When school ends next week, the big summer travel season begins. Experience shows that this will also mean a lot of travel complaints. The hotel you booked is overbooked and you end up in a dump, instead of a "fine sandy beach" you find a rocky bay, instead of peace and quiet you are tormented by construction noise and all the other regularly recurring complaints. The principle of truth in the brochure applies to travel catalogs. Everything that is described in the travel brochure or illustrated with colorful photos is considered to be a promised feature of a trip. The tour operator must be responsible for these promised services - regardless of whether they are at fault for defects or not. If the services are not provided in the agreed form, the customer has the right to have the hotel improved on site or to have the price reduced. "If the defect cannot be remedied (the rocky bay will not become a sandy beach) or simply is not remedied, then you should secure evidence: photos and videos of the construction machines making noise, names and addresses (mobile numbers and emails are also good) of fellow sufferers and written confirmation from the tour guide that the defects have been reported accordingly. Back home, you can now claim a price reduction from the tour operator," says Peter Kolba, the chairman of the consumer protection association (VSV). If the tour operator or its vicarious agents are at fault for the botched vacation, then in addition to the warranty, you are also entitled to compensation. So if a spoiled "all-inclusive buffet" causes vomiting, diarrhea and bed rest, then you are also entitled to compensation for medical costs and compensation for pain and suffering. There is also compensation for lost vacation enjoyment. In the case of package tours (e.g. booking flights and hotels), the tour operator is responsible for these claims. They are