A typical vacation package requires a deposit at booking — often a flat amount or a percentage of the total cost — to secure your reservation, with the remaining balance due by a set final payment date, usually somewhere between 30 and 90 days before departure depending on the provider and destination.
Missing the final payment deadline can have serious consequences: some providers automatically cancel the booking and forfeit the deposit if final payment isn't received on time, so it's worth marking the exact date somewhere you'll actually see it, not just relying on an email reminder.
Deposits are usually non-refundable or only partially refundable if you cancel, even well before the final payment date — always read the specific cancellation and deposit refund terms for your package before booking, since they vary significantly between providers and can change closer to peak travel dates.
