Latest news with #Squaremouth
Euronews
07-07-2025
- Euronews
Travel insurance tips as governments crack down on Airbnbs
Governments across Europe and Asia are cracking down on short-term rentals. Last month, Spain ordered Airbnb to delist 65,000 properties. Earlier this year, Thailand issued a warning to foreigners that buying apartments and renting them out violates Thai law. Other popular destinations, like Italy and Greece, have implemented their own similar measures. These new laws and regulations come on the brink of the busy summer travel season. 'They can leave travellers in a bind and cost them money, especially if accommodations are suddenly cancelled or become unavailable,' says insurance provider Squaremouth. So what are travellers' rights when their rental booking is cancelled and what insurance should you take out to ensure you are covered for this situation? What are my rights to a refund if my Airbnb booking is cancelled? Travel insurance can cover Airbnb stays and other holiday rentals as long as it includes trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage, Squaremouth says. However, these benefits only reimburse you if you cancel for a covered reason, like an illness or severe weather that prevents you from travelling. Most plans do not cover government restrictions. That said, Airbnb and other rental booking companies have policies in place to protect the traveller. 'If the host cancels or the listing is significantly different than advertised, Airbnb will help you find a comparable replacement or offer a refund,' says Ernesto Suarez, CEO of insurance provider Gigasure. Can I claim expenses for alternative accommodation? 'Airbnb's protection policy should ensure you get a refund on the accommodation, but of course this won't cover you for any other expenses such as travel, car hire and other incidental costs,' says Suarez. 'Standard travel insurance would not normally cover cancellation of these if due to a change of government regulations or cancellation of your travel arrangements, as this is caused by circumstances outside of their control.' If you want to make sure you are covered in this situation, you should opt for an insurer that offers more customisable cover so you can select exactly what you need. What travel insurance policies protect against cancellations? There are several things that can be done to protect yourself against an Airbnb booking being cancelled. Suarez says you could consider booking a package trip. This does not necessarily mean with a tour operator. 'Booking travel and accommodation together through a travel agent means that you will be protected under the package travel regulations, providing financial protection if the travel or accommodation providers change your package or become insolvent,' he says. 'Booking flexible flights and travel arrangements can sometimes cost more but enable you to change plans at the last minute.' If you prefer to book travel and accommodation separately, you may not be covered by a standard policy if one component of your trip is cancelled. If this is the case, look for a more comprehensive provider to ensure you are adequately protected. Squaremouth recommends opting for a policy with 'cancel for any reason' (CFAR) coverage. CFAR is an upgrade that offers partial reimbursement for prepaid and non-refundable trip payments if you need to cancel your trip for a reason not otherwise covered by trip cancellation, such as a government crackdown on Airbnbs.
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Forbes
How To Score Cheap July 4th Travel—Even At The Last Minute
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. The cost of a much-needed vacation has ticked up thanks to inflation, but believe it or not, it can pay to plan your Fourth of July getaway last-minute. It's true that taking a holiday hurts the wallet; according to Squaremouth, a travel insurance marketplace, travel prices have been on the rise for the past four years. The average cost of a trip in 2025 is projected to be $7,249, marking a 24% increase from 2024. Those flexible enough with hopes to score an eleventh hour deal however, may be surprised by the field of possibilities. How To Save on Airfare Airfare is more affordable than this time last year, with the latest inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealing that June prices are down 7.3% year to year. While a quick browse through Google Flights can unearth some great deals, consumers can cut to the chase using services like Kayak and Going, a flight-tracking platform that does the hard work for you by sniping deals and rewards flights. Kayla Deloache, director of communications at Kayak, recently told Good Morning America that consumers can expect airfare to run about 10% cheaper than last year. For the best bang for your buck, Deloache advised travelers to fly out on Tuesday, July 1st, gauged to be the cheapest fly-out date, and to consider domestic trips in Atlanta, Tampa, and Las Vegas, which 'top the list as the cheapest destinations for the holiday weekend.' A quick search on Kayak for a July 1 departure and Sunday, June 6 return netted a $156 round deal to Cleveland, Ohio, $217 for Atlanta, $220 for Pittsburgh, and $349 to Chicago. The more flexible you are with your trip, including duration, departure and arrival airports, and airline, the better your chances of scoring. Another search for a July 1 departure and Saturday, June 5 return unearthed roundtrip deals to Raleigh ($140), Atlanta ($171), Dallas ($194), and Detroit ($235). Those on the West Coast may fare even luckier, with flight deals for hotspots like Los Angeles redeemable for Las Vegas ($97), San Francisco ($114), and Phoenix ($193). Other services, like Hopper, allow travelers to scan for flexible flight deals through a calendar, which will signify the cheapest fares in green. Platforms such as Going, a membership-based flight tracking service, help travelers catch mistake fares and last-minute deals ranging from a few days before take-off to months out. The service also does all the heavy-lifting for you by monitoring and sending low fares for destinations of your choice straight to your inbox. Two years ago, Going caught a $230 roundtrip fare to Paris with months of dates available—so I booked two trips, one in September and one in December, making stops in Venice and Florence, spending half of each vacation in France and Italy. Credit card fanatics