Brits worried their overseas trips will be cancelled due to the Delta variant should still check they have the right travel insurance, experts say.
Cancellations and extra costs are still a big risk to travellers, despite travel restrictions easing. Trips can easily be aborted if you test positive for Covid or have to self-isolate.
And costs can easily snowball out of control if you self-isolate overseas and are forced to extend your trip and rebook transport home.
Another risk is if the Government advises against travel to the country you want to visit after you have booked a trip.
How to get your money back for cancelled trips
The good news is that there are several ways to get a refund for aborted trips - or those delayed because you have to self-isolate.
Travel insurance is one of them, but should be your last resort. It will only pay out when all other options have been tried.
The first port of call is to try to get your cash back from a tour operator or airline - or to rebook the trip for a later date.
If that doesn't work, you should try claiming the money back from your bank or credit card provider.
Are you struggling to get refunds for a cancelled trip? Tell sam.barker@reachplc.com
Only then would travel insurance step in.
Some insurance will pay out for Covid cancellations, though the terms of this vary from insurer to insurer.
Fiona Macrae, head of insurance experts Travel Insurance Explained, said: “Anyone planning to travel abroad should be looking for a policy that offers them protection against the new risks that we are seeing the Covid-19 virus causes."
Mcrae said the most useful policies cover four main risks:
1. Cancelling a trip because you test positive for Covid
2. Cancelling a trip because you have to self-isolate at home
3. Missing a flight and needing extra accommodation because you have to self-isolate overseas
4. Cover for medical treatment if you get Covid overseas
Most travel insurance will pay out for the last point, but not always the first three, so check with your insurer before you buy.
Mcrae said travel insurers do this because if they cover more risks in their policies, they have to charge extra to customers.
Many customers would see that as unfair expense as they already have the protection elsewhere.
Most travel insurance will not pay out if overseas trips are scrapped over fears of getting Covid. Nor will it the Government bans travel to a certain country.
If that happens, customers can ask for a refund from their airline, tour operator and accommodation provider, or rebook the holiday for another point.
Portugal this week has announced new rules forcing Brits to quarantine for 14 days unless they are fully vaccinated after Germany called for an EU-wide rule for UK tourists amid the spread of the Delta variant
The new rules were announced on Sunday. They came into effect nearly three weeks after the UK’s decision to kick Portugal off its green list, which led to thousands of people cutting short their holidays so they could beat a new quarantine deadline.
