Refund Policy

1Overview & Scope

This Refund Policy sets out the circumstances under which Holiday Vibez will issue refunds, the amounts refundable, and the process for receiving them. It applies to all bookings made with Holiday Vibez — whether through our website, phone, WhatsApp, or email.

This Refund Policy should be read alongside our Cancellation Policy and Terms & Conditions, which together form the complete contractual framework for your booking. In the event of any conflict between these documents, the Terms & Conditions shall prevail.

Holiday Vibez as an Arranger

Holiday Vibez acts as a travel services arranger — we book flights, hotels, transfers, and experiences on your behalf through third-party suppliers. Our ability to refund is directly linked to what we can recover from those suppliers. We will always pursue refunds from suppliers on your behalf and pass on whatever we recover, net of non-recoverable fees and charges.

2When You Are Entitled to a Refund

A refund from Holiday Vibez may arise in the following circumstances:

3Refund Amounts by Cancellation Tier

When you cancel your booking, the refund due is the total package price minus the applicable cancellation charge and minus any non-refundable components. Here is a quick reference:

4What Is Never Refundable

The following items carry a zero refund regardless of when you cancel, what the circumstances are, or how much notice is given. These are costs we have already committed and cannot recover from suppliers or government authorities:

5Airline Ticket Refunds

Airline refunds are among the most complex area of travel refunds because different fare types carry completely different refund rules, which are set entirely by the airline — not by Holiday Vibez.

5.1 Fare Types and Refundability

5.2 When the Airline Cancels or Significantly Delays

Under DGCA (India) regulations and international aviation law (Montreal Convention), if an airline cancels your flight or causes a significant delay, you are entitled to either:

• Rerouting on the next available flight at no additional cost, or
• Full refund of the ticket price to the original payment method

Holiday Vibez will proactively assist you in claiming this refund from the airline. The airline refund is independent of — and in addition to — any claim you may have against Holiday Vibez for consequential trip disruption.

5.3 Airline Refund Processing Time

Airline refunds are processed by the airline, not by Holiday Vibez. Airlines typically take 7–30 business days to process refunds, though some airlines take longer. We will submit the refund claim on your behalf immediately upon your cancellation and keep you updated on progress. Once we receive funds from the airline, we will transfer them to you within 5 working days.

5.4 Taxes and Surcharges

Even on non-refundable tickets, airport taxes and government levies (the "taxes" portion of the ticket price) are generally refundable. Holiday Vibez will claim these on your behalf. The amount varies by route and typically ranges from ₹3,000 to ₹12,000 per person for international flights.

6Hotel & Accommodation Refunds

6.1 Refundable vs Non-Refundable Hotel Rates

Hotel reservations in your package will be made on one of two rate types, which will be stated in your Booking Confirmation:

6.2 Early Check-Out

If you check out of your hotel earlier than your booked departure date, no refund is payable for the unused nights unless the early departure is due to the hotel’s own failure (e.g. uninhabitable room, safety issue). Early checkout for personal reasons — illness, change of plans, dissatisfaction — does not entitle you to a refund of unused nights.

6.3 Hotel Overbooking or Downgrade

If a hotel overbooks and is unable to accommodate you in the booked room category, Holiday Vibez will seek an equivalent or superior alternative at the hotel’s expense (this is a hotel obligation under hospitality law). If a downgrade is unavoidable, you are entitled to a refund of the price difference between the booked and provided categories.

6.4 Luxury Resorts and Maldives Properties

Island resort properties — particularly in the Maldives, Seychelles, and similar destinations — typically operate on strict non-refundable terms from 60–90 days before arrival. These terms will be clearly disclosed at booking and in your Booking Confirmation. No exceptions are made by these properties regardless of circumstances.

7Unused Services During Your Trip

Specific Scenarios

Reporting Supplier Failures During Your Trip

If a service provider fails to deliver a booked service during your trip, you must:

1. Report it to the supplier immediately and request a remedy
2. Contact your Holiday Vibez coordinator by phone or WhatsApp while still at the destination
3. Document the failure with photographs, written notes, and any communication with the supplier

Failures reported after you have returned home, without contemporaneous evidence, are significantly harder to resolve. On-the-spot reporting gives us the best opportunity to remedy the situation during your trip or build a strong refund claim afterward.

8Force Majeure & Emergency Refunds

Force majeure events — natural disasters, pandemics, war, government travel bans, and similar extraordinary circumstances — create a special category of refund situation where our ability to refund is dependent on supplier cooperation.

8.1 Our Commitment in Force Majeure

• We will immediately contact all suppliers (airlines, hotels, tour operators) to request full refunds or credits on your behalf
• We will pass on 100% of whatever we recover from suppliers, net of bank charges and non-recoverable fees
• Where a supplier provides a credit note rather than a refund, we will offer you the same as a Holiday Vibez credit note
• We will not retain any margin on force majeure refunds — our interest is entirely aligned with maximising your recovery

8.2 Force Majeure Refund Scenarios

8.3 Credit Notes

Where cash refunds are not possible due to supplier non-refundable policies, Holiday Vibez will issue a credit note equal to the non-recovered value. Credit notes are:

• Valid for 12 months from the date of issue
• Transferable to any other traveller, including family members
• Redeemable against any Holiday Vibez package
• Not subject to a rebooking fee
• Issued in writing with a unique reference number

9Refund Processing Timeline

Once a refund is confirmed and approved, the following timeline applies:

10Refund Payment Methods

All refunds are returned to the original payment method used for the booking. We do not issue refunds to a different account, person, or payment method than the one used to pay.

10.1 Refunds to Third Parties

If the booking was paid by a third party on your behalf (e.g. an employer, family member, or company account), the refund will be returned to that original payer’s account — not to you personally. This is a strict compliance and fraud-prevention requirement that we cannot override.

10.2 Foreign Currency Refunds

If your package included services priced or paid in foreign currency, the refund will be processed in Indian Rupees at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of refund. Currency exchange rate differences between the time of payment and the time of refund are not compensated by Holiday Vibez.

10.3 Partial Refunds via Multiple Methods

Where a booking was paid through multiple methods (e.g. part card, part bank transfer), the refund will be split proportionately to the original payment sources.

11Disputed Refunds

11.1 If You Disagree With the Refund Amount

If you believe the refund amount calculated by Holiday Vibez is incorrect, you have the right to dispute it. To raise a refund dispute:

1. Email holidays@holidayvibez.com with subject: "Refund Dispute — [Booking Reference]"
2. Clearly state the amount you received, the amount you believe is owed, and the specific reason for the dispute
3. Attach any supporting documentation (Booking Confirmation, payment receipts, prior correspondence)

We will acknowledge your dispute within 2 working days and provide a detailed response within 14 working days. Complex cases may require longer investigation — we will keep you informed throughout.

11.2 Chargeback Requests

We request that you contact us directly before initiating a chargeback through your bank or card issuer. Most refund issues can be resolved faster through direct dialogue than through a formal chargeback process. Unjustified chargebacks — where our refund calculation is in fact correct — will be contested with full documentation.

11.3 Escalation

If a refund dispute cannot be resolved through direct correspondence, both parties agree to attempt mediation before pursuing formal legal proceedings, as outlined in our Terms & Conditions Section 14.4.