The Cost of Travelling Without Insurance

As we get further away from the long, grey days of January, most people will be starting to plan or book summer holidays or city breaks. We all look forward to escaping the grind of daily life for a couple of weeks or a long weekend; but sometimes your summer getaway can come at a serious price. 

While the vast majority of trips abroad go off without a hitch, the unpredictable nature of travel means that a significant number of people still get caught out by unforeseen circumstances. 

Flight delays, cancellations, lost luggage, problems with accommodation and scams were all issues that affected 16% of Irish holidaymakers who travelled abroad between May and August in 2025, according to research by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

When you consider that, according to the research, Irish holidaymakers spend close to €2,500 on average on flights and accommodation, it goes from being a minor annoyance that puts you out to putting you out of pocket. That’s why it pays to check what you’re booking and always invest in travel insurance before you fly. 

What Can Go Wrong When Booking a Holiday Abroad…

While it can be smooth sailing (or flying) for the majority of travellers, things can and do go wrong. The CCPC consumer helpline received almost 2,700 contacts about travel related issues across the whole of 2025. 

And in their 2026 travel report, the CCPC found that between May and September 2025: 

• Consumers report spending on average €2,473 on their holidays.
  
  
• 16% of holidaymakers faced issues while away; most notably with flight delays (6%) or flights being rescheduled (5%).
  
  
• Among all age groups, 18–24-year-olds were most likely to encounter issues, with 29% affected.
  
  
• 17% of 18-24 year olds had a flight that was delayed by 3 to 11 hours.
  
  
• 1% had to travel home early due to an emergency.
  
  
• 1% required medical care for illnesses while abroad.
  
  
• One in three holidaymakers travelled without insurance and almost half of under 35s were not covered by travel insurance.
  
  
• Of those who did travel without insurance, 48% said they didn’t think they’d need it for the trip; while 19% said they didn’t think it was worthwhile.
  
  
• One in ten bought insurance after they bought their holiday.

For the 16% of holidaymakers who experienced issues, flight delays and rescheduled flights were the most common culprits. While this can seem like a relatively minor thing, sudden changes to your flight time can have a knock on effect and can potentially cause you to miss a connecting flight or get you a day or two late to your destination, for example. 

Another major headache affecting flyers is lost luggage. Aside from being inconvenient, it can also leave you shortchanged with the report highlighting a complaint where a traveller’s suitcase was lost by an airline during a skiing trip. As a result, they did not have their ski gear when they arrived and were unable to attend two ski lessons they had paid for in advance, leaving them out of pocket.

Other issues reported by consumers to the CCPC included day trips and tours being cancelled providers; accommodation being cancelled; illnesses that required medical treatment; and having to leave early due to emergencies. 

The CCPC are also warning Irish holidaymakers about potential scams and misleading online offers. Listing some of the issues reported by consumers, the CCPC highlighted examples where a consumer paid out thousands of Euros to secure accommodation through a legitimate looking website only to find that it was a scam; in a similar instance, their 2025 Travel Scams Report highlights a case study where a consumer booked a holiday to France via an online travel agency. After paying €11,000 to cover the cost, the agency and website disappeared leaving the customer out of pocket and unsure if they could recover their money. 

Other examples shared by the CCPC include a holidaymaker who booked accommodation based on an image of a sunny beach in the hotel’s advertising only to arrive and find out the beach was a four-hour round trip away!

 

Travel Insurance Gaps

One key thing that the CCPC research highlights is that a significant number of people are travelling without insurance or taking out insurance after the fact, and leaving themselves open to risks. With 30% of holidaymakers travelling abroad without insurance between May and August of last year, the time period recorded in the report. 

This number increases for younger travellers with almost half (48%) of those under 35 choosing to go without cover. Which is unfortunate as 18-24 year-olds are the most likely to encounter issues when travelling, but the least likely to buy travel insurance!  

While 1-in-10 bought insurance after they bought their holiday meaning they may not have been fully covered for certain disruptions, such as strikes or extreme weather events. 

If you travel without insurance, you need to be prepared for the unexpected and expect to be out of pocket if something does go wrong. And you should bear in mind that taking out insurance late or after you’ve booked may not necessarily mean you’re covered. 

 

How to Protect Your Trip This Summer

The best way to safeguard your trip and cover yourself against any unforeseen events is to take out travel insurance. We always suggest taking out insurance at the same time you book your flights and accommodation, that way you’re covered from the outset. 

At KennCo, all of our travel insurance policies cover cancellations, medical emergencies, lost luggage and more. Which means you can get on with relaxing and enjoying your holiday, instead of worrying about potential problems or hiccups.

And whether you’re going on one summer holiday or planning multiple getaways throughout the year, we’ve got you covered with single trip, multi trip and family travel policies to make sure you have the right coverage at the best price.

Outside of travel insurance, there are some other ways that you protect yourself when travelling abroad this summer.

• Be wary of random or too good to be true offers, especially from unsolicited emails or social media ads.
  
  
• Always do your research before booking. Look at review sites like Trustpilot and Google to make sure websites or providers are legitimate.
  
  
• Always read the terms and conditions. And fully review the refund and cancellation policies before booking.
  
  
• Only pay through secure channels or checkouts using a credit or debit card so you have some protection if things go wrong. 

 

What to Consider When Buying Travel Insurance 

Choosing the right travel insurance means picking a policy that suits your trip and the specific risks involved. While price is obviously a factor, it’s not necessarily about choosing the cheapest or most expensive cover, it’s about choosing the cover that protects you best. 

Generally speaking, a comprehensive policy that covers cancellations, lost luggage, medical emergencies, and repatriation is usually ideal for most people. But you should also factor in specific event coverage if you’re planning any risky activities like rock-climbing, skiing or water sports.

Equally, you should check that your policy has adequate medical coverage and repatriation back to Ireland. If the worst does happen, you might find that foreign medical costs can add up quickly. Check that your policy will cover A&E visits, hospital stays, outpatient care and even emergency evacuation.

 

Travel Insurance from KennCo

Don’t let the threat of flight delays, lost luggage or unexpected emergencies ruin your holiday this summer. Taking a few minutes to secure the right cover can potentially save you thousands of euros and a massive amount of hassle if things do go wrong. 

So, before you pack your bags for your next great adventure, secure your trip with KennCo Insurance. We focus on the risks so that you can focus on the journey. Get a quick and easy quote for KennCo travel insurance today.

Travelling Without Insurance FAQs