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Holiday To Greece, Turkey, France Is Now Ruining For Devastating Wildfires, Here Is How You Can Minimize Impact, Know Refund Policies, Travel Insurance and More
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Greece, Turkey, and France are among several popular holiday destinations in Europe currently struggling with devastating wildfires following record-breaking heatwaves. Tourists and business travelers alike have had their travel plans disrupted or are now reconsidering their journeys due to safety concerns. Travelers are left questioning their options as wildfires continue to threaten these picturesque regions.
Wildfires across Europe this summer have increased dramatically, with destinations including mainland Greece, Greek islands like Rhodes and Crete, parts of Turkey, southern France, and the Balkans heavily affected. Extreme heat saw temperatures soaring to a staggering 50.5°C in Silopi, Turkey, and reaching 44°C in cities such as Athens and regions of Cyprus, intensifying the blaze and making it difficult to control.
The impact of these wildfires extends beyond the immediate destruction. For tourists planning to visit these popular holiday spots, the uncertainty regarding their travel arrangements has left many in confusion. Travelers who no longer wish to continue their trips, even if their resort has not been directly affected, face limited options if they did not purchase additional travel insurance coverage that specifically includes natural catastrophes.
How Travelers Can Minimize the Impact of Wildfires on Their Vacation
Wildfires in Europe, especially in regions like Greece, Turkey, and France, have disrupted travel plans for many tourists. While these natural disasters are beyond our control, there are proactive steps travelers can take to minimize the impact on their vacations and financial losses.
1. Stay Informed with Official Alerts
- Monitor Travel Advisories: Regularly check government websites such as the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or your home country’s travel advisory for the latest updates on affected areas.
- Enable Emergency Notifications: Activate emergency alerts on your smartphone to receive real-time information about wildfires and other natural disasters.
- Follow Local Authorities: Pay attention to local news and official channels for evacuation orders and safety instructions.
2. Review and Understand Your Travel Insurance
- Check Coverage for Natural Disasters: Ensure your travel insurance policy includes coverage for cancellations or delays due to wildfires. Not all policies offer this, so it’s crucial to verify.
- Understand Policy Exclusions: Be aware that many policies do not cover “disinclination to travel”—choosing not to go due to fear of wildfires without an official travel advisory.
- Document All Communications: Keep records of all interactions with airlines, hotels, and tour operators. This documentation can be vital when filing insurance claims.
3. Prepare an Emergency Kit
- Essential Documents: Carry copies of your passport, travel insurance policy, and emergency contacts.
- Health and Safety Items: Pack medications, a first aid kit, and masks to protect against smoke inhalation.
- Communication Tools: Bring a fully charged power bank, flashlight, and a whistle.
- Evacuation Plan: Familiarize yourself with the nearest emergency exits and evacuation routes at your accommodation.
4. Maintain Flexibility in Travel Plans
- Rebook or Cancel with Providers: If your destination is affected by wildfires, contact airlines and hotels to discuss rebooking or cancellation options. Many providers offer flexibility during emergencies.
- Avoid Non-Essential Travel: If possible, postpone travel to high-risk areas until conditions improve.
- Consider Alternative Destinations: Explore other regions that are not affected by wildfires to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
5. Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
- Understand Airline Policies: Airlines may not compensate for delays or cancellations due to wildfires, as these are often considered extraordinary circumstances. However, they may assist with rebooking or providing accommodations.
- Tour Operator Responsibilities: If you’ve booked a package holiday, the tour operator is generally responsible for refunds or alternative arrangements if the trip is canceled due to wildfires.
- Independent Bookings: For self-arranged trips, contact each service provider directly to discuss cancellations or changes.
6. Health and Safety Precautions
- Avoid Affected Areas: Stay clear of regions currently experiencing wildfires. If you’re already in an affected area, follow evacuation orders promptly.
- Protect Against Smoke: Limit outdoor activities during high smoke conditions. Use N95 masks if available to reduce inhalation of harmful particles.
- Stay Hydrated and Cool: Drink plenty of water and stay indoors during peak heat hours to prevent heat-related illnesses.
7. Financial Considerations
- Keep Receipts: Retain all receipts for expenses incurred due to cancellations or delays, as these may be reimbursable through insurance claims.
- Understand Refund Policies: Be aware that some providers may offer vouchers instead of refunds. Review the terms and conditions before accepting.
- Consult with Insurance Providers: If unsure about coverage or claims, contact your insurance provider for clarification and guidance.
