I've tried asking this same question on a legal group, on a consumer interests group, to insurers, and had no useful replies (and I don't just mean replies that agree with my way of looking at the world!). I know part of the answer here is "talk to your insurance company" and I will when they are a little quieter!

Let's make an assumption that a travel insurance policy is in force and it offers coverage that isn't in doubt due to the current issues (i.e. doesn't restrict cover to exclude covid-19 etc). There are a couple of scenarios that I'm wondering what the right approach is.

First one - if my accommodation provider has told me my stay is cancelled (by them, in response to a foreign government action), but they are offering a credit note in full against my booking, is this claimable? Or would I have to communicate with the provider and tell them that I want them to fully cancel with me, offer to charge me the full whack, and then I can claim via insurance? It's unusual that a provider cancels like this - the policies generally seem to envisage that the traveller themselves will be forced to cancel due to the UK govt restricting travel, not that the provider themselves cancels (for whatever reason, tbh). And I'm conscious of the economic reality that a medium sized hotel chain cannot afford to refund all of its customers for the next 6 weeks, even if that is what their contract says they should do. But if they cancel and refuse to refund, they are technically in breach of contract and I could sue them, instead of claim via insurance (technically).

Second one - if a group of 3 of us have booked the accommodation, with one person making all the payments and getting contributions from the other 2, but we all have individual travel insurance policies which cover the scenario, will an insurer accept individual claims based on those "mates transactions" of splitting the bill three ways? How will they be certain that each individual isn't making a full claim through their own policy, and trying to get multiple insurers to pay out (for example)?

It seems daft asking these questions of a group of runners / swimmers / cyclists / forum addicts. But you're an intelligent bunch and I trust your opinions!!

Did you want to get certain conditions from your insurance agents, but you don't want to communicate with them? Maybe the fact is that you just couldn't get good advice from a specialist. It is quite difficult to understand all the subtleties of the contract on your own.
In general, it is better not to sign papers if you do not fully understand what is written on them, especially when you are traveling. For me, safety is above all, so I even check the crime rate when I go somewhere https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/albania/.
My advice to you is just to talk to your insurance agent.

Edited by user Friday, February 18, 2022 4:58:11 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified