How to protect yourself from Airbnb cancellations? - European governments are cracking down on short-term rentals
European governments are sharply restricting short-term rentals like Airbnb, increasing the risk for travelers during the tourist season. Experts are recommending a series of measures to ensure customers are protected from unexpected cancellations.
Governments across Europe are cracking down on short-term rentals. Last month, Spain ordered Airbnb to delist 65,000 properties. Other popular destinations, such as Italy and Greece, have implemented similar measures.
These new laws and regulations come ahead of the busy summer travel season. "They can cost travelers money and put them in a difficult position, especially if accommodations are suddenly canceled or become unavailable," says insurance provider Squaremouth.
Travel insurance can cover Airbnb stays and other vacation rentals as long as it includes trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage, Squaremouth explains. However, these benefits only reimburse you if you cancel for a reason the company covers, such as illness or bad weather that prevents you from traveling. Most of them don't cover government restrictions.
However, Airbnb and other companies have policies to protect travelers. “If the host cancels or the reservation is significantly different from the one advertised, Airbnb will help you find a comparable replacement or offer you a refund,” industry experts explain. But this refund will not cover additional costs that may be associated with travel tickets, rental cars, etc.
To fully protect yourself from canceling an Airbnb reservation, experts say you can consider booking a travel package. This doesn't necessarily mean with a tour operator.
“Booking travel and accommodation through a travel agent ensures that you are protected under package travel regulations, offering financial protection if travel or accommodation providers change your package or are unable to provide the service,” they explain.
Also, booking flexible flights can sometimes cost more, but it allows you to change plans at the last minute. If you prefer to book your travel and accommodation separately, you may not be covered by a standard policy if one component is cancelled.
Squaremouth recommends choosing an insurance policy that offers a ‘cancel for any reason’ (CFAR) option. This option provides a partial refund for prepaid and non-refundable bookings. If you need to cancel your trip for a reason not covered by a standard policy, such as government measures against Airbnb, then this is the right solution.

German industrial production exceeds expectations - Growth was driven by automobiles, energy and pharmaceutical sectors
German industrial production rose in May, exceeding economists' expectations, driven by the automotive, energy and pharmaceutical sectors. German industrial......

Freeing up public spaces, Rama returns to Vlora - The Prime Minister 'inspects' the messages left a few days ago
Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived in the city of Vlora on Monday morning and held a meeting at the municipality. The head of government was received by Mayor......

Bulqizë, communism returns as a tourist attraction - ADF finances 271 million lek for the Retro Theme Park
The Albanian Development Fund has announced the opening of the tender for the construction of the infrastructure of integrated models, the Retro Theme Park......

OPEC+ pushes oil prices down - Organization increases production for August, weak demand
OPEC+ decided to increase oil production for August more than expected, causing market prices to fall. Meanwhile, trade uncertainties over US tariffs have......

'National Geographic': The Albanian Riviera is perfect for a trip. The journey from Vlora to Ksamil is unlike any other in the "Maldives of Europe"!
The prestigious National Geographic has dedicated an article to Albania, describing it as an ideal destination for road trips. "Why the Albanian Riviera is......

After Brazil Summit, Trump 10% Tariff for BRICS Countries - Alliance of Developing Countries Criticizes Trump's Trade Tariffs
President Donald Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff on any country that complies with the "anti-American" policies of the BRICS group. The alliance of......

Nike, Trump tariffs cost 1 billion USD - Company will reduce production in China to reduce losses
Nike expects tariffs imposed by the Trump administration to increase costs by about $1 billion. The company plans to reduce production in China and Vietnam......

Registrations for first and tenth grades open in e-albania - The procedure is carried out online, the registration deadline will last until August 31
Online registrations for first and tenth grades are open today at e-Albania for student registration for the 2025-2026 school year. According to the......