In July 2023, Rhodes witnessed several travel disruptions, prompting holiday companies such as Jet2 and Tui to cancel flights and package holidays. However, airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, and British Airways maintained most flights, placing travelers who wished to cancel without official government warnings in a challenging situation.
According to the UK’s Foreign Office travel advice, travelers typically cannot claim insurance for cancellations unless official warnings against travel are issued. However, there are some exceptions. Certain insurers permit claims if the traveler can demonstrate that the wildfire or natural disaster significantly disrupted the planned holiday location, even without a formal travel advisory.
Refund Policies for Holidays Affected by Wildfires: A Comprehensive Guide
Wildfires can significantly disrupt travel plans, particularly in regions like Europe where such events have become more frequent. Understanding your rights and the available options can help minimize financial losses and ensure a smoother experience during such unforeseen circumstances.
1. Package Holidays: Refund Entitlements
- Cancellation by Tour Operator: If the tour operator cancels the holiday due to wildfires, travelers are entitled to a full refund.
- Cancellation by Traveler: Travelers may cancel without penalty if the destination is significantly affected by wildfires, making the trip unfeasible.
- Refund Timeline: Refunds for canceled package holidays must be processed within 14 days.
2. Flights: Compensation and Assistance
- EU Regulations: Under EU Regulation 261/2004, if a flight is canceled due to wildfires, passengers are entitled to a refund or rerouting.
- Extraordinary Circumstances: Airlines are not required to provide compensation for delays or cancellations caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as wildfires.
- Care and Assistance: Regardless of compensation eligibility, airlines must provide care, including meals, refreshments, and accommodation, during delays or cancellations.
3. Accommodations: Refund Policies
- Hotel Cancellations: If a hotel cancels a reservation due to wildfires, a full refund is typically provided.
- Traveler-Initiated Cancellations: Refund eligibility depends on the hotel’s cancellation policy and the specific circumstances of the wildfire.
- Vacation Rentals: Platforms like Vrbo may offer refunds if the property is in an affected area, but this varies by host and situation.
4. Travel Insurance: Coverage and Claims
- Trip Cancellation: Standard travel insurance policies may cover cancellations if a wildfire makes the destination uninhabitable.
- Trip Interruption: If a trip is cut short due to a wildfire, insurance may cover unused trip costs and additional transportation expenses.
- Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): CFAR policies offer greater flexibility, allowing cancellations for reasons not typically covered, such as personal discomfort due to nearby wildfires.
- Documentation: To file a claim, retain all receipts and documentation related to the cancellation or interruption.
5. Credit Card Protections
- Travel Protections: Some credit cards offer travel protections that may cover cancellations due to wildfires.
- Policy Terms: Coverage varies by card issuer and specific card benefits.
- Claim Process: Contact the credit card issuer directly to understand the claims process and required documentation.
Travel specialists suggest that travelers immediately contact their airline, tour operator, and insurance provider to explore personalized solutions. Individual companies might provide bespoke arrangements like date changes, vouchers, or partial refunds, although these are not guaranteed.
The latest data from the European Commission indicates wildfires across Europe have burned more than 290,000 hectares this year, doubling the area affected in the same period last year. The growing scale of these fires underscores the importance of travel insurance coverage, yet surprisingly, around 25% of British travelers ventured abroad without any coverage in the past year, leaving them vulnerable in the face of emergencies.
For tourists with comprehensive travel insurance, the news is more reassuring. Typically, costs incurred due to evacuations, medical emergencies, and trip curtailment or cancellation resulting from wildfires will be covered under standard travel insurance policies. Specialists advise travelers to document all interactions with hotels, airlines, and local authorities to support future claims.
Travelers without insurance still have some recourse. If airlines or holiday providers cancel bookings, travelers are usually entitled to refunds directly from these companies. However, protection schemes like the UK’s ATOL primarily offer assistance only if a travel provider goes bankrupt. They do not cover cancellations, delays, or disruption caused by wildfires or other extraordinary events.
Under UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules, passengers affected by flight delays or cancellations departing from UK airports—or arriving in the EU via UK airlines—must be provided with basic care, including food, drinks, and accommodation when delays exceed specified durations. Although passengers can expect airlines to reschedule canceled flights without additional charges, compensation for wildfire-related delays or cancellations is generally not applicable since wildfires are categorized as extraordinary events.
Impact on Tourism and Business Travel:
The wildfires significantly affect tourism and business travel sectors, potentially causing economic repercussions for hotels, tour operators, and airlines due to booking cancellations and operational disruptions. Destinations heavily reliant on tourism, such as the Greek islands and parts of Turkey, could suffer longer-term impacts on their local economies, particularly small businesses and hospitality services.
