travel insurance

09 February 2012

There is less than six months to go until the Olympic Games in London, where the world’s best athletes compete in one of the world’s greatest sporting spectacles.

As excitement sets in and the venues near completion, many people across the world are planning and preparing their travel plans to visit the UK and witness this huge sporting event.

However, it seems as if not everyone is so excited about the Olympic Games coming to London, as research by ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents - shows that 12% of British people will be actively looking to go on a summer holiday abroad this year during the games.

If you are one of the many people looking to leave the country during the Olympics, it would be wise to ensure you have adequate travel insurance to ensure you are protected before and during your summer holiday.

Summer holiday insurance – things to consider

One feature to certainly be aware of on your travel insurance policy is the amount your insurer will reimburse you if you cancel your holiday because of unforeseen circumstances such as suffering a serious illness or injury or even due to being selected for jury service.

Our data shows that 7% of single trip travel insurance policies will only contribute £1,000 or less towards the cost of your holiday if you cancel.

However, 40% of single trip travel insurance policies will offer £5,000 or more to cover cancellation costs.

This feature can be very useful to cover you from the moment you book till the moment you return from your summer holiday.

Another area your travel insurance policy can cover is the replacement cost if your passport is lost, stolen or destroyed.

Our data shows that 52% of single trip travel insurance policies offer between £200 and £300 to cover the costs of replacing your passport abroad, while 19% will provide £500 or more.

Some providers may even reimburse you for the costs of accommodation, travel and communications during the time it takes you to get an emergency replacement passport.

These two features can ensure your peaceful summer holiday away from the Olympic Games doesn’t end in a nightmare. Read our guide to travel insurance to learn about the other features that are available on travel insurance policies that could benefit you.

If you are considering taking out travel insurance along with your summer holiday, use our Star Ratings tool to find the Star Rating of the policies you are considering and compare them with the rest of the market, to help you find products with the right level of cover for you.

26 January 2012

14% of skiers and snowboarders don’t have winter sports cover or don’t bother to check their travel insurance policy to see if they are covered for accidents, according to Santander.

Their findings highlight that British skiers and snowboarders are taking to the slopes without properly understanding the level of coverage they have on their travel insurance policy.

Receiving treatment for a skiing accident can be very costly, with air ambulances costing up to £30,000 in North America.

If you are planning on going skiing this year then it is vital that you check your travel insurance policy is up to scratch, particularly the amount provided to cover medical expenses.

Your insurer will reimburse you the costs of any treatment you may need after suffering a skiing accident.

Our data shows that 52% of single trip travel insurance policies that offer winter sport cover provide medical expenses up to £10,000,000, while 26% of policies offer a maximum of £5,000,000 for treatment needed on any skiing injury you suffer abroad.

Although the amount of coverage provided can seem high, it depends on the country you are visiting and the severity of the injury being treated. For example, the cost of having a broken leg treated while you are in the United States of America can vary from £11,000 through to £40,000. Then you have to consider the cost of being repatriated back to the UK which can cost more than £30,000 depending on the severity of your injury. This is why medical expenses can spiral out of control very quickly.

Skiing accidents can happen out of the blue and the best way to be prepared for any eventuality is by ensuring you have the right level of cover on your travel insurance policy.

If you need to check if your policy is up to scratch, why not use our Star Ratings tool to compare your travel insurance policy against others on the market?

20 January 2012

Now Christmas is over, many people are beginning to start planning for a holiday in the summer.

Planning for a holiday has many twists and turns to negotiate, such as picking the right destination and accommodation, choosing the best dates to go and arranging visas if necessary.

However, one area that can be overlooked when planning for a holiday is ensuring you are covered by a travel insurance policy.

Given the significant expense often involved in booking a holiday, it is important to arrange suitable travel insurance once your booking is made to safeguard the money you have spent.

This is particularly important given the long gap between bookings that are made now and the summer holiday itself.

One feature provided by your travel insurance policy worth checking is the cover you have if you cancel your holiday.

Your insurer will reimburse you if you cancel your holiday because of unforeseen circumstances such as suffering a serious illness or injury or even if you are selected for jury service.

Our data shows that 7% of single trip and 6% of annual trip travel insurance policies will only contribute £1,000 or less towards the cost of your holiday if you cancel.

However, 41% of single trip and 53% of annual trip travel insurance policies will offer £5,000 or more to cover cancellation costs, so it is essential that you choose a policy that will meet the cost of your holiday if you do need to cancel.

