What is cancellation insurance?
Cancellation insurance allows the customer to be reimbursed for his financial commitment if he has to cancel his stay at a campsite, for very specific reasons. The standard basic contract includes a "pre-stay" cancellation insurance policy that covers you from the time of booking until your arrival at the campsite. It can, if necessary, be combined with one or more extensions such as "interruption of stay" or "delayed arrival" which will allow you to be reimbursed for the part not used.
Good to know: most cancellation insurance policies must be taken out at the same time as booking, or within a very short time (usually 48 hours). Once this deadline has passed, you will no longer be able to take out insurance.
Is it worth taking out travel cancellation insurance?
Is it possible to cancel a booking at a campsite?
Yes, it is possible to cancel a booking at a campsite, but this does not automatically mean that you will be refunded. It all depends on the campsite's general terms and conditions of sale and the date on which you cancel. In most cases, the closer you are to the date of your stay, the higher the cancellation charges, which can be as much as 100% of the amount paid. This is where cancellation insurance comes in, as it can help you recover your money if the reason for cancellation falls within the terms of the contract.
You have already paid a deposit or a down-payment
When you book a camping holiday several months in advance, you are often asked to pay a deposit, which can represent a significant proportion of the total price. In the event of cancellation, these sums are rarely refunded, except under very special conditions.
The benefits of cancellation insurance
Even if you hope that everything will go well, unforeseen events can happen very quickly: illness, accident, family or professional problems, etc. Cancellation insurance can prevent you from losing all the money you have paid.
Some packages also include "interruption of stay" cover, which allows you to be reimbursed for days not used if you have to leave early (due to hospitalisation, emergency return, damage to your home, etc.). In some cases, this cover also pays for nights lost if you arrive late through no fault of your own, such as a car breakdown or a health problem on the way that causes you to arrive several days late.
How does camping cancellation insurance work?
Trying to get a refund because you've changed your mind about your destination is unlikely to be successful. To be covered by insurance, cancellations must have specific causes.
Conditions for taking out cancellation insurance for the rental of a camping pitch or mobile home
The general terms and conditions of insurance detail the conditions under which your holiday can be reimbursed. Although there are variations from one insurer to another, here are the most commonly accepted:
- Death or temporary or permanent disability (yourself or a close relative)
- Serious material damage to your home (fire, water damage, burglary, etc.)
- Complications of pregnancy
- Your appointment for an organ transplant
- A material accident or breakdown of your means of transport (often with proof and subject to conditions)
- Redundancy
- Obtaining a job (if you were registered with Pôle emploi at the time of booking)
- Serious damage to your vehicle (often if this makes it impossible for you to travel)
- A vaccination contraindication (new and justified by a medical certificate, and only if this vaccination is required on the campsite)
- Changes to your holiday dates by your employer (must be imposed, not chosen)
- Your summons to appear in court (as a juror or witness, for example)
- Refusal of a tourist visa (if the application was made within a reasonable time)
- Theft of your identity papers (often within 48 hours of departure)
- Your professional transfer (often more than 50 or 100 km away)
- Your adoption notice
Pay close attention to the precise terms and conditions of each contract: some reasons require specific proof or are only covered under certain conditions (deadlines, seriousness, link with the reservation, etc.).
How much does cancellation insurance cost?
In a rental contract, whether for a camping pitch or rental accommodation, insurance is usually a percentage (between 3 and 5% on average) of the total rental price. This corresponds to an additional cost of around €20 to €40 per week for rental accommodation, and around €7 to €12 for a bare pitch, often for the entire duration of the stay.
Some campsite chains offer free cancellation: Tohapi, Sandaya, Yelloh! Village, etc.
To reassure holidaymakers and encourage early bookings, several major campsite chains now offer free cancellation packages. These are often valid up to a certain date before the start of the holiday (usually between 14 and 30 days) and offer a free refund, sometimes in the form of a credit note. With some groups, such as Tohapi, Sandaya, Yelloh! Village or Flower Campings, these conditions are clearly indicated when you book online. This may be a temporary offer or an option included in certain "flexible" packages.
Camping cancellation insurance: which one to choose?
The choice of cancellation insurance depends above all on your needs and your personal situation. If you are booking an expensive holiday or one that is booked a long time in advance, you should opt for a policy that covers a wide range of reasons for cancellation. Be sure to check the exclusions, the declaration deadlines and the amounts reimbursed.
What other insurances may already cover: bank card or home insurance.
Before taking out the specific cancellation insurance offered by the campsite, check that certain cover is not already included in your other personal insurance policies to avoid duplication. For example, some top-of-the-range bank cards include travel cancellation insurance as soon as you pay the deposit with it. Similarly, your home insurance may sometimes offer extended cover for holiday stays.