Quick Tips for Travelers:
- Always verify official travel advice from your government’s foreign travel advisory website before making decisions.
- Purchase comprehensive travel insurance that specifically includes natural disaster coverage, preferably at booking time.
- Keep open communication with airlines and hotels; flexible rebooking policies might be available.
- Maintain detailed records of your travel documents, bookings, and interactions with companies for insurance claims.
- Register with your country’s embassy or consulate when traveling abroad to ensure assistance in emergencies.
Additionally, travelers should keep themselves informed via local news and official government websites on conditions and safety guidelines at their intended destinations.
For future trips, tourists should consider destinations less prone to extreme weather events, diversify holiday plans, or travel during off-peak seasons when wildfire risks are lower. Ensuring adequate preparation and awareness of insurance terms can provide peace of mind amid increasing uncertainties caused by climate-related disasters.
As the wildfire season continues, vigilance and careful planning will be essential for travelers visiting Europe’s picturesque but vulnerable regions. While enjoying a relaxing summer vacation is the goal for many, safety should always remain a top priority. In these challenging circumstances, well-informed tourists who proactively seek out the latest advice and understand their options will be best prepared to navigate any unexpected disruptions.
BBC News
It’s been a scorching summer so far in parts of Europe, and with it has come an outbreak of wildfires – and warnings of more.
Mainland Greece, some Greek islands, Turkey, France and the Balkans have all been affected in recent weeks. This has come alongside a heatwave – with 50.5C recorded in Silopi, Turkey in late July, and 44C in both Athens and Cyprus.
So what should you do if you have a holiday booked for one of these destinations?
Crucially, the Foreign Office says it’s safe to travel to all of them – for now.
But if you’re worried your holiday might still be subject to delays or cancellations – or you’re thinking of cancelling it yourself – BBC News has spoken to a range of experts to look at where you stand.
If it’s safe to travel but you’d prefer not to, what can you do?
If you’re concerned your planned getaway may be prone to wildfires and you no longer want to go – say because a wildfire has happened near your resort, even if it hasn’t directly damaged it – you may have options.
Some travel insurance providers do allow you to buy additional coverage in the event of natural catastrophes like wildfires, should they occur near your holiday destination – such as within a 20km radius.
But if you have not paid for this additional cover and decided that you no longer want to travel, or wish to come home early, and the Foreign Office says it is safe to travel, then you likely won’t be able to claim for the costs of cancellation via insurance.
“There needs to be reasonable evidence as to why you can’t go [or need to leave],” explains Rhys Jones. “I think uneasiness or unhappiness about the country [isn’t enough].”
During the Rhodes wildfires in 2023, Jet2 and Tui cancelled a raft of flights but Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways largely continued running. Some airlines cancelled their package holidays, but not their flights.
In this case – and with any similar situations this summer – the usual advice is to chat to your airline and hotel, as applicable, because bespoke solutions may be offered for your circumstances.
Claiming on travel insurance
According to European Commission data, there has been a 13% increase since last week in the total area burnt by wildfires, with more than 290,000 hectacres burnt so far this year in Europe – more than double the figure at the same time last year.
If you have travel insurance then most disruption to your trip caused by wildfires should be covered under your standard policy, says Rhys Jones, a travel insurance specialist at GoCompare.
“Any sort of curtailment or cancellation of your trip as as a result of wildfires – whether that be you can’t travel to your destination or you have to come home early – should be covered.”
Costs imposed due to other emergency measures such as evacuation, relocation or medical expenses should also be included, he adds. In Crete early last month, 5,000 people, many tourists, were temporarily evacuated during wildfires.
Under a standard policy, Mr Jones says there usually needs to be official advice not to travel from the Foreign Office or another authority, to make a successful insurance claim for a cancellation.
But some travel insurance providers will cover you if you decide against embarking on your trip before the Foreign Office issues such advice, explains Jo Rhodes, a travel specialist at Which?
“For example, if travel has been disrupted or the specific area you’re staying in is being affected, the best thing to do is to contact the insurer to check where you stand – and make sure you do this before cancelling any bookings.”
What if you don’t have travel insurance?
Around one in four Britons who went on an overseas holiday in the last 12 months did so without travel insurance, according to research published by The Travel Association (ABTA), in May.
“If you have no insurance but your holiday provider or airline has cancelled bookings, you may still be eligible for a refund from these companies,” Jo Rhodes says.
Holidaymakers often look out for package holidays which are Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Atol) protected – but this is not a form of travel insurance.
