Travel with Ed:What to do when your holiday becomes a danger zone?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance.
What travel rights apply if wildfires and heatwaves hit France or Spain?
France and Spain, as I'm sure you've seen, are facing further danger from a new heat wave amid the devastating wildfires. If you are due to travel to holiday in any of these areas, what exactly are your rights? Well, travel expert Ed Finn joins us on the line now. Ed, you're very welcome to the programme. And obviously we have covered in depth here on the programme the situation in France today. and in Spain for those who live in the region and indeed the holidaymakers in the region. But there will be lots and lots of people in Ireland who have made plans to travel there in the coming weeks and who will be feeling really worried about that situation.
Yes, Ciara, absolutely. I mean, it is very worrying.
How are package holiday bookings protected if your destination is declared a disaster area?
I mean, basically, to give people an idea, it just varies. If you've booked your package or your holiday through a travel agent or tour operator, that gives you the strongest protection. I mean, if your holiday can't go ahead because the area has been deemed a disaster area, then you will probably be offered an alternative holiday or a refund depending on the circumstances. Now, if you're already abroad, that's different, of course.
What assistance should tour operators provide to travellers already abroad during wildfires?
But your tour operator or travel agent, they have a duty to assist you if your holiday is significantly disrupted. So that's always, I always recommend people to do that. But if you've booked things yourself and you're an independent traveller, it's a little bit trickier because you have fewer legal protections. So then you need to deal with each company individually, like your ferry or airline or the accommodation place, for example. Now, the Gironde area, I mean, which is one of the biggest affected in the in the southwest of France. And obviously, like Sophie Bracquart, the lady there, the head of the prefect of the area, she doesn't want people traveling there.
Can ferry companies or carriers let you change dates if you can prove you're travelling to an affected area?
And I know that ferry companies, Ciara, and a lot of them are allowing people to change dates, even if you're booked into the north of France. You know, if you can prove that you're travelling to an affected area, this is also important.
But that's discretionary, Ed.
Yes, Ciara, it is discretionary. Yes, absolutely.
What are your options if you booked flights, transfers or accommodation independently and one part is cancelled?
I mean, you know, just because you decide that you don't want to travel, that doesn't obviously mean that, you know, that you can't get a refund. Unfortunately, that's not the way that it works.
So if the flights are going, if the accommodation is still available, notwithstanding the fact that you have these messages coming from officials advising people not to come to the area, really there's no legal obligation on that package holiday provider to refund you?
Yeah, technically, I mean, yeah, it's kind of a bit tricky. If the DFA, the Department of Foreign Affairs, if the area is designated, you know, as, you know, only like essential traveler, that really is important. Now, it's very hard for the DFA to, you know, to pick certain regions and areas because it changes all the time. But if your area, like if you have booked a package and again, as I said, to a travel agent or a tour operator, they will do everything they can. If the area is affected, then definitely you will be, you are covered for that in terms of like they can make arrangements to do alternative accommodation for you and possibly refunds as well. So any area that is designated as a no-go zone, I mean, you're more or less going to be okay there.
But it is difficult because if you've booked a campsite yourself directly, then you need to engage with them directly.
Does standard travel insurance cover natural disasters and how should you document costs for a claim?
And they're probably going to make an arrangement to change your date or something to accommodate you. That is basically the bottom line on it.
If you have booked a package holiday, can you expect to be put into accommodation that is the same standard as the one you booked, given that it is peak holiday season here?
Yeah, again, it depends on availability. Ciara, they will try to do the same standard as they say in the terms and conditions, but that may not be possible. You know, it depends on the availability.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:09
2
What travel rights apply if wildfires and heatwaves hit France or Spain?
0:09–0:53
3
How are package holiday bookings protected if your destination is declared a disaster area?
0:53–1:19
4
What assistance should tour operators provide to travellers already abroad during wildfires?
1:19–1:54
5
Can ferry companies or carriers let you change dates if you can prove you're travelling to an affected area?
1:54–2:13
6
What are your options if you booked flights, transfers or accommodation independently and one part is cancelled?
2:13–3:35
7
Does standard travel insurance cover natural disasters and how should you document costs for a claim?
3:35–4:13
8
What practical safety steps and resources should travellers use if they feel unsafe about going to an affected area?
4:13–8:40