Is it safe to travel to Europe during the Charon heatwave?
To get an idea of how bad this is, when a city is on red alert, the heat is so intense it poses a threat to the whole population, and not just vulnerable people. In Italy, authorities are advising everyone to avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 11 am and 6 pm.
It isn’t just Italy, as Greece and southern Spain are also experiencing very high temperatures.
What to do during a heatwave?
Tourists are further advised to avoid alcohol, as this can increase the dangers of dehydration, heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Meanwhile, health issues from the heatwave are putting a major strain on local medical facilities. Travelers should ensure they have travel insurance to cover medical treatment if needed.
Can you get refunds when canceling the trip due to the heatwave?
As southern Europe continues to heat up, some travelers have already chosen to cancel their vacation or swap for a country that isn’t as hot. This is especially so for travelers with health conditions or other factors that could make them vulnerable.
Meanwhile, despite the heatwave, flights and package tours are going ahead as normal. Due to this, it means that standard cancelation policies apply and travelers could be charged a fee. According to Euronews, in many cases, this fee could be up to 90-100 percent of the cost should you cancel at the last minute.
Should a traveler have a medical condition that could be worsened by the heat, their travel insurance may cover them on medical grounds. However, this would probably involve a doctor’s certificate when submitting the claim.
About the Charon heatwave
According to weather forecasters, the period of extremely hot weather will likely last until the end of July. However, in countries such as Portugal and Spain, the temperatures could ease over the next few days.
[…] waves, coming one after another. Many travelers who normally live in cooler, rainier climes are not used to the effects of heat waves, which can impact your vacation. Read on to find out what you need to know to handle […]