Getting caught up in the fun side of holiday planning and neglecting the boring but necessary bits is something most of us are guilty of. Travel insurance is one item that often falls by the wayside – but go without and it could cost you dear in more ways than one.
Overlooking or deciding against travel insurance just isn’t worth the risk. There are loads of great deals out there offering a range of insurance cover to suit different destinations and needs, from sunshine breaks to breaking a leg on the ski slopes.
At the end of last year, UK travel association ABTA revealed that almost one in five British holidaymakers regularly travel without insurance. In addition, 17 per cent believed that travel insurance is not essential. Don’t be one of these. As well as protecting you against “small” problems such as delayed flights and hotels that have gone bust, travel insurance can cover sickness and injury claims and theft of possessions.
Recent events in holiday hotspots such as Egypt and Tunisia have taught us that protection from the unknown is essential. It’s easy to fall into a mindset about insurance, viewing it as a waste of money which you could be splashing out on far more interesting things like activities or cocktails, but protecting against any nasty surprises is key to your enjoyment of a holiday.
There are many different types of insurance cover to consider. A young couple splurging on a ski break will need a different policy to a family sunbathing in southern Spain. Ensure that your policy is tailored to your holiday and will cover any activities you intend to do. Don’t opt for the cheapest policy if it doesn’t cover your needs, such as stolen ski-boots or accident cover.
If you travel a lot, an annual holiday insurance policy could work out cheaper than taking out separate cover for each trip. If any member of the family has an existing medical condition, this must be declared before taking out the policy as you may find you are not covered if the issue was pre-existing.
