Why you need Travel Insurance

An emergency abroad can be extremely expensive. If you have a problem abroad and need to be returned