The company said the favorable euro exchange rate means that a one-week seaside holiday abroad may now cost no more than a domestic vacation in many cases. Demand for air travel has also increased noticeably, while travelers are paying greater attention to potential emergencies and the availability of effective assistance.
Hungary’s summer travel season is expected to remain strong. Redion-EUB said the upward trend in Hungarians’ willingness to travel has continued, supported this year by the exchange rate. While many travelers previously selected domestic destinations for budgetary reasons, a one-week trip abroad no longer necessarily represents a higher expense.
Alongside traditional advance bookings, a growing number of travelers are opting for spontaneous, last-minute trips. This is also reflected in the timing of travel insurance purchases, with most customers buying policies online only one or two days before departure.
Hungarians’ favorite summer destinations have remained broadly unchanged in recent years. Greece, Turkey, Croatia and Italy continue to lead the list, with most travelers planning four- or seven-day trips and favoring traditional seaside holidays.
Cars remain the most popular means of transport for independently organized trips. Those traveling on organized holidays tend to use airplanes or coaches.
Customer data from Redion-EUB show that the popularity of flying has continued to increase. Some 29% of customers taking out travel insurance are traveling by air this year, up from 26% in 2025.
As air travel becomes more common, related problems are also occurring more frequently. Baggage damage and disruptions associated with flights remain among the most frequently reported incidents.
Travelers’ attitudes have also changed noticeably. While many previously focused mainly on finding the cheapest travel insurance, purchasing decisions have become more considered since the pandemic.
Medical treatment, accident coverage and emergency assistance remain the main priorities. At the same time, a growing number of travelers are also taking out trip cancellation insurance.
Vehicle assistance has become particularly important for those traveling abroad by car or motorcycle. Depending on the policy, this may cover vehicle recovery following a breakdown and, where necessary, the repatriation of the vehicle.
The most common claims during the summer include sunstroke, upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, jellyfish stings, and dislocations or limb injuries sustained during water and beach sports.
The financial impact can vary considerably. Claims may range from the cost of medication worth a few thousand forints to hospital treatment or emergency surgery abroad costing tens or even hundreds of millions of forints.
Redion-EUB said participants in organized holidays usually take out travel insurance through their travel agency when booking their trip. Independent travelers, by contrast, often arrange insurance online immediately before departure.
“When organizing a holiday, accommodation, the destination and planned activities are often the first priorities. However, appropriate protection and preparation for unexpected emergencies are just as important,” said Andrea Elek, CEO of Redion-EUB.
“A suitable travel insurance policy, and vehicle assistance in the case of road trips, often proves to be the most valuable companion precisely when it is least expected. Quick and effective assistance in the event of a problem can also contribute significantly to a stress-free holiday,” she added.
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For over 30 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.
