If you contract Covid-19 soon before your break, don't expect your lodging provider to be sympathetic.

Airbnb announced that beginning at the end of the month, disruption caused by Covid-19 would no longer be considered an 'extenuating condition' under their refund policy.

The short-term rental organization has given refunds for cancellations caused by infected guests or hosts. After 31 May, cancellations will be handled according to the host's refund policy.

"The safety of our community is our priority and we continue to monitor the situation closely," the business said in a statement.

The pandemic is far from being contained. In several markets, localized price increases and new travel restrictions have occurred.

Airbnb says it will continue to cover South Korea and mainland China reservations and some COVID-19-related conditions following the May 31 deadline.

The business recommends tourists keep an eye out for modifications to their Covid-19 policy.

Airbnb is hardly the only tourism company keen to abandon unduly conservative refund rules.

On 30 April, Vrbo, which operates Bookabach and other short-term holiday lets in New Zealand, discontinued its automatic Covid-19 credit refund policy instead of depending on hosts' cancellation policies.

The company stated that it would continue to repay service fees if Covid-19 cancels excursions.

According to Booking.com, passengers who did not book a "flexible rate" may not be eligible for a refund, depending on the conditions at their destination.

Airbnb said this morning in its Q1 report that city break travel has returned to 2019 levels. Brian Chesky, the co-founder, stated that "urban and cross-border travel, which were the majority of our business before the pandemic, is back to 2019 levels."