Focus on Travel in confidence with our guide to holiday cover

FOCUS ON Holiday rights

If you’re hoping to holiday abroad this summer, find out where you stand regarding refunds and insurance

HOW TO... make sure you’re fully covered

International travel should be easier this summer but there’s no guarantee. Always check the entry requirements for the country you’re planning to visit before you leave and make sure you have adequate insurance that covers you for Covid-19.

Frequently asked question s…

Can I get a refund for extra costs if I’m quarantined overseas? For

unforeseen expenses, such as extra accommodation or a new flight home, start by asking your travel agent to see if they can help. You might be able to claim the money back through your insurance, which is why it’s important to choose the most comprehensive Covid-19 cover. Look for a policy that includes ‘disruption to travel’. If everything is closed when I arrive, can I get any money back? If my cruise is cancelled or changed, can I get my money

back? You’re entitled to a full refund if your holiday is cancelled by the cruise company, but always check their policy before you book. If, however, it still goes ahead but with a different itinerary and you don’t want to go, ask for a refund or credit to spend on another cruise. • For current advice, check the Foreign Office website (see ‘Useful contacts’ below) and the website for the British embassy of the country you’re visiting. The Foreign Office’s wording can affect travel insurance if you need to cancel. For example, if it advises against ‘all but essential travel’ or ‘all travel’ and you ignore this, you may not be insured.

•If the travel company cancels a package holiday, you should get a full refund within 14 days. When a flight is cancelled, you’re due a full refund from the airline within seven days, or an alternative flight. If they try to give you a voucher instead but you’d prefer to have your money back, stand firm.

•Any other cancellations, such as the hotel bookings and car hire, should issue a refund, although this can be tricky if you’re dealing with a company overseas.

•In cases where the outbound flight is cancelled but the return flight isn’t, you can choose between a full refund or an alternative flight. Get in touch with the airline in the first instance.

•You’ll also be covered if you paid with a debit or credit card, so ask your bank or card provider and mention the chargeback scheme or Section 75 if you paid over £100 on a credit card.

•If you’re entitled to a refund from the travel company or airline, you should follow this up with them first rather than claiming on the insurance.

•In cases where the holiday goes ahead but you want to cancel, check first where you stand in terms of a refund. A better idea is to try and change the dates instead.

Only if you purchased a package that included a specific attraction and that was the main reason you booked the holiday. In this case you could argue that the attraction being closed counts as a ‘significant change’ under the Package Travel Regulations.

USEF UL CONTACTS

•Head to gov.uk/foreign-traveladvice for the latest information on travel. • To find out the latest information on cancellation policies from the major airlines, Eurostar, holiday companies and Airbnb, visit

moneysavingexpert.com

•At citizensadvice.org.uk you’ll find lots of advice on your holiday rights.

If you do one thing...

Compare travel insurance that offers cover for disruption related to Covid-19 at comparethemarket.com, moneysupermarket. com or gocompare.com. Look at emergency medical and repatriation costs as well as cancellation for anyone who returns a positive coronavirus test in the two weeks before travel and additional protection against transport and accommodation.