Nearly One in Three Irish Holidaymakers Travelled Without Insurance Last Summer

New research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has revealed that almost one in three Irish holidaymakers travelled abroad without insurance during summer 2025, with those under 35 particularly at risk. The findings come as 16% of travellers reported experiencing issues with their foreign holidays, and the average Irish family spent nearly €2,500 on flights and accommodation.

The CCPC research, conducted among 1,012 people nationwide, found that 42% of Irish adults took a foreign holiday between May and August 2025. However, 30% of those holidaymakers travelled without any travel insurance cover, rising to a concerning 48% among those aged under 35.

The survey revealed that Irish holidaymakers spent an average of €2,473 on flights and accommodation alone, not including spending money. Those with children under 18 spent significantly more, averaging €3,706 compared to €1,839 for those without children.

Despite the considerable expense, many travellers remained uninsured. Among those who did have cover, 46% had an annual travel insurance policy in place before booking, while 15% bought insurance when booking their holiday and 10% purchased it after booking.

Young travellers aged 18 to 24 were the most likely age group to travel abroad, with 58% taking foreign holidays, yet they were simultaneously the least likely to have insurance cover.

Holiday Issues and Claims

The research found that 16% of holidaymakers experienced problems during their trips. Flight delays of three to 11 hours were the most common issue, affecting 6% of travellers, while 5% had their flights rescheduled by airlines.

Other issues included accommodation cancellations by providers (2%), illnesses requiring treatment abroad (2%), and flight cancellations (1%). Luggage loss or damage, cancelled day trips, and early returns due to emergencies each affected 1% of holidaymakers.

Young travellers aged 18 to 24 were most likely to encounter difficulties, with 29% experiencing issues compared to just 7% of those aged 45 to 54. Among those who faced problems, 17% incurred costs or lost money as a result.

Surprisingly, of those who had travel insurance and experienced issues, 83% opted not to make a claim to their insurance company.

Orla Delargy, Deputy Director of Communications at the CCPC, said:

"CCPC research shows that Irish holiday makers are spending €2,500 on average for their foreign summer holiday. That's a considerable amount of money, so travellers should think about potential pitfalls that could ruin their plans. Three in five of those who travelled abroad either have insurance or buy it with the holiday. If you're travelling uninsured you need to expect the unexpected, and bear in mind that late insurance purchase may not cover you for some events."

Reasons for Not Buying Insurance

Among uninsured travellers, 48% said they did not think they would need insurance, while 19% felt it was not worthwhile. Cost was a factor for 12%, and 8% simply forgot to purchase cover in time. Just 3% said they were not on holiday long enough to warrant insurance.

The research revealed significant differences in insurance uptake between package and independent travellers. Among those who booked package holidays, 81% had travel insurance compared to 67% of those who booked each element separately.

Purchasing Patterns

For those who did buy insurance, 68% purchased it directly from an insurance company, while 15% bought it as an add-on when booking through a travel agent, airline or accommodation provider. Just 8% used price comparison websites, 4% obtained cover through their bank or credit card provider, and 2% received it through their employer.

Female holidaymakers were three times more likely than male travellers to purchase insurance through price comparison websites.

Booking Methods

The research found that 76% of holidaymakers booked each element of their trip separately, compared to 23% who opted for package holidays. Those aged 25 to 34 were most likely to book separately (86%), while older travellers aged 65 and over were more inclined towards package holidays (47% versus 53% booking separately).

Separate bookers spent slightly less on average (€2,471) compared to package holidaymakers (€2,517).

In 2025, the CCPC helpline received almost 2,700 contacts about travel-related issues from a total of approximately 45,000 contacts. Common complaints included misleading hotel photographs, holiday booking scams, lost luggage affecting planned activities, cancelled holidays due to missed payments, and flight rescheduling causing missed events.

CCPC Advice for Holidaymakers

The consumer watchdog recommends that travellers should be wary of unexpected offers, particularly from unsolicited emails or social media advertisements. Holidaymakers should research companies thoroughly using review sites, check cancellation and refund policies before booking, and pay securely using credit or debit cards rather than bank transfers.

The CCPC has published detailed guidance on consumer rights when things go wrong on holiday, available on their website at ccpc.ie.

With January traditionally a popular month for booking summer holidays, the CCPC is urging consumers to consider travel insurance carefully, particularly as late purchases may not provide cover for events such as strikes or extreme weather that become known after booking.