Travel insurers issue warnings for Brits booking Rhodes holidays after wildfires

27 July 2023 , 14:24

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Your travel insurance cover when it comes to wildfires may depend on when you booked (Image: East Anglia News Service)

Holidaymakers who have trips booked to Rhodes could find themselves without full cover or unable to get any money back if the prospect of the raging wildfires is too unappealing. Since the blaze began to really spread on the Greek island this weekend, messages from those on the island have been mixed. Those fleeing the flames warned others not to come to Rhodes, arguing no amount of lost holiday was worth risking your life over.

Others, including those on Rhodes whose livelihoods depend on visitors staying and spending money there, said the fires were coming under control and hadn't affected every part of the island. Stavroula Nikolou, 37, from Aquarius Beach Hotel in Faliraki, was down at least 30% yesterday as tourists cancel their bookings as far ahead as September.

‌“It’s the worst yet. It’s worse than the corona period. It’s a disaster for the island. But not everywhere on the island is affected, it is safe here,” she told The Mirror. “People are scared to come but the fire is in the south and we are working normally. If there are blackouts we have a generator.”

Efforts to put the fires out have continued today on Rhodes (Getty Images)

Those who have responded to such calls and have not just gone ahead with booked holidays, but decided to schedule in a new trip since the fires broke out, may have some issues with their travel insurance. "Travel insurance covers unforeseen events. The wildfires have had widespread media attention since the weekend, meaning from Sunday, 23 July, it was considered an anticipated event," Admiral Travel Insurance explains.

That means if you booked a holiday to Rhodes or possibly even Corfu, Sicily and Croatia where smaller fires have broken out in the past few days, your travel insurance may not be valid. The same goes for those considering booking a holiday to those destinations now.

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If you don't feel safe heading to a destination this summer because of the risk of wildfires or the heat, then whether or not you can get your money back is a slightly difficult point. If you booked your holiday arrangements separately and your flight has been cancelled, you should be entitled to a refund for your flight.

You will then need to look at the terms of the conditions for your other bookings such as accommodation and transport, and you may also want to look at your travel insurance policy, according to ABTA.

Stavroula Nikolou urged tourists to keep coming (Phil Harris)

Travel firms and airlines may be inundated by requests from customers this week, so make sure to regularly check their websites and social media feeds to any advice updates.

An ABTA spokesperson said: "We are supporting ABTA members who have customers affected by the wildfires in Rhodes, and are in close contact with the UK and Greek authorities. The safety of customers is the number one priority and ABTA members are working hard to support those customers affected. Holidaymakers have been evacuated to a number of locations and ABTA members are communicating with their customers about next steps.

"We continue to advise holidaymakers who have been affected by the fires to follow the advice of the local authorities and their travel company.

"If you are imminently due to travel to Rhodes in the coming days, please look out for updates from your holiday company or airline. We are aware of some cancellations – your rights will vary depending on whether you have booked a package holiday or the different elements of your holiday separately."

It's worth noting that a number of travel firms including TUI, easyJet and Jet2 have been cancelling flights and holidays, and issuing refunds; if a firm cancels your trip, you're automatically entitled to getting your money back.

Those in the affected areas in Rhodes should be being supported by the UK's FCDO as well as local authorities and their travel companies, according to ABTA. This includes being helped if their passports are missing.

Milo Boyd