Almost a third of Irish holidaymakers travel without insurance

Overall, 23% of holidaymakers booked package holidays during the summer where at least they can rely on their agent to make alternative plans for them if something goes wrong. File photo: PA/thinkstockphotos

Irish people spent on average nearly €2,500 on flights and accommodation on their holidays in 2025 with 30% deciding to travel without insurance, new research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said.

The proportion of people deciding to travel without insurance rises to 48% among those under 35.

According to the research, 16% of Irish holidaymakers experienced issues with foreign holidays between May and August of last year. Among all age groups, 18– to 24-year-olds were most likely to encounter issues, with 29% affected.

On average, consumers report spending on average €2,473 on their holidays. The average cost of a holiday among those who had travel insurance was €2,610. This falls to €1,708 for those who did not have travel insurance in place.

Deputy director of communications with the CCPC, Orla Delargy, said Irish holidaymakers spend a considerable amount of money on their travels so they “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 purchases may not cover you for some events."

Overall, 23% of holidaymakers booked package holidays during the summer where at least they can rely on their agent to make alternative plans for them if something goes wrong.

However, the CCPC said “if you’ve organised your own trip, a missed flight or cancelled accommodation could be costly”.

Other findings

Outside of travel insurance, the CCPC is advising holidaymakers to be wary of unexpected offers, especially from unsolicited emails or social media ads, to do your own research, and review cancellation and refund policies before you book.

The research contained 1,012 interviews with Irish adults conducted between September 17 and September 30.

As January is a popular time of the year to plan holidays, the CCPC is warning consumers “to expect the unexpected not just while away, but also in the period before their holiday”.

“In the event of a strike or an extreme weather event if a traveler tries to buy insurance after this comes to light, they may find they are not covered.” 

During 2025, the CCPC received almost 2,700 contacts about travel-related issues.