However, any customer who travelled to Egypt prior to the Foreign Office issuing its advice will be covered under emergency medical expenses and repatriation, hospital benefit and personal accident.

"It is standard practice that civil unrest is not covered under most travel insurance policies. We are advising holiday makers travelling to unaffected areas to keep in contact with their tour operators and stay abreast of the advice on the FCO website," says Stuart Bensusan of EssentialTravel.co.uk.

Because the Egypt situation is so uncertain, many travel companies are new directing new customers to alternative destinations such as the Canary Islands which currently represent extremely good value and still offer good weather in close proximity to the UK.