Brits heading to Europe issued wildfire travel insurance warning as holiday disruption grows

As wildfires continue to impact popular European holiday destinations, the travel insurance experts at Go.Compare are urging holidaymakers to follow official advice, check their cover, and learn what steps to take if their trip is disrupted. 

Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Wildfires can move quickly and cause serious disruption, so if you’re due to travel to an affected destination, the first thing to do is check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice for that country and your specific resort or region. If they advise against travel, your holiday provider or travel insurer may be able to support you, depending on how you booked and what your policy includes.” 

If there is a wildfire in your destination and you’re worried your holiday won’t go ahead 

Rhys says, “If you haven’t travelled yet and you’re concerned your holiday may be affected, don’t cancel the trip yourself without speaking to your travel provider or insurer first. If you cancel simply because you no longer want to go, rather than because official advice has changed or the holiday provider has cancelled, you could lose the money you’ve paid and may not be able to claim it back. 

“For those who have booked a package holiday and the operator cancels because the destination is unsafe, they should usually offer a refund or alternative arrangements. If you booked flights and accommodation separately, you may need to speak to each provider and then check whether your travel insurance includes cancellation or catastrophe cover that could help with costs you cannot recover elsewhere.  

“If you booked any part of the trip with a credit card, it may also be worth checking whether Section 75 protection could apply – this holds your credit card providers as jointly responsible if there is a breach of contract such as cancelling a holiday, giving consumers additional protection on eligible purchases if a supplier fails to provide what was promised. 

“It’s also worth checking the details of your policy before you travel. Some include cover for natural disasters under ‘catastrophe cover’, but this is not always included as standard and not every insurer will define wildfires in the same way. Look at whether your policy covers cancellation, travel disruption, alternative accommodation, emergency medical treatment and repatriation, and contact the insurer directly if anything is unclear. 

“Keep a record of any official warnings, cancellation notices, emails from airlines or accommodation providers, and screenshots of relevant travel advice. If you do need to make a claim, having a clear paper trail can make the process much easier.” 

If you’re already away and there are wildfire warnings 

Rhys continued: “If you’re already on holiday and wildfire warnings are issued nearby, your immediate priority should be safety. Follow the instructions of local authorities, emergency services, your hotel and your travel provider. If you are told to evacuate, do so straight away, even if that means leaving belongings behind. 

“If you have time to take essentials, prioritise passports, travel documents, phones, chargers, bank cards, cash, medication and any prescription details. Once you are away from danger, contact your travel insurer’s emergency assistance line, which should be listed in your policy documents. They can advise on what support may be available and what evidence you will need. Using an app like Renewal makes keeping track of your travel insurance documents and any important numbers far easier.  

“You should also keep receipts for any extra costs caused by the disruption, such as alternative accommodation, transport, replacement essentials or additional travel. If possible, keep copies or screenshots of evacuation notices, local authority updates, flight disruption announcements and correspondence with your hotel, airline or tour operator.” 

“Travel insurance can provide an important financial safety net,” Rhys adds, “but cover depends on the policy you bought and the circumstances of the disruption. Medical treatment and repatriation can be especially important if someone is injured or becomes unwell due to smoke or fire, so make sure you know how to access help quickly while you’re abroad. 

“The key message is not to wait until you are in the middle of an emergency to understand your cover. Check your policy wording before you go, know your insurer’s emergency contact details, and make sure your documents are easy to access online and offline.” 

To compare cover and find out more about how travel insurance can help if a holiday is affected by wildfires, visit Go.Compare’s wildfire travel insurance guide.