Travel

A travel agency in New York may keep your deposit only if the cancellation policy was clearly disclosed before you paid and complies with New York’s truth-in-advertising and consumer protection laws.

Yes, travel agents in New York must register with the state if they sell or offer to sell travel services to the public for compensation.

In New York, travel agents must be licensed and disclose key information like total price and cancellation policies; you have rights to refunds for unprovided services and may sue for fraud or negligence.

Tour operators in New York must register with the NYS Department of State, maintain a surety bond of $10,000, and comply with disclosure and advertising rules under the New York Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.

Yes, a travel agent in New York can be held liable for recommending an unsafe destination if they fail to exercise reasonable care, breach a duty owed to the client, and cause foreseeable harm.

Generally, no — hotels in New York cannot refuse accommodation based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or disability, and must comply with state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

As a hotel guest in New York, you have the right to safe, habitable accommodations, privacy, protection from unreasonable charges, and refund rights if services are not provided as agreed.

New York hotels must provide adequate lighting, secure locks on doors and windows, functioning smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers. They must also maintain premises in a reasonably safe condition for guests.

Yes, a hotel in New York may be liable for stolen property from your room, but only if it failed to exercise 'reasonable care' — and liability is capped at $500 unless you declared higher value in writing before check-in.

No, a hotel in New York cannot lawfully charge you for damages you did not cause. They must prove you caused the damage and that the charge is reasonable.

In New York, a hotel is generally not liable for a guest’s car parked in its lot unless it exercised control over the vehicle (e.g., took keys or issued a parking ticket), making it a bailee.

Yes, bus and train companies in New York may limit their liability for lost baggage, but only if the limitation is reasonable, clearly communicated to the passenger, and complies with state and federal law.

In New York, a common carrier owes passengers the highest degree of care and is liable for injuries caused by even slight negligence.

Rideshare drivers in New York must carry commercial liability insurance of at least $1.25 million while transporting passengers or en route to pick them up, and personal auto insurance with minimums of $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 when offline.

Yes, a cruise that departs from New York can generally be sued in New York courts under the state's long-arm statute and federal maritime law.

Yes, you may sue a rideshare company in New York if their driver injures you — courts have held them potentially liable under theories like negligent hiring, vicarious liability, or direct corporate negligence.

No, a taxi driver in New York cannot refuse a fare based solely on destination — it is illegal discrimination under NYC and state law.

Boats and ferries operating in New York waters must comply with federal U.S. Coast Guard standards and state-specific safety requirements under the New York Navigation Law, including life jacket mandates, operator licensing, and vessel inspection rules.

Yes, if you were born on or after May 1, 1996, and operate a motorized vessel on New York waters, you must have a boating safety certificate.

A boat operator in New York owes passengers the same duty of care as a common carrier—reasonable care under the circumstances to protect them from harm.

In New York, operating a vessel while intoxicated (BWI) is a criminal offense with penalties including fines up to $1,000, jail up to 1 year for a first offense, license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education.

Yes, Airbnb hosts in New York can be held liable for guest injuries if they fail to maintain safe premises or knowingly conceal dangerous conditions.

Public transportation in New York must comply with federal ADA standards and state laws requiring accessibility, including wheelchair lifts, priority seating, audible announcements, and accessible stations.

Yes, you may recover damages from a New York state park for injuries, but only if the state waived its sovereign immunity — which it did for negligence in operating parks under the Court of Claims Act.

Yes, New York law provides strong consumer protections for vacation timeshare purchases, including a 5-day rescission period and mandatory disclosure requirements.