If you are planning for a holiday, then why not read our guide to travel insurance, to find out more about other areas that you should consider before choosing a policy?

21 December 2011

The most popular Christmas holiday destinations have been shortlisted by travel association ABTA, as more than 4 million British people plan on going on holiday this festive period.

The figures show that Christmas holidays are split between those going to Europe for a skiing holiday, to visit Lapland or to see the Northern Lights in search of a traditional white Christmas and those taken abroad in sunnier climates, with the Caribbean, Mexico and Australia all proving popular destinations.

If you are preparing to go away on a Christmas holiday abroad over the festive period, you may want to consider getting travel insurance to protect your luggage.

Travel insurance can ensure you have a flawless Christmas holiday

Having the right level of cover on your travel insurance for your baggage will ensure that you are covered for any loss or damage caused to your luggage while you are on your Christmas holiday.

One feature you will have to consider carefully on any single trip travel insurance policy is the total amount the insurer is willing to pay out to cover the cost of loss or damage to your suitcases while on your Christmas holiday.

Our data shows that 35% of policies will provide up to £1,500 to cover the loss or damage of your luggage, while another 35% of policies provide more cover between £2,000 and £3,000 if you need extra protection for your luggage.

Although getting the right overall limit for your luggage is important, it is also worth bearing in mind that some insurers set a maximum limit for each item in your suitcase.

Our data highlights that a majority (58%) of single trip travel insurance policies provide cover of between £200 and £300 for a single item in your luggage.

Another feature worth enquiring about is the limit on valuable items, but it is important to find out from your insurer what their definition of a valuable item is, as they vary from insurer to insurer.

Our data does show that 36% of single trip travel insurance policies will provide a maximum of between £250 and £300 for each valuable item in your suitcase, while 24% of policies can offer you a higher level of cover for your valuable items.

If you are going on a skiing Christmas holiday, you may need to check the level of cover provided for your ski equipment and whether it is included in the total baggage feature included on your policy.

This means that should your baggage with your ski equipment be lost or damaged en route to your skiing holiday destination, your insurer will cover the loss of your baggage by reimbursing you for expenses incurred such as buying clean clothes or essentials you need and replacing the items affected.

Our data shows that only a small number (7%) of single trip travel insurance policies include ski equipment as part of the protection for your baggage, while 92% of single trip travel insurance policies offer this cover as an additional extra.

These are just a few features to ensure that you have a trouble free Christmas holiday, even if your baggage was to be lost or damaged while in transit or at your holiday destination.

If you are considering taking out travel insurance out for your Christmas holiday, you may want to use our Star Rating tool to compare the level of cover provided by each single trip travel insurance policy on the market, to ensure you get a policy with the right level of features for you.

08 December 2011

73% of people looking to take a skiing holiday this Christmas are considering ways to cut the cost of their trip, including opting not to purchase travel insurance.

According to Sainsbury’s Finance, due to the uncertain economic climate many skiers are being forced to reduce the cost of their skiing holiday, by taking packed lunches, borrowing ski equipment from friends and relatives or saving money by not taking out a travel insurance policy.

Having adequate travel insurance is essential, especially on a winter sports holiday. As you prepare for your Christmas skiing holiday abroad, we have highlighted a few single trip travel insurance features that you should consider before opting not to protect yourself and your ski equipment.

Travel insurance can ensure you have a stress free skiing holiday

If you are going on a skiing holiday and you want to have a travel insurance policy, you will need to check that the policy you choose provides winter sports cover.

Our data shows that only 16% of single trip travel insurance policies provide winter sports cover as standard. However, 62% of single trip travel insurance policies do offer winter sports cover as an optional feature, which will mean you will have to pay an extra premium.

Certainly one feature to consider on your travel insurance policy is winter sports cover that protects against accidental damage, loss or theft of the ski equipment you use.

The policies that provide this type of cover specify a maximum amount they will cover your ski equipment for. Our data shows that 57% of single trip travel insurance policies provide between £500 and £750 worth of cover for your ski equipment, while only 12% of single trip travel insurance policies offer up to £1,000 to cover any damage, loss or theft to your ski equipment.

It is worth checking the details of travel insurance policies carefully when looking out for this feature as many policies have a set limit for the maximum they will pay out for ski equipment you own or hire.

Our data shows that almost half of single trip travel insurance policies provide up to £500 to cover your own ski equipment, while 19% of single trip products offer an increased limit of £1,000.

