New research suggests that successive summers of extreme heat are changing where British travellers feel safest going on holiday, with Italy and Spain falling out of the top five destinations considered safest for a summer trip.
According to the latest InsureandGo research, the countries people currently consider the safest options for holidays this summer are Iceland (22%), Switzerland (20%), Sweden (20%), Canada (19%) and New Zealand (17%). Earlier this year, however, the picture looked different: the safest five places for holidays in March 2026 comprised New Zealand (18%), Switzerland (17%), Spain (16%), Canada (15%) and Italy (13%).
Shift towards cooler destinations
The percentage of people inclined to switch to cooler countries is up significantly on this time last year, from 24% to 37%. There is also a significant fall in the percentage of people saying they will stick with summer months but take steps to be prepared for hot weather, down from 38% in 2025 to 29% this summer.
Consideration being given to switching to winter holidays has steadily risen over the last three consecutive years, from 6% in 2024 to 10% in 2025 to 15% this year. By age group, 25-34s are most likely to opt for cooler countries (26%) or winter breaks (20%); 35-44s are most likely to stick with peak period plans but aim to be better prepared; and the over 55s are more likely to go for holidays in the spring or autumn when it is cooler (52%).
Insurance coverage gaps
The research also highlights a potential problem for holidaymakers who assume their travel insurance will automatically cover extreme weather. Nearly a third of people believe all travel insurance policies include natural disaster cover as standard. One in five (21%) believe wildfire cover is automatically included, while 54% believe flight cancellation is standard across all policies and 53% think full medical cover comes as standard.
Among those who choose the cheapest travel policies, 46% believe full medical cover is automatically included, while 28% believe natural disaster cover is standard and 20% believe wildfire cover is included. InsureandGo has warned Brits to check their policy carefully before travelling, particularly if heading somewhere affected by extreme weather.
Wildfires across Europe
Heatwaves have taken place across the continent this summer, including the UK. Record-breaking temperatures have caused extensive wildfires, including in France, Greece and Spain, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee their homes and tens of thousands of hectares burned. According to the European Commission, as of August 19, the area affected by fires has reached 619,298 hectares.
Italy is also reportedly on track to recording one of the hottest summers in its history and has seen major wildfires this summer. Major fires were reported in Sicily, Calabria, Piedmont, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. In Sicily alone, around 6,000 emergency responders were mobilised in late July as firefighters battled blazes across the island.
Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at InsureandGo, said: “Having researched the topic of extreme heat for some years now, we were keen to look at the likely long-term impact of extreme heat on holiday trends for the future. With this is mind, we asked UK adults how they planned to react to successive summers of extreme heat for future holidays.”
He warned: "For those about to go on holiday in southern Europe, InsureandGo recommends that people follow the UK government’s FCDO travel advice, which is regularly updated in light of the wildfires in Europe. We also encourage everyone about to go on holiday to thoroughly check their travel insurance policy and check what is and isn’t covered before heading abroad."
