GermanyCan I reduce the travel price if the tour had problems?
Yes, you can demand a price reduction for significant defects in a package tour under German law, provided the tour operator fails to fix them or offers inadequate replacement services.
What the Law Says
German law gives travelers strong rights when a package tour does not match what was promised. Under § 651k of the German Civil Code (BGB), you’re entitled to remedies—including price reduction—when serious defects occur.
If your package tour has a defect (e.g., wrong hotel category, missing transfers, or unusable accommodation), the tour operator must first try to fix it ('Abhilfe'). They can only refuse if fixing it is impossible or would cost disproportionately more than the value of the defective service.
If they don’t fix it within a reasonable time you set—or refuse outright—they must offer appropriate substitute services. If those substitutes are clearly inferior to what you booked, you’re entitled to an 'angemessene Herabsetzung des Reisepreises' — an appropriate reduction of the travel price.
The amount of reduction depends on how severely the defect affects your experience. For example, staying in a 2-star instead of a promised 4-star hotel could justify a 30–50% reduction; total loss of key services may justify up to 100%.
Note: This right applies only to package tours (Pauschalreisen) — not individual bookings like separate flights or hotels.
Statutory TextHaben die Ersatzleistungen zur Folge, dass die Pauschalreise im Vergleich zur ursprünglich geschuldeten nicht von mindestens gleichwertiger Beschaffenheit ist, hat der Reiseveranstalter dem Reisenden eine angemessene Herabsetzung des Reisepreises zu gewähren; die Angemessenheit richtet sich nach § 651m Absatz 1 Satz 2.
— BGB § 651k (3)
What Courts Have Said
German courts have clarified how to assess fairness and proportionality when calculating price reductions for tour defects.
The court ruled that when a hotel falls significantly below the promised star rating (e.g., advertised as 4-star but actually 2-star), the price reduction must reflect the objective difference in quality—not just subjective disappointment—and should be calculated based on market value comparisons and duration of stay.
What to Do
Document the defect immediately (photos, written notes, witness contact info).
Notify the tour operator or local representative in writing—on-site if possible—and request correction or replacement services.
If unsatisfied with their response, formally request a price reduction in writing within one month after returning home.
Keep all receipts and evidence; if denied, file a claim with the German Travel Ombudsman (Schlichtungsstelle für den öffentlichen Personenverkehr) or sue in small claims court (up to €5,000).
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Related Questions
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.