However, a third of single trip travel insurance policies will only provide cover between £200 and £300 for ski equipment that is hired, while a quarter will offer up to £500 worth of cover.

Another feature worth considering before taking out a travel insurance policy for your skiing holiday is whether your ski equipment is included in the total baggage feature included on your policy.

This means that should your baggage with your ski equipment be lost or damaged en route to your skiing holiday destination, your insurer will cover the loss of your baggage by reimbursing you for expenses incurred such as buying clean clothes or essentials you need.

Our data shows that only a small number (7%) of single trip travel insurance policies include ski equipment as part of the protection for your baggage, while 92% of single trip travel insurance policies offer this cover as an additional extra.

If you are going away for a skiing holiday this Christmas, you will want to ensure that you make the most of the slopes. However, the last thing you want is to find that your ski equipment is lost, stolen or damaged before you arrive at the resort or during your skiing holiday. These travel insurance features could save you money in the long run by protecting your ski equipment.

Why not use our comparison tool to compare all the single trip travel insurance policies that offer cover for skiing holidays, to help you find the a travel insurance policy with the right level of cover for you.

22 November 2011

With the winter holiday season fast approaching and people looking for last-minute deals on skiing holidays, we decided to examine the 342 single trip travel insurance policies on the market to find out what cover is available for trips abroad this winter.

According to our data, 13% of single-trip travel insurance policies do not offer any cover for winter sports and, where it is offered, the features and level of cover varies widely between policies. So if you’re taking a skiing or snowboarding holiday this winter it is important to consider what winter sports insurance features you’re going to need and check the details of a policy carefully before buying.

Winter sports insurance features

If you are planning a skiing or snowboarding trip this winter then it pays to look closely at the features and cover provided by different policies to ensure that they offer enough cover for your holiday. The level of cover provided for key features of winter sports insurance vary widely from policy to policy:

Winter sports equipment – be careful, because 80% of policies provide less than £1,000 cover for the loss or theft of equipment, such as skis, boots and poles. Some policies don’t cover equipment at all.

Hired equipment – according to our data, more than half of the available policies provides less than £500 of cover if your hired equipment is lost or stolen. Once again, some don’t cover at all so check your policy.

Cover for loss of a ski pass – if you were to lose your ski pass, 31% of policies would provide £200 or less (12% of which would offer no cover at all), while 24% would offer £500 or more to cover the cost of a replacement.

Piste closure – only 8% of policies provide cover of £50 or more per day to compensate if a piste is closed (due to adverse weather conditions, for example). 56% provide cover of £20 or less for this, while 5% offer no cover at all.

Avalanche delay – if an avalanche leaves you needing to find alternative accommodation, there’s a strong chance that your insurance won’t cover it. Only 16% of policies offer cover of £500 or more for this, and 20% provide no cover.

Choosing the right travel insurance policy

Mike Powell, our resident expert on General Insurance, says that these figures highlight the need for people to focus on features above cover when choosing travel insurance:

“To ensure they get the right type and level of cover for their trip, you need to focus first and foremost on pinpointing the features you need from a travel insurance policy and identifying the policies that provide that cover.

"Although important, price should not be the primary basis for comparison – after all, buying the cheapest cover available could end up being the most expensive option if it doesn’t provide adequate cover for your holiday or possessions.”

Our travel insurance guide has more information on the features you might encounter when choosing a travel insurance policy. Alternatively, you can use our compare tool to compare the features and cover levels of every travel insurance policy on the market.

14 November 2011

With more and more people taking winter breaks in order to enjoy snow sports each year, winter sports cover is becoming an increasingly popular product. But it’s vital that you check the level of cover and exclusions of winter sports travel insurance policies carefully in order to avoid being landed with expensive costs, should the worst happen.

Winter sports cover

Winter sports cover is available from most insurance providers, usually either as an added extra with a standard travel insurance policy or as a standalone product. It promises to extend your travel insurance policy so that it includes the winter activities that you may undertake, including skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating and more.

However, don’t assume that having winter sports cover will protect you against everything; a travel insurance policy always comes with exclusions and winter sports cover is no exception. Knowing what to look out for will help you to decide which policy suits your needs, or to understand what your existing policy actually covers.

Travel insurance exclusions

Most winter sports cover policies include an exclusion which states that any accident caused by the consumption of alcohol, whether directly or indirectly, will not be covered by the travel insurance policy. Whether an accident is indirectly caused by alcohol can be a hard thing to debate, so some policies will not pay out if you have consumed alcohol within 24 hours of skiing.

