THOUSANDS of Brits with holidays to Spain risk being left out of pocket for trips that are still going ahead despite new quarantine rules.
It comes after the UK government said it was now advising against all but essential travel to mainland Spain in a last minute change of Foreign Office advice.
Spain holidays are being disrupted due to a change in Foreign Office advice
Anyone who still goes away will have to quarantine for two weeks when they return to the UK.
The updated Foreign Office advice covers mainland Spain but not the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands – although you’re still required to quarantine when you get back to the UK from all these destinations.
If you’ve got a package holiday to mainland Spain, you should get a refund as most tour operators are expected to cancel trips.
But experts say you may find it harder to get a refund if you have individual flights and hotels booked.
This is because most airlines are still flying to Spain, and hotels in the country remain open for tourists.
You don’t need to quarantine while away in any Spanish destination – only when you get home.
We explain your rights below, including if you can make a claim through your travel insurance.
I’ve got separate flights and hotels booked to Spain – can I get a refund?
If your flight is still going ahead, and your hotel remains open, your first step should be to speak to each individual operator.
Unfortunately, you may not be able to claim a refund if your flight or hotel hasn’t been cancelled.
Some companies may let you rearrange your trip for free – although they don’t have to do this, and it depends on when you’re due to travel.
For example, easyJet flights to Spain are still going ahead but the airline is allowing passengers to rearrange their trip free of charge.
You can also choose to accept a holiday voucher for a future booking.
Ryanair has waived its fee for flight changes on all bookings made since the start of this month, but is charging for bookings made before that date.
For hotel bookings, contact your booking provider to check what cancellation policy they have in place.
What about travel insurance?
If you’ve got travel insurance, you may be entitled to make a claim if your holiday destination is in mainland Spain – but this largely depends on when you took out the insurance.
Your more likely to be covered if you took out your insurance policy before the FCO advice changed.
Most policies purchased before coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on March 11 will include cover for cancellations due to coronavirus.
However, some cheap policies now have clauses that won’t not cover holiday cancellations due to FCO advice.
Check your policy carefully to see what cover you have in terms of travel disruption.
If you’re already in Spain, your travel insurance is likely to remain in place until you return home – but travelling now, so against FCO advice, will invalidate your policy.
Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk: “For those travelling to mainland Spain, they may be able to claim on their travel insurance for cancellations but it will all be down to the individual policy details.
“Flight and travel operators should also refund for trips that can no longer go ahead.”
Trips to the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands will be trickier to get a refund through your travel insurance.
This is because the FCO advice doesn’t apply to these places, and policies are unlikely to cover you over a change in quarantine rules.
Mr Haqqi continued: “Despite implementing the 14 day quarantine restriction for travellers returning from the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, the FCO hasn’t put out official advice against travelling there.
“Sadly this means that many insurers will not offer cover if you decide to cancel and some flight and travel operators may charge you a fee to move your travel plans.”