Vacation in austria during the lockdown period – is it possible?

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A vacation in an Austrian hotel is currently not allowed. Travel abroad is still possible, including skiing. The most important points.

A vacation in a hotel or apartment in Austria is not allowed. There is a ban on entering lodging establishments (including campsites), but spa guests or business travelers, for example, are exempted from this ban. Airbnb is also not allowed, according to the responsible ministry.

Already in a hotel
Those who have already started their vacation and are currently staying in a hotel, guesthouse or other lodging establishment are exempt from the ban on entering and can stay until the originally booked duration.

Weekend home
Staying at a secondary residence, such as a weekend home, is permitted.

Skiing
Since the weekend, it is clear that cable cars may also be used by ski tourists if they are vaccinated or recovered. While some ski resorts have already announced that they will regularly start the winter season with corresponding measures such as 2G and FFP2 mandatory masks, others are still uncertain whether the season should start during the lockdown or only after December 12.

Foreign travel
Travel abroad is also possible during the nationwide lockdown, which strictly regulates leaving one’s home area. In doing so, “of course” the entry regulations of the destination country and to Austria are to be taken into account. The Austrian regulations were tightened at the same time as the lockdown, antigen and antibody tests are now only accepted in exceptional cases.

Travel advice
The travel advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also remained unchanged to date. All EU countries are still colored “green”, i.e. security level 2. Anyone who wants to escape the lockdown by traveling abroad for a longer period of time should be able to do so. It could only become problematic if the return takes place during the lockdown and none of the exceptions can be credibly demonstrated at a police check.

Cancellations
What about the cancellation of already booked trips? This depends on the individual case. First, it depends on the start of the trip – if this is only in December, it is currently not clear whether a free cancellation is possible due to the Package Travel Act. However, a look at the terms and conditions often helps, because many tour operators offer accommodating cancellation options until just before the start of the trip. Many travelers have also taken out appropriate insurance. If the trip is already imminent, a possible cancellation depends on the situation on site: If this does not differ significantly from the time of booking, a free cancellation will not be possible – the situation is different if the country in question prohibits entry. In any case, one should definitely contact the tour operator or the travel agency.