At Freddy Michaud SA, a holiday rental cancelled up to 14 days before arrival costs 50% of the rent; after this period, the full amount remains due. The "Classic" cancellation insurance, offered with Allianz Travel, costs 6% of the amount of the package, with a minimum of CHF 39.
This is the calculation that few holidaymakers make when booking: a week at CHF 3,000 cancelled ten days before departure represents CHF 3,000 lost, compared to CHF 180 in premium if the insurance had been taken out. Here's what this coverage covers, what it denies, and when it must be taken out for it to be valid.
What do you have to pay if you cancel your rental in Verbier?
The conditions applied to our holiday rentals are as follows:
- 50% deposit to be paid at the signing of the contract to confirm the reservation.
- Balance due 14 days prior to arrival.
- Cancellation up to 14 days before : 50% of the rent is due.
- Cancellation between 13 days and the day of arrival : 100% of the rent is due.
- Early departure : no refunds are given.
This scale is not unusual in seasonal rentals: the accommodation is blocked for you, and a week freed up in January is almost never rented again. It is precisely this risk that cancellation insurance transfers to the insurer.
What does cancellation insurance cover?
The "Classic" package distributed by our agency with Allianz Travel includes four services: cancellation fees, delayed flights, assistance and search and rescue costs — the latter guarantee being far from anecdotal in the mountains.
In general, cancellation insurance on the Swiss market compensates for costs when the trip becomes impossible for a reason beyond your control:
- sudden and serious illness, accident, pregnancy complications;
- death or serious illness of a loved one, even if they are not travelling;
- major damage to the home: fire, water damage, burglary;
- loss of employment or taking up a new position;
- natural disaster, strike or event making travel impossible;
- theft of travel documents.
What does it not cover?
Three exclusions come up systematically, and they are the ones that cause the unpleasant surprises:
- The simple change of mind. Not wanting to leave, or getting angry with the people who were supposed to accompany you, does not give you any rights.
- Pre-existing illnesses and, more broadly, any event already known or foreseeable at the time of subscription.
- The lack of snow. A late season is not a covered reason for cancellation: it is a commercial hazard, not a claim.
The general terms and conditions of the policy prevail; coverage, ceilings and deductibles vary from one insurer to another. As an indication, a standard Swiss contract applies a deductible of around CHF 200 per event for coverage of up to several tens of thousands of francs per person.
How much does cancellation insurance cost?
Our "Classic" package is charged at 6% of the package amount, minimum CHF 39. In concrete terms:
- Rental at CHF 1,500: CHF 90 bonus.
- Rental at CHF 3,000: premium of CHF 180.
- Rental at CHF 6,000: premium of CHF 360.
Compared to the risk, the trade-off is simple: the premium represents about one-twentieth of what you would lose by cancelling in the last two weeks. It becomes questionable for a short off-season stay booked well in advance, where the amount at stake remains low and where the 50% cancellation period covers most of the schedule.
When should you take out cancellation insurance?
At the time of booking, or in the days that follow. This is the decisive rule: insurance taken out after the occurrence of an event – or when it was already foreseeable – does not cover anything. A medical diagnosis made before the subscription, an operation already planned or a dismissal already announced are considered known losses.
In other words, cancellation insurance is not bought when you start to doubt your trip: it is bought when everything is going well, at the same time as you sign the rental contract.
Are you already insured without knowing it?
Before subscribing, check three tracks. Many Swiss households already have annual travel insurance that includes cancellation, sometimes as part of a household contract or membership of a car club. Some credit cards cover cancellation fees when the stay has been paid for with the card. Finally, coverage may exist via the employer or supplementary insurance.
An annual contract generally becomes more interesting than a one-off bonus as soon as you leave two to three times a year. For a single week in Verbier, the one-off formula is enough. In any case, check the ceilings: cheap annual coverage can cap below the amount of a cottage rental.
Frequently asked questions about cancellation insurance
Is cancellation insurance mandatory to rent in Verbier?
No, it is optional. The cancellation conditions of the rental contract apply by default, i.e. 50% of the rent up to 14 days before arrival and 100% thereafter.
Can I add it after booking?
Within a few days of booking, yes, provided that no event that could prevent travel has already occurred or foreseeable. The longer you wait, the greater the risk of being refused coverage.
Does the lack of snow allow you to cancel and be refunded?
No. Insufficient snow cover is not one of the reasons covered by cancellation insurance. This is a point that we prefer to make clear before signing.
Is the tourist tax refunded in case of cancellation?
The tourist tax is included in the price of our rentals and follows the fate of the rent: if the rent is still due, it is not invoiced separately; If the stay does not take place, no overnight stay is declared.
Is it better to rent by the season to avoid this risk?
The conditions differ depending on the formula. If you come several times a winter, compare it with renting by the season rather than by the week, whose commitment and payment schedule do not follow the same logic.
Updated on August 18, 2026 by the team at Freddy Michaud SA, real estate and rental agency in Verbier. This article presents the cancellation conditions applied by our agency and a general overview of the Swiss cancellation insurance market; It does not replace the general terms and conditions of your insurance contract, which alone are binding. We are not insurance brokers: for a particular situation, contact your insurer. The figures on this page are indicative and may change without notice: in the event of any discrepancy, only the signed rental contract and the insurer's general terms and conditions are binding. No liability can be derived from the content of this article.
Sources: Freddy Michaud SA rental conditions (FAQ vacation rental); Allianz Travel "Classic" package distributed by the agency; public documentation from Swiss insurers (Zurich, AXA) on the covered and excluded grounds. A question about a reservation? Write to us.