#107 Reporting Issues in Your Apartment｜French Daily Life Phrases
Izumi Curious French
#172 Cancelling a Sightseeing Tour｜French Travel Phrases
Izumi
While traveling, there may be situations in which you need to cancel a sightseeing tour you have already booked, for example due to illness or a change in schedule.
In such cases, it is important to explain the reason briefly in French and to confirm whether cancellation is possible and under what conditions.
In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for cancelling a sightseeing tour, based on a practical conversation example.
Contents
Dialogue
Bonjour. Je vous appelle au sujet d’une réservation que j’ai faite pour la visite guidée d’après-demain.
（Hello. I am calling regarding a reservation I made for the guided tour the day after tomorrow.）
Oui, je vous écoute.
（Yes, how may I help you?）
Malheureusement, je dois annuler ma participation au tour.
（Unfortunately, I need to cancel my participation in the tour.）
D’accord. Puis-je vous demander la raison de l’annulation ?
（I understand. May I ask the reason for the cancellation?）
J’ai de la fièvre depuis hier et je dois me reposer pendant quelque temps.
（I have had a fever since yesterday and I need to rest for a while.）
Je comprends. Selon nos conditions, l’annulation est possible sans frais jusqu’à 24 heures à l’avance.
（I see. According to our terms and conditions, cancellation is free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.）
Est-ce que le remboursement se fera automatiquement ?
（Will the refund be processed automatically?）
Oui, le montant sera recrédité sur votre carte dans quelques jours.
（Yes, the amount will be credited back to your card within a few days.）
Je vous remercie pour votre aide.
（Thank you very much for your assistance.）
1. Contacting the Company to Cancel a Reservation
When contacting a tour operator to cancel a booking, I recommend first making it clear that your inquiry concerns an existing reservation.
Example
- Je vous appelle au sujet d’une réservation que j’ai faite pour la visite guidée d’après-demain.
（I am calling regarding a reservation I made for the guided tour the day after tomorrow.）
The expression “au sujet de …” means “regarding” or “concerning” and is commonly used in phone calls or at service counters.
By stating “au sujet d’une réservation” at the beginning, you help the staff immediately understand that the matter involves checking booking details or handling a cancellation.
Related Expression
- J’appelle concernant ma réservation.
（I am calling regarding my reservation.）
2. Clearly Stating Your Intention to Cancel
When informing the company of a cancellation, it is important to be clear while maintaining a polite tone.
Example
- Malheureusement, je dois annuler ma participation au tour.
（Unfortunately, I need to cancel my participation in the tour.）
The verb “devoir” (to have to) conveys the nuance that the cancellation is unavoidable rather than a casual choice.
Adding “Malheureusement” (unfortunately) at the beginning softens the statement and shows consideration toward the other party.
3. Explaining the Reason for the Cancellation
When cancelling a sightseeing tour, you may be asked for the reason. In such cases, I recommend keeping the explanation simple and easy to understand, without going into unnecessary detail.
Example
- J’ai de la fièvre depuis hier et je dois me reposer pendant quelque temps.
（I have had a fever since yesterday and I need to rest for a while.）
The phrase “j’ai de la fièvre” is a straightforward way to state that you have a fever. By adding “depuis hier” (since yesterday), you indicate that the condition is ongoing rather than temporary.
The expression “je dois me reposer” (I need to rest) suggests that resting is necessary due to the situation, not merely a personal preference.
4. Confirming Cancellation Conditions and Refunds
When cancelling a sightseeing tour, it is especially important to confirm whether a cancellation fee applies and how the refund will be handled. Leaving this unclear may lead to problems later.
Example
- Selon nos conditions, l’annulation est possible sans frais jusqu’à 24 heures à l’avance.
（According to our terms and conditions, cancellation is free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.）
The phrase “sans frais” (without additional charges) appears frequently in explanations of cancellation policies, so I recommend becoming familiar with it.
If you wish to ask about cancellation fees yourself, you can use the following expression.
Related Expression
- Est-ce que l’annulation entraîne des frais ?
（Does the cancellation incur any fees?）
The verb “entraîner” means “to cause” or “to result in” and is commonly used when asking whether an action leads to additional charges.
When a refund is processed, you may hear the following explanation.
Example
- Le montant sera recrédité sur votre carte dans quelques jours.
（The amount will be credited back to your card within a few days.）
Here, “recrédité” means “refunded”, and “dans quelques jours” indicates that the refund will be processed within a few days.
By confirming cancellation fees first and then the refund method and timing, you can ensure that you have all the necessary information.
Summary
Key French Phrases
- Je vous appelle au sujet de ma réservation.
→ Used to clearly state that the call concerns a reservation. - Je dois annuler ma participation.
→ A polite and direct way to express your intention to cancel. - J’ai de la fièvre depuis hier. / Je dois me reposer.
→ Useful phrases for explaining the reason for cancellation. - Est-ce que l’annulation entraîne des frais ?
→ A question used to confirm whether a cancellation fee applies.
