly am not a lawyer.<BR><BR>I just have the feeling that in all risk reduction matters, there are certain out-of-bounds areas where you CANNOT insure yourself entirely out of risk of loss. Uninsured and uninsurable losses do happen in life.<BR><BR>I hope everyone seeking to figure out their near-term travel plans to CR - - finds the solution to their particular needs.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

top dollar<BR>

Well, I cancelled my trip to Prague because of the flood. Luckily,I was able to change my air ticket without paying any handling charge. I just flew back from Germany a day ago.

Any follow-up?<BR>

Hi<BR>I arrived in Prague on August 14th when the river was at its peak.<BR>I was flying from UK with GO who had a notice on the check in desk saying that anyone who wanted to cancel their flight could do so or reschedule with no penalities.<BR>On arrival in Prague, we were met by friends at the airport and transported to a village about 7 miles SW on the Berounka river, a tributary of the Vltava. <BR>This village had also suffered from the flooding but, if you waited long enough you could get a train into Prague.<BR>Yes, there was disruption to public transport and there still is, because the Metro is not yet fully operational -but for a few days travel on the trams in Prague was free because of the disruption.<BR>Areas within about 400 metres either side of the river were cordoned off, but the police were brilliant and very polite when spoken to.<BR>We were able to visit Old Town Square (although the clock was out of action) and the Castle Area with no problems and the bonus was, that because of the flooding, there were fewer tourists and we were able to enjoy those areas without the usual August crowds.<BR>After three days I continued my travels to the Slovak Republic before returning to Prague on August 26.<BR>Yes, the city was still clearing up and cleaning up and it was heartbreaking to see skips full of people's possessions, all flood damaged, out on the street.<BR>But - the people were getting on with their lives and making the best of the terrible problems the flooding had caused.<BR>The only things I was not able to do was walk across the Charles Bridge, which re-opened the day I left the city, take a river cruise (for obvious reasons) and visit the Jewish Synagogues and cemetery as they had suffered badly from the flooding.<BR>The city has still not fully recovered and it will be several months before it does so but yes - do go to Prague - don't put off your vist, the city needs tourists now more than ever.<BR>Enjoy your visit.<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie.