Are we there yet? When COVID-19 spoils your travel

Business and leisure travel plans are being waylaid by the daily developments surrounding the coronavirus. We all appreciate (and begrudgingly accept) why long-made arrangements may need to be cancelled, but what are your rights as a traveller if the outbreak affects your plans? Some useful pointers are made in this BBC article:

- insurers and airlines generally take their lead from the official UK foreign travel advice.

- read the small print of your travel insurance policy.

- find out your airline's cancellation, refund or re-scheduling policy.

- if you cancel a trip to a country the government has not warned against travel to, you will likely not receive compensation.

- you may not be able to recover non-refundable deposits if your hotel and its location remain open.

- get your insurance as soon as you book, in case travel advice changes between now and your travel dates.

- check for a "disruption to travel" clause in your travel insurance, in case you are quarantined during your travels, or on your return.

Bon voyage!