can also use Going to travel on the cheap through rewards tickets. Awards points on the site currently, At the time of publishing, available rewards trips included roundtrips from Boston to San Francisco, Seattle to Boston, and LAX and Ontario, California for Fourth of July weekend for 19,000 points and some change ($12) through JetBlue, as well as Las Vegas to Madrid, Spain for some 38,000 points and $300. AAA predicts that a record number of 72.2 million Americans will hit the road for this year's Fourth of July holiday, traveling at least 50 miles from Independence Day through Sunday, up 1.7 million vacationers from last year. To beat the lines at airports, frequent traveler card holders can utilize the perks built into their cards. For example, the following Capital One cards offer a way to fast-track your airport experience: Gas prices are also at its lowest in years, with the national average gas price declining 3.8 cents, standing firm at $3.14 per gallon in the last week, according to Consumer Affairs . Prices are anticipated to fall even further through Independence Day weekend, for the lowest holiday prices since 2021. Travelers can save even further with credit cards that offer cashback on gas , including the Citi Strata Premier® Card, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card, and the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi * . Make the Most out of Last-Minute Hotel Bookings As for a place to rest your head at night? Your credit card can help with that, too. Loyalty credit cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (rates & fees) card offer complimentary room upgrades, as well as The Platinum Card® from American Express (rates & fees). The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a $300 annual travel credit that can be used to book rooms, and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, rates & fees) entitles users to complimentary room upgrades, as well as an up to $200 Hilton statement credit each calendar year for eligible purchases. Certain cardholders can earn free nights, including gold elite status members at Marriott Bonvoy and honors gold status members at Hilton who earn the fifth night free. Enrollment is required for select benefits. Those who don't have a hotel rewards credit card can still find great deals. Vrbo's Last Minute Deals search filter can help travelers find markdowns across hundreds of thousands of hotels, hostels, and private rentals. Engines like Hotel Tonight also exclusively sort out steep discounts on accommodation, with the added bonus of frequent perks, like future AirBNB credit with bookings, so that your subsequent vacays won't ever break the bank. To view rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card please visit this page. To view rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page. To view rates and fees for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Squaremouth Reports on Global Airbnb Crackdown: What Travelers Need to Know
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Governments across Europe and Asia are cracking down on international rentals. Last month, Spain ordered Airbnb to delist 65,000 rentals. Earlier this year, Thailand issued a warning to foreigners buying apartments and renting them out that they are violating Thai law. Other popular countries, like Italy and Greece, have implemented their own similar measures. These new laws and regulations come on the brink of the busy summer travel season, when traveler anxiety is already skyrocketing. Squaremouth, the nation's largest travel insurance comparison service, reveals what you need to know before booking your trip this summer. How These Crackdowns May Impact your Trip The crackdowns across Spain, Italy, Thailand, Greece, and other regions are part of a larger push to address housing inequality and overtourism. Crackdowns like these can leave travelers in a bind and cost them money, especially if accommodations are suddenly canceled or become unavailable. This happened to a Squaremouth employee recently, who had her rental suddenly canceled at the last minute. "We had an Airbnb booked in Bangkok, but Thailand had just issued a ban on short-term rentals in apartments and condos because they say it disrupts the public," said Arielle Turriff, Product Development Manager at Squaremouth. "Our booking got canceled, and since a lot of our plans were based around that area, we had to find a hotel nearby last minute. It ended up costing us an extra $500." Does Travel Insurance Cover Airbnbs? Travel insurance can cover Airbnb stays and other vacation rentals as long as you have Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage. However, these benefits only reimburse you if you cancel for a covered reason, like an illness or severe weather that prevents you from traveling. Most plans do not cover government restrictions. If you're staying in an Airbnb and want complete flexibility, opt for a policy with Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. CFAR is an upgrade that offers partial reimbursement for prepaid and non-refundable trip payments if you need to cancel your trip for a reason not otherwise covered by Trip Cancellation, such as a government crackdown on Airbnbs. CFAR is a popular benefit for many travelers, as it provides the most possible flexibility when it comes to canceling a trip. In fact, Squaremouth has seen a 34% increase in travelers purchasing CFAR compared to last summer. Squaremouth's Tips for Enjoying your Summer Vacation Rental Always purchase travel insurance as soon as you book your Airbnb to maximize your coverage window, especially for Trip Cancellation benefits. Heed local government notices and warnings when it comes to disruptions. For maximum flexibility and peace of mind, consider Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. About Squaremouth Squaremouth is a trusted name in the travel insurance industry offering comprehensive, transparent, and competitive coverage to travelers for 20 years through its digital platform. With the largest portfolio of travel insurance carriers and products in the U.S., Squaremouth has insured over 4 million clients. Media Contact Ned Tadic ntadic@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Squaremouth
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
5 Travel Insurance Mistakes to Avoid This Summer
