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Travel agents offer sunshine insurance

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-14 13:43

PARIS: Sun-seekers whose holidays are spoiled by bad weather could be reimbursed after French travel agencies launched insurance cover for unwanted interruptions to the sunshine.

A boy casts a shadow on a sunshade as he stands next to his father on a beach in Vina del Mar city, 85 miles(137 km) northwest of Santiago, December 28, 2006. [Agencies]

The insurance policy, launched by holiday groups Pierre et Vacances and FranceLoc, will allow holiday-makers to claim back part of the cost of their trip if they suffer at least four days of rain in any one week.

"Aon France allows Pierre & Vacances to propose its clients with automatic reimbursement for part of their stay... if weather conditions don't meet expectations," the holiday group said in a statement.

Aon France will use satellite photos obtained by the French weather bureau to calculate how much money subcribers should receive.

Rain-spoilt holidays can now be worth up to 400 euros ($556) and holiday-makers would be informed by telephone text message or email if they are liable for compensation. They would receive a cheque a few days after returning home.

The man behind the idea, Herv Kayser, told French daily Le Figaro that in a trial run last year, 10 percent of those interested in the insurance policy witnessed sufficient rain to receive money back on their holiday.