British holidaymakers facing summer travel disruption as wildfires sweep across Spain and France are being warned over a major refund mistake that could leave them severely out of pocket. As blazes rage near popular holiday hotspots, thousands of Brits with upcoming trips are weighing up whether to call off their plans. However, travel insurance experts have issued an urgent warning against taking hasty action.
Don't cancel yourself, says expert
Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare has cautioned holidaymakers against cancelling bookings at their own discretion without first checking official advice, as doing so could forfeit their right to a full refund. "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," he warned.
"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," he told The Sun.
Protections depend on how you booked
Your legal and financial protections depend heavily on how you booked your getaway and whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officially advises against travel to your specific destination. If you have booked a package holiday, you hold the strongest rights. Should your trip be cancelled by the tour operator due to the blazes, or if official FCDO advice shifts to warn against travel to the region, you are generally entitled to a full refund or suitable alternative arrangements.
For those who made DIY or separate bookings, recovering your cash is trickier. Booking flights and accommodation independently means you will need to contact each provider directly to negotiate whether a refund, date change, or voucher is available. Holidaymakers who paid via credit card may have an extra safety net. Eligible purchases can fall under Section 75 protection, which holds card issuers jointly responsible alongside the business if a supplier fails to provide the contracted service.
Check your insurance policy
Holidaymakers must check their fine print immediately, as natural disaster protection varies widely. Mr Jones noted that "catastrophe cover" is not always included as standard, so travellers should verify whether their policy covers FCDO travel disruption, emergency evacuation costs and medical care for smoke inhalation. "Don’t wait until you are in the middle of an emergency to understand your cover," Mr Jones added, urging holidaymakers to review policy wording, save emergency numbers and keep key documents accessible both online and offline before travelling.
Safety priority for those in affected areas
For holidaymakers already in affected areas, safety must take absolute priority over paperwork. Travellers should evacuate immediately when ordered by local authorities, carrying only essential items like passports, phones, medication and payment cards if safe to do so. Once in a secure location, call your travel insurer’s 24-hour emergency helpline and ensure you keep every receipt for emergency transport, food and accommodation to support subsequent insurance claims.
Wildfires displace nearly 300,000
This comes as firefighters battle unprecedented blazes across Western Europe, displacing nearly 300,000 people - including 141,000 evacuated from France's Gironde and Landes regions and thousands near Madrid and Ávila in Spain. Lance Attwood, 58, a British restaurant owner in Bordeaux city centre, described the town as being "full of smoke and ash," adding that locals and visitors have taken to wearing masks outside.
While British tourists have faced 3.30am evacuations in Bordeaux, French minister Éléonore Caroit urged visitors not to cancel trips to unaffected areas like Paris, noting that international water bombers and helicopters from countries including Croatia, Portugal, Czechia and Slovakia have been deployed to help. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband expressed solidarity with those affected, stating: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires in Europe. I am in touch with my French and Spanish counterparts about the situation. British nationals should follow the advice of local authorities in the area, alongside FCDO travel advice."