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the summer travel season almost here and the cost of travel continuing to increase, many travelers are looking for ways to save. But in trying to cut expenses, even seasoned travelers can overlook key protections and make mistakes when it comes to purchasing travel insurance. Squaremouth, the nation's largest travel insurance comparison service, has unveiled the top five travel insurance mistakes to avoid making this summer as you hit the skies or the road. Mistake #1: Buying Coverage Too Late Travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseen events that may impact your trip. Once something goes wrong, it's too late to get covered. Buying insurance early maximizes the coverage period, and gives you access to certain time-sensitive benefits for increased flexibility. Waiting too long can mean missing out on key protections like Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR), pre-existing condition coverage, or coverage related to named storms during hurricane season. Squaremouth Tip: Buy comprehensive travel insurance coverage as soon as possible after you book your trip, ideally within 10 days of booking. This will give you access to the most possible plans and benefits. Mistake #2: Not Being Prepared for Delays or Disruptions Flight delays and disruptions have reached an all-time high due to major disturbances in the aviation industry. In the past year alone, widespread technology failures, airline staffing shortages, and air traffic control issues have disrupted more travelers than ever before. In fact, Squaremouth recently uncovered a 55% surge in travelers looking for delay-related coverage. Squaremouth Tip: Look for Travel Delay coverage that kicks in after flight delays of 3 hours and accounts for any delay of a common carrier. This will give you the most coverage and flexibility in the event of a delay. Mistake #3: Paying More for "Better" Coverage Many travelers assume that more expensive travel insurance offers better coverage, but that's not the case. Lower-cost policies aren't necessarily lower quality. Some insurance providers simply price their plans differently based on how they assess risk. Squaremouth Tip: Buy the least expensive travel insurance policy that meets your specific coverage needs. Mistake #4: Buying Add-On Insurance from An Airline or Cruise Line Many travelers make the mistake of opting into the insurance add-on offered by an airline or cruise line without comparing other options. While these policies can provide a basic level of protection, they often come with limited coverage and less flexibility than a standalone plan. Squaremouth Tip: Use a comparison site like Squaremouth to compare policies by coverage amounts, price, and provider rating. Mistake #5: Relying Only on Your Credit Card's Coverage Some credit cards offer travel insurance as a perk for cardholders. While these plans offer baseline coverage, like Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, and Baggage Delay coverage, there are limitations - the biggest one being a lack of medical coverage. Squaremouth Tip: Use a third-party plan to supplement your credit card's coverage, especially if medical or health coverage is important to you. About Squaremouth Squaremouth is a trusted name in the travel insurance industry offering comprehensive, transparent, and competitive coverage to travelers for 20 years through its digital platform. With the largest portfolio of travel insurance carriers and products in the U.S., Squaremouth has insured over 4 million clients. Media ContactNed Tadicntadic@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Squaremouth Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Turbulence Ahead: Travel Anxiety Soars, Especially Among Younger Generations
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As summer travel ramps up, new findings from Squaremouth, the nation's largest travel insurance comparison service, reveal that flight anxiety and concerns over airline disruptions are top of mind for U.S. travelers. Squaremouth surveyed more than 2,600 customers to better understand traveler sentiment toward the aviation industry amid staffing shortages, air traffic issues, and recent airline incidents. Half of Summer Travelers Brace For Flight Delays and Disruptions Nearly half (47%) of travelers surveyed expect flight delays and disruptions to be worse this year than in years past, signaling growing concern ahead of the busy summer season. This concern comes at a time when more Americans are opting to stay closer to home and are taking shorter flights for their summer destinations. Of travelers taking summer trips, 31% said they bought travel insurance specifically because they're concerned about flight disruptions or accidents, and 25% even said their travel plans were directly influenced by recent airline incidents and technical outages. "Travelers are packing their patience this summer as they take to the skies. While they're still taking their vacations, they're doing so differently than in years past, as they opt for closer destinations and prioritize travel insurance to protect against potential issues like delays and cancellations," said Ned Tadic, Manager of Public Relations at Squaremouth. Gen Z and Millennials Are More Anxious About Flying Than Older Generations The data reveals a clear and surprising generational divide in traveler anxiety, with younger travelers expressing higher levels of concern than their older counterparts. 35% of travelers under 40 say their plans were directly influenced by recent aviation issues, compared to just 23% of those over 40 34% of travelers under 40 report feeling more anxious about flying this summer, compared to 30% of those over 40 37% of younger travelers purchased travel insurance because of flight disruption concerns, versus 30% of those over 40 Methodology: Squaremouth polled more than 2,600 customers to gauge their sentiment on the aviation industry. The survey was sent to all Squaremouth customers between 5/16/25 and 5/23/25. About Squaremouth Squaremouth is a trusted name in the travel insurance industry offering comprehensive, transparent, and competitive coverage to travelers for 20 years through its digital platform. With the largest portfolio of travel insurance carriers and products in the U.S., Squaremouth has insured over 4 million clients. Media Contact Ned Tadic ntadic@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Squaremouth
