Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Get covered for broken phones as well as bones
Budgets are stretched and travel insurance may be something people are less keen to consider when planning their holidays – but this could be a costly mistake.
Serious claims, such as an accident overseas can quickly run into thousands of pounds.
Simon Taylor, director of travel money at Sainsbury’s Bank, highlights six pitfalls to avoid...
Skipping the small print
“Covid cover, for example, will more than likely be included as standard, but read the terms and conditions to ensure you don’t have to add it on separately,” says Simon.
“Don’t forget that most policies cover a wide range of situations – not just cancellations or medical emergencies but tech mishaps. It’s not just broken bones, but broken phones as well.”
Leaving it to the last minute
One in 10 people wait until a week before their trip to sort insurance, according to Sainsbury’s Bank.
“It’s really important to purchase insurance as soon as you’ve booked and ensure that policy kicks in straight away,” says Simon, “this way, you’ll be covered for cancellation and any of the other perils before you leave for your trip.”
Not shopping around
“This means you could be losing out on some serious savings, or not purchasing the most relevant cover for you,” says Simon.
Only focusing on this holiday
“Think about how much you’re planning to travel in the next year. If you have several trips in the pipeline, it may be better to buy an annual travel policy.”
Assuming you’ll be covered for all activities
“Have a close look at your policy and see if you need extra cover for any extreme sports or activities like skiing or scuba diving,” Simon advises.
Insurance on staycations
Around one in nine (11.5%) people choose not to buy travel insurance for staycations, while one in 10 (10.8%) forget entirely, research suggests. Simon adds: “Just because you aren’t abroad, doesn’t mean emergencies can’t arise.”