The Atol scheme only protects you if the company providing your holiday goes bust. They will help you get home if you’re already aboard a flight, or make a claim for a refund if you are yet to travel.
The scheme does not allow you to claim compensation for a cancelled trip or flight, or delays, caused by wildfires.
Where you stand with your airline
You’re covered by UK law if you’re departing from a UK airport on any airline, or arriving in the EU on a UK airline, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says.
This means airlines must provide you with care and assistance if your flight is delayed by two or three hours depending on the distance – including supplying food and drink vouchers and a refund on phone call costs, if necessary.
And, the CAA explains, if your flight is cancelled and rescheduled to another day, your airline must provide accommodation and transport to it.
However, you’re unlikely to get compensation for wildfire or extreme heat-related disruption, because that would probably be considered an “extraordinary circumstance” so would not be classed as the airline’s fault.
If you’re delayed by more than five hours and you no longer wish to travel, you may be able to get a refund from your airline though, according to the CAA.
The body makes clear that if your flight is cancelled, you might have to wait a while but your airline is required to get you to your destination.
With a possible Air Canada flight attendants’ strike looming, Canadians who have seats booked next month may be worried about whether their travel plans could be affected.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the carrier’s flight attendants, began its strike vote on Monday, July 28. Members will be able to vote on whether to go ahead with a strike until Aug. 5.
“If the membership authorizes a strike through a majority vote, the union will be in a legal position to initiate job action as of 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 16,” a spokesperson for the Air Canada Component of CUPE told us.
The union represents over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, which means if the strike does go ahead, Canadian travellers could feel the impacts on their bank accounts.
However, if you bought your plane tickets with a credit card that has travel insurance, it may save you some financial stress.
We spoke with Natasha Macmillan, senior business director of everyday banking at Ratehub.ca, about what options travellers have to get their money back if their flight is cancelled by a possible Air Canada workers’ strike.
If an Air Canada strike does happen, what are customers’ options?
The first thing passengers should know is that flight cancellations during an airline strike are considered out of the carrier’s control under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR).
Macmillan says that typically in these situations, airlines must automatically rebook affected passengers on another flight, whether it’s with them or another carrier. If the airline can’t do that, they must provide a full refund.
She says the other option travellers have is to look into what their credit card travel insurance covers.
“What we do recommend, depending on the type of card, is that it might be worthwhile calling your credit card provider just to see if you will be covered,” said Macmillan.
What is usually covered under credit card travel insurance?
Macmillan says unforeseen events that are outside of the airline’s control, like flight cancellations due to a labour disruption, usually aren’t covered by credit card travel insurance.
“However, if it’s a delay that might happen because the plane hasn’t arrived yet, things like that typically are covered, especially after it hits a certain number of hours,” she explained.
The expert says some travel credit cards cover flight delays of over four hours or lost baggage.
“You are entitled to a certain sum of money to ease that burden, whether you need to get food, or stay in a hotel room, or if you need some additional essentials or clothes or toiletries if your bag is lost,” she explained.
If a flight cancellation causes you to miss a hotel booking or an event or attraction for which you had purchased tickets, however, Macmillan says the credit card company usually won’t cover the costs. But, she says customers can call the hotel or business directly and explain their situation.
“At times, if you can show proof of the cancellation of your flight or travel, you are given that credit and refund, depending on the provider,” said Macmillan.
She says another avenue Ratehub.ca became aware of in discussions with major credit card companies is that holders can call their provider and say they were charged with a “not-for-service fee.”
“So, you’ve been charged for something that you didn’t get a service for, and that is typically refunded to your credit card,” said Macmillan, though she says it’s likely still more effective to call the business directly and explain your situation to them.
How can travellers file their claims with their credit card provider?
You can file your credit card travel insurance claims online or you can call the number on the back of your card.
“I would recommend calling in if you have questions about what you’re eligible for or what’s best to do, but typically, filing the actual complaint online is probably the best route to go,” explained Macmillan.
She adds that filing online will likely allow for easier payout.
How should Canadians prepare ahead of a possible Air Canada strike?
The expert says that carriers have actually pre-cancelled flights ahead of looming strikes and have automatically provided passengers with a refund.
“If it’s just kind of discretionary, you might be offered that full refund, and you can decide whether or not you want to travel anymore,” explained Macmillan.
Overall, she says it will be a bit disruptive to travel plans, especially during the summer.
“It is always good to ensure that you’re aware of what might be happening, and perhaps, pending that [the strike] is looming, be aware of alternative travel options,” she adds.
She also suggests travellers find out as much as they can about their specific credit card travel insurance coverage.
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