Top 10 travel insurance tips

Travel Insurance will not cover you if your holiday is delayed or cancelled because your passport is out of date.

Also, 19,000 British passports were reported lost or stolen last year. It’s bad enough when this happens in the UK, but can be a real holiday wrecking nightmare if you are overseas because of the time taken (and costs involved in) travelling to the local embassy, reporting the theft to the police and possibly having to fork out for additional accommodation and flights.

Our advice is to cherish your passport! Make two copies, take one with you and leave one with friends or family. Whenever possible, keep it locked in a safe when not needed and ensure that it has a minimum of six months left until expiry before you travel.

As well as a copy of your passport, it is a good idea to leave your travel insurance policy number, emergency helpline and local embassy details with friends or family at home in case your copies get lost or stolen whilst you are away.

When travelling in Europe, make sure you have a valid European Health Insurance Card ( EHIC) with you.

Arrange your travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday.  This will provide you with cover immediately, vital should you need to cancel your holiday before you travel.

Be aware of age limits and medical exclusions on your travel insurance policy, particularly if you buy online, as details may often be found only in the small print.

If you haven’t booked your trip via an ABTA approved travel agent then scheduled airline failure and end supplier failure should be included in your policy.

Some home insurance policies will give you all the cover you need for your holiday baggage. If you have such cover then you can save yourself money by excluding baggage cover from your travel insurance.

What better way to enjoy the scenery whilst on holiday than by cycling in the countryside or horse riding along a deserted beach? These activities would be considered hazardous by some insurers and no cover would apply in the case of accident or injury if they were excluded. It’s always a good idea to read your policy to ensure that you are covered for all the activities you intend to enjoy.

Whilst reading your policy it makes sense to check policy coverage and excess levels. Which? magazine advises medical expenses cover of at least £2m for Europe and £5m worldwide, £3,000 for cancellation and a minimum of £1,500 for baggage.

Travel and holiday insurance policies do apply to UK holidays and weekends away. So do not hesitate to contact your Insurer should you run into difficulty whilst on such a trip.

To discuss your travel insurance requirements—and to obtain a competitive quotation—call us today on 0208 069 3102. One of our expert advisers will help provide the travel insurance policy that matches your requirements. 

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