Sue’s Guide To checking the small print on travel
Travel insurance comes in all shapes and sizes and there’s no “one size fits all” policy, and while it doesn’t make for fun bedtime reading, insurers all have their own terms, conditions and rules. So I tackled the travel insurance team at Aviva and asked them some of those questions we all want to know…
Are valuables covered if you don’t have a safe in your apartment?
If you have a safe, use it. However, Aviva say if you’re staying somewhere without one, hide valuables out of sight, ideally in a locked suitcase. When you’re out and about, look after bags – don’t leave them anywhere and ensure valuables are at the bottom of backpacks so people can’t dip in and pinch them!
What happens if my cabin bag is put in the hold?
Budget airlines may whip your cabin bag away and pop it in the hold (for free) if the flight is full, but Aviva say valuables aren’t covered in the hold, so take out cameras, phones, tablets, money and passport and take them on board. I always keep these in a small bag that I can take out quickly if this happens.
STAY SAFE ON THE BEACH
We all struggle with this one, deciding who wants to take turns for a dip in the sea.
Aviva suggest taking minimal cash and clipping your bag to a sun lounger. You could also put a padlock on the zip to deter opportunist thieves.