Why you should book travel insurance alongside your holiday
So you’ve booked your dream holiday, checked your passport is valid, ensured your pets can be looked after while you’re away. Now, what else? Ah yes, travel insurance. Surely that doesn’t need to be sorted yet? Does it?
Martin Lewis, founder of moneysavingexpert.com certainly thinks it should.
Many of us tend to leave arranging our travel insurance until the last minute but this could be very risky, warns Martin Lewis.
“If you have booked your holiday, but don’t have travel insurance, do it tonight, otherwise you’re running a risk. Don’t leave it, that’s pointless.”
Here are just four of the reasons why we should book our travel insurance alongside our holiday:
Pre-existing medical condition
Travel insurance including cancellation cover is vital if you have a pre-existing medical condition. If you have a last minute medical emergency then you wouldn’t want to lose your money on your holiday if you find that you are unable to travel.
If you ensure you declare all your medical conditions at the time you take out your policy then there shouldn’t be a problem recovering your costs and re-booking your holiday for a later date.
Flight cancellation
If your flight is cancelled it is the airline’s responsibility to provide you with alternative transport or a refund. However, you may incur costs due to the delay such as unused accommodation, onward travel tickets or car hire. These costs can all be covered by comprehensive travel insurance.
Delayed departure
Most policies will cater for delayed departure. So if you are delayed due to strike; industrial action; adverse weather conditions; mechanical breakdown; or a technical fault on your mode of transport, you will be covered.
And should your flight be delayed or cancelled for over 24 hours and you’re not offered an alternative means of transport, delayed departure cover may also entitle you to abandon your trip altogether and claim back the costs.
Further cover
In addition to paying out for cancellation and delays, travel insurance often includes cover for repatriation and lost or stolen baggage and along with lost or stolen items while you are away including cash, cameras, even golf clubs and wedding rings.
Insurance checklist
When you take out travel insurance make sure it is suited to your needs. Comprehensive travel insurance should include the following cover:
- Cancellation – if you have to cancel your holiday before go
- Medical expenses – for illness and accidents when you are abroad
- Personal accident – for death or permanent disablement
- Curtailment – if you need to cut your holiday short
- Lost documents – for lost or stolen passports, tickets etc.
- Baggage and possessions – for lost and stolen bags including contents
- Personal liability – for when an accident caused by you affects a third party.
So don’t delay, ideally take out travel insurance as soon as you have booked your holiday but if you haven’t yet got around to it – don’t take the risk, do it today!
