Good advice in the newspapers. Reading the fine print can save you a lot of heartache and problems especially if you are planning to go on a holiday. It pays to read the fine print because if you don’t, be prepared for a few nasty surprises, whether it’s air tickets, cruise contracts, or even renting a car for a self-drive holiday.
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| Know the terms and conditions when you check in at airports and hotels or before you pay up for services. |
The fine print may read something like this: “No undertaking or warranty shall be given or shall be implied as to the worthiness, fitness or condition of the vessel or any food or drink supplied on board”.
Get the drift?
Okay, let’s start with the airlines. If you think the airline company is going to compensate for your lost luggage, you might as well think again and it would be advisable to check the airline’s condition of carriage.
Passengers will be surprised to find that there are many, many things not covered in the contract. So airlines are not going to pay for expensive stuff that is kept in lost checked luggage. And even if at all they decide to pay you, payment is often a pittance.
So before you go on a trip, it is best to leave the jewellery and other expensive things, at home.
The same applies to hotels. Never ever leave your valuables including your camera, documents and other important items in the hotel room before venturing out.
If you lose something in a hotel room, it’ll be tough making a claim. Very often, it is your word against theirs and the hotels always win. So think twice about leaving your valuables in the hotel.
If you read the fine print of the hotel notice, they cannot be held liable or responsible for valuables that go missing. So, if you have valuables, it is advisable to leave them in the hotel safe at the front desk. That way, if anything is missing, you can hold the hotel liable.
For those planning to go on a cruise, always check the vessel’s condition and sea-worthiness, the food and drinks supplied on board, what is free and what isn’t.
At the end of the day, it is all in the fine print, so please read the clauses carefully and thoroughly before putting pen to paper.