Don’t skimp on holiday cover
If you’re booking your summer holidays, make sure to take out holiday cover straight away.
Otherwise, you’re not actually covered if you have to cancel. Duh!
Yet it’s something a surprising number of people fail to do, according to a new survey.
Nearly three-quarters of travel insurance policies purchased from Multitrip.com in 2023 were bought less than seven days before departure, the insurer reveals.
This means that ‘many Irish holidaymakers may face the risk of being unable to recover the cost of their holiday if they have to cancel their trip.’
Claims data for the 2023 season from the insurance provider shows that cancellation was the top reason for making a claim, accounting for 28% of all claims for the second year running. Jason Whelan, from Multitrip.com, warned: ‘We always urge holidaymakers to take out travel insurance as soon as they book their flight or holiday.’
You can get annual travel cover ranging from €19.95 that pays up to €1,200 per insured person for cancellation – all the way up to plans that covers up to €10,000, Multitrip says. Over nine out of ten Irish holidaymakers do plan to purchase travel insurance in 2024, Multitrip reports. Holidays shoot up in price during school breaks making them very expensive for parents. One way around this is to book family holidays in resorts during breaks when British schools are open and Irish ones are closed.
This includes the St Patrick’s Day, St Brigid’s Day and May and June bank holidays. You can check them out on Schooldays.ie.
Tour operator Click&Go has another, rather controversial suggestion for parents – take the kids out of school. ‘Save up to €1,200 on your family holiday by travelling in May instead of July,’ it says. ‘Enjoy the sun while making massive savings at a time when it’s not too hot and not too crowded for your little ones.’ It goes on ‘Families with young children should consider travelling during the school term as this allows families to make huge savings and give children the often undervalued opportunity to travel.’
Paul Hackett, CEO of Click&Go commented, ‘Travel is all about learning about people and destinations. Kids can experience new cultures and languages in a fun and exciting way which could never be recreated in a classroom setting.’
He continued, ‘A few days out of school won’t affect their grades but a chance not to travel could.’ Hardpressed families will agree with Mr Hacket – but I’d be braced for a backlash from teachers!