Travel Insurance for Greece: Get the right travel insurance to protect your holiday
Added 29/05/2012
Holidaying in Greece this summer could mean that you get a great deal on a great holiday, but it could also mean an increased risk of strikes affecting your travel plans or a holiday supplier, such as a small hotel, becoming insolvent.
Many travel experts are saying that Greece is still a great place to go on holiday and even if it does leave the Eurozone this summer the beaches and hotels will still be there and the airlines will still fly, all good news if you have already booked your holiday.
We don’t want to put anyone off travelling to Greece this summer, but we do want to highlight what the increased risks might be how to make sure that your travel insurance offers the protection you need.
Tourist numbers to Greece have dropped significantly in the last couple of years and with continuing political and economic uncertainty this trend looks set to continue. This drop in numbers means that there is an increased risk of small hotels and holiday suppliers becoming insolvent. In fact earlier this year the Sunday Times reported that as many as 1000 Greek hotels could close or be put up for sale in the coming months.
Travel insurance can protect your holiday against the risk of insolvency
Consumer watchdog Which? is urging holidaymakers heading to Greece this summer to ensure that their money is protected by booking an ATOL protected package holiday.
One way to protect your holiday from the risk of insolvency is to book a package or flight plus holiday from an ATOL bonded tour operator, they then have a duty to look after you in the event of insolvency. This could be by finding you alternative accommodation or flights or by providing a full refund.
Travel insurance cover for the increased risk of strikes in Greece
A consequence of the hard times that people in Greece are experiencing at the moment is the increased risk of strikes and industrial action impacting on public services, including transport.
Travel insurance can provide cover if your flight is delayed by strike action, but only if you booked your holiday and bought your travel insurance before the strike was announced. Therefore in these uncertain times if pays to buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday.
Travel insurance from Goodtogoinsurance.com provides cover, under the travel delay section, if your flight is delayed by more than 12 hours due to strike action. This is designed to pay a fixed benefit to help you pay for additional expenses such as food and drink whilst you are waiting at the airport, you also get the option to ‘abandon’ your holiday and make a claim to recoup the cost, up to the limit stated in your policy.
What if Greece does leave the Euro?
ABTA, the Travel Association have advised holiday makers heading to Greece to take plenty of cash, in the form of low-denomination euro notes. If Greece does leave the euro it could mean that electronic banking might freeze for a couple of days as they change currency.
Keep up to date on the situation in Greece
As with any other holiday destination it’s useful to check the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before you travel. They will post information on any planned strikes or occurrences which could affect British Nationals travelling to Greece.
