Europe This Summer, Many Travellers Are Discovering Their Insurance Policies Offer Little Protection If They Choose to Cancel Holidays

With the EU recording nearly 435,000 hectares burned by late July, and France, Spain, and Greece facing mass evacuations, holidaymakers are left questioning their rights. Simon McCulloch, chief growth officer at Staysure, told The Independent that coverage depends on booking type. Package holidays cancelled by providers fall under Atol or Abta protection, ensuring refunds, rebooking, or credits.

However, independently arranged trips rely on travel insurance, which typically covers medical care, baggage, and cancellations due to unforeseen personal circumstances like illness or injury. "It doesn't cover any circumstance. It covers something that happens to you, rather than a change of mind, McCulloch said, noting that cancelling due to wildfire fears alone would not qualify.

The UK Foreign Office has not issued "do not travel" warnings for affected countries, meaning airlines and hotels can continue bookings, leaving little room for refunds. McCulloch advises checking with insurers regardless, as policies vary. He also highlights that travel insurance cannot be purchased once already on holiday, as that constitutes a "known event.

For future trips, he recommends adding a travel disruption extension, costing around £10 extra, which covers extreme weather or geological events. About 20% of customers now opt for this add-on, up significantly from previous years. A new "cancel for any reason" policy is emerging but comes at a high price.