Some, however, will limit the exclusion to ‘excessive’ alcohol intake, addiction, or ‘prior abuse of alcohol’. Some may also refuse to pay out if you have put yourself in ‘needless peril’. Understanding what these terms mean is important if you want to get the most out of your winter sports cover.

A large amount of policies refuse to cover off-piste skiing, listing it as a dangerous activity. So if you plan going off-piste, have a look at your policy document or check with the insurer to see if you are covered first. If not, it might be worth looking elsewhere. Also bear in mind that some winter sports policies will pay out if you hurt yourself off-piste, but only if you are accompanied by a recognised guide.

Of course, winter sports cover isn’t the only variety of travel insurance policy that carries exclusions, and it is always a good idea to check your policy before you go on holiday. Reading our travel insurance guide is a great way of learning about the different features and levels of cover available.

28 October 2011

Autumn half term holidays are here and many families will be looking to get away to catch the late summer sun.

If you are planning to get away during the school half term then you may want to consider the level of protection you have on your travel insurance policy for you and your family.

Features to ensure you have a good school half term getaway

We have highlighted some features worth considering when choosing an annual trip travel insurance policy:

• cancellation of your holiday
• loss or damage of your luggage
• cover for your money

One feature certainly worth checking is protection against the cancellation of your holiday due to you or one of your family members becoming ill, being injured or passing away. This feature will help cover the costs of your holiday lost due to the cancellation.

Our data shows that 23% of annual trip travel insurance policies provide up to £3,000 to cover the costs for your holiday being cancelled, while 47% of products will offer up to £5,000 worth of protection.

Another feature to look out for on your travel insurance policy before you go on your half term holiday is cover for the loss or damage of your luggage.

Our data shows that 38% of travel insurance policies will provide up to £1,500 to cover your baggage, while 36% of products offer between £2,000 and £2,500.

Cover for money that you take away on half term holiday with you is another feature to consider on your annual trip travel insurance policy.

Our data shows that 22% of annual trip travel insurance policies provide up to £200 to cover any lost or stolen money, while 7% of products will offer up to £500.

However, in order to claim you will need to prove that the cash was stored in a locked safe, if it disappears from an apartment or hotel room. Your insurer will also require you to report the loss or theft of your money directly to the police in order to receive a crime reference number. You’ll usually have to do this within 24 hours of the theft occurring.

These are a few key features to consider in order to give you peace of mind while you are away on half term holiday. If you are going away during school half term, then why not use our Star Ratings tool to help you find a product with the right level of coverage for you?

14 October 2011

75% of British holidaymakers get annoyed with their partners on holiday, with more than a third of men believing that women take too many clothes on holiday, according to MoneySupermarket.com.

Their research also shows that nine out of ten women don’t even wear all the holiday clothes they take abroad with them.

If you are going on holiday, you should protect your holiday wardrobe from any damage or loss while you are aboard, which is where the right travel insurance policy can help.

The loss of your holiday wardrobe may not be a complete disaster

We have highlighted two important features to consider when choosing a single trip travel insurance policy – the limit for single items and the limit for valuable items covered by your travel insurance policy.

The total amount that your insurer will pay for the loss of your holiday clothes varies from policy to policy.

Our data shows that 35% of single trip travel insurance policies will provide up to £1,500 cover for any loss or damage to your luggage.

21% of policies will offer a maximum of £2,000 to protect your holiday clothes. It is worth reviewing this feature carefully to ensure you have the right level of cover to enable you to replace your holiday wardrobe if your case was to be lost or damaged.

Another feature to consider on your travel insurance policy is the maximum amount your policy will provide for a single item in your baggage.

Our data shows that 24% of travel insurance policies provide up to £300 of cover for a single item in your holiday wardrobe, while 7% of products will provide a maximum of £500 for a single item.

The valuables that you may have in your baggage can also be protected by your travel insurance. However, you will need to check with your insurer to be sure what their definition of valuables is, as some providers will only class jewellery as a valuable item, whereas others deem cameras and MP3 players to fit this definition.

Our data shows that 18% of policies provide up to £300 of cover for a single valuable item in your baggage, while 12% of single trip travel insurance products offer £500 for each valuable item.

If you are travelling abroad for a late autumn holiday to catch the sun before the winter, then you will need to ensure that you have the right level of cover on your travel insurance to protect your holiday clothes. Why not use our Star Ratings tool to compare your travel insurance policy against others on the market?