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Original poster

Has anyone travelled against foreign office advice?

39 replies

Hakunatomato · 02/11/2025 20:29

We are due to go to Zanzibar for 4 weeks on Saturday. The foreign office are currently advising against travel to any part of Tanzania, which means insurance would be void. However talking to people on the island of Zanzibar, there is no unrest there at the moment, and flights are going in and out. We have booked flights and accommodation separately. It would be be really stupid to travel without insurance, wouldn’t it? If only I had a crystal ball and could see when this travel ban would be lifted….

OP posts:
AnchorWHAT · 03/11/2025 14:52

I feel your pain, we were going to Madagascar earlier this month and it went essential only so cancelled, booked for Tanzania 2 day safari and a week on Zanzibar leaving Britain on 21st and bugger me if that has now gone the same way! We are waiting to see if things change and what our agent will suggest instead but not holding out much hope. Personally we wouldn't travel against advice even though i understand you can pay through the nose for special insurance. Good to hear that the on the ground news is saying it all feels ok, thats always a worry.

SagittariusDwarf · 03/11/2025 15:46

AnchorWHAT · 03/11/2025 14:52

I feel your pain, we were going to Madagascar earlier this month and it went essential only so cancelled, booked for Tanzania 2 day safari and a week on Zanzibar leaving Britain on 21st and bugger me if that has now gone the same way! We are waiting to see if things change and what our agent will suggest instead but not holding out much hope. Personally we wouldn't travel against advice even though i understand you can pay through the nose for special insurance. Good to hear that the on the ground news is saying it all feels ok, thats always a worry.

Very sorry to hear that!!! Madagascar is very much on my list too....

Original poster
Hakunatomato · 03/11/2025 19:35

We are going! When you go to Zanzibar is is mandatory to purchase the Zanzibar travel insurance. It has medical cover. Spoke to the UK insurance company and they said if the ban is lifted then the their insurance kicks in. The curfews have been lifted on the mainland, the internet is back and there have been no more demonstrations. We will risk it.

OP posts:
SagittariusDwarf · 03/11/2025 20:10

Have you actually read that policy? I've had to buy it for the last 2 years and it really doesn't cover much.

but have a great time, it's a lovely place!

Florencesndzebedee · 03/11/2025 23:28

The situation in Tanzania is worsening - it was even reported on the main BBC News at Ten. I’d reconsider if I were you. Zanzibar may be calm but flights could suddenly stop, banking systems go down etc.

GiveUsACoffee · 03/11/2025 23:32

Yep! I have. We were in Malaysia, travelling to Bali, which the Foreign Office advised against. We decided to travel on anyway. Bloody lucky, as the 2004 Tsunami happened days later, and the beach hut accommodation we were staying in wouldn't have stood a chance.

SharpGreenFawn · 03/11/2025 23:57

Not something I’ve considered in general terms (travelling against FCDO advice) but no, in the circumstances I would absolutely not travel to Tanzania (including Zanzibar) on holiday right now and think it is totally reckless to do so. There are already very worrying signs in country and things can change quickly.

SagittariusDwarf · 04/11/2025 07:47

OP - just to add, that so-called insurance is pretty much seen as just a money grab which basically doubles the cost of entry into the country. If it was a proper policy, don't you think the cost would vary, taking into account things like age, longer of stay, pre-existing health conditions? Rather than a flat fee of US44 per person? There's quite a few stories on line from folk who have actually tried to claim on it and haven't got anywhere.

As such, given that your existing cover will be voided (were you able to pay an extra amount for cover in this situation), you'd essentially be travelling without insurance and you should weigh up if you're Ok with that risk do you and whoever you are travelling with. I don't think I would, but I am pretty risk averse (apart from the one time when I was much younger and sillier and inadvertently went on a girls' trip to Las Vegas without realising that my annual policy was "worldwide excluding the US...." - luckily I didn't injure myself or lose anything.....)

SagittariusDwarf · 04/11/2025 08:13

Urgh sorry for typos and can't edit post....

-length of stay

-meant to add a question mark at the end of the bit in brackets re your existing policy

-risk for you and whoever you are travelling with...

netflixfan · 05/11/2025 19:38

Why are you going?

Original poster
Hakunatomato · 06/11/2025 16:56

For a holiday. We have visited the island many times.

OP posts:
PeonyBulb · 06/11/2025 18:15

Well do keep us updated if you actually need to use your travel insurance and how that pans out

Original poster
Hakunatomato · 07/11/2025 18:57

The all but essential travel ban has been lifted by the foreign office has been lifted. UK insurance is fully valid now! I feel so sorry for people who had holidays cancelled by Tui and Jet2 who were due to travel this weekend.

OP posts:
AnchorWHAT · 08/11/2025 10:58

So happy it's now lifted and we are going i really thought it wasnt going to happen! Have a great time op.

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