With holidays starting and millions of Europeans planning trips in and out of Europe, here are some useful tips from the European Union for a restful summer.
I will travel outside Europe, but my country does not have an embassy or consulate in my chosen destination. If I need help, what should I do?
A citizen of an EU Member State is automatically considered to be an EU citizen and is entitled to consular assistance outside the EU (even if their country is not represented there).
You can contact the embassy or consulate of another EU Member State and ask for help if, for example, you are arrested, involved in a serious accident or lose important documents.
You are also entitled to assistance in crisis situations, as EU Member States must help evacuate all citizens as if they were their own nationals.
Who should I call if my child goes missing?
The European Union has a common hotline (dialling 116 000) to report the disappearance of a child in an EU Member State.
For the parents of a missing child, a lost child, or anyone with information about a missing child, the number is the same.
You will be immediately put in contact with an organization capable of giving you support and practical assistance, whether psychological, legal or administrative.
If my plane trip is delayed or canceled what can I do?
Thanks to EU rules on passenger rights, if your flight or journey is delayed for several hours, the transport company you are traveling with must compensate you fairly.
If your flight has been canceled or you are refused boarding, in particular for reasons of overbooking, you are entitled to transport to your final destination using comparable alternative means, or to a refund of your ticket and, where applicable, free transport to the your initial starting point.
If your flight is delayed by 5 hours or more, you are also entitled to a refund, but if you accept a refund, the airline is no longer responsible for your transport nor does it have to provide you with further assistance.
Depending on the flight delay, passengers are also entitled to drinks, meals and communication services (free phone calls, for example) as well as, if necessary, accommodation.
Furthermore, in case of denied boarding, cancellation or arrival at the final destination specified in their ticket with more than 3 hours delay, passengers can receive compensation, which varies between 250 and 600 euros depending on the distance of the flight.
What specific rights do I have if I have a disability?
EU passenger rights rules protect people with disabilities and people with reduced mobility against discrimination when traveling by plane or train and guarantee them conditions of access to transport equal to those of other citizens.
If you are entitled to use special parking conditions for the disabled when traveling by car in your home country, you benefit from access to the same conditions throughout Europe. All you need is the standard parking card model for people with disabilities.
What if I need a doctor abroad?
If you fall ill or have an accident while traveling to an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you are entitled to emergency treatment. For this purpose, you need to carry the European Health Insurance Card (CESD).
The treatment you will receive will be provided under the same conditions and at the same price as those applied to insured persons in the country you are visiting. To do this, don't forget to ask the Social Security services in your country to issue the card. It is free.
What do I have to do to bring my pet?
If you are traveling within the EU, you can easily take your pet with you as long as you respect the following rules: if you are traveling with your dog or cat, make sure that it has been vaccinated against rabies and that this information is registered in the pet's passport .
If you travel to Ireland, Finland, Malta or the UK, your pet must also undergo antiparasitic treatment.
If your dog or cat is less than 3 months old or your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, it is possible that specific rules apply in each country. If you are an EU citizen traveling home with your pet from a country outside the EU, you will also need your pet's passport.
Depending on your holiday destination, in addition to the rabies vaccine, your pet may need to undergo additional testing before leaving on holiday.
What should you consider if you apply for a loan to pay for a vacation package?
The Consumer Credit Directive gives you certain rights when using credit.
The five most important rights are as follows: the information you consult about a consumer credit must be transparent and easy to understand, before signing a contract, you must receive enough information to be able to compare the different offers on the market, as soon as you sign the agreement. receive a copy of it, if you change your mind, you have 14 days to terminate the contract and you should be able to repay your credit earlier than expected with fair compensation.
If I have problems shopping during my vacation, who can I ask for help in my country?
If you live in the EU, Norway or Iceland, you will be entitled to free assistance when you return! Please contact the European Consumer Center (CEC) in your country if you have had problems renting a car or booking a package holiday or a plane ticket when traveling in the EU, Norway or Iceland.
The team can also help you solve problems you may have had when ordering accessories for your holiday from another European country online. In Portugal, the European Consumer Center is located at Praça Duque de Saldanha, in Lisbon.
During my vacation I bought new shoes, but they were ruined after a week. How can I get my money back?
No matter where you shop in the EU, you have a set of rights that cannot be called into question. First, a two-year warranty; during this period the seller must repair or replace the defective goods free of charge.
If this is not possible within a reasonable time or without inconvenience, you can ask for a refund or a price reduction. Commercial warranties do not replace the 2-year minimum warranty, but may supplement it.
If you have any questions, please contact the European Consumer Center in Portugal. It is located in Lisbon, at Praça Duque de Saldanha.
More information on http://europa.eu/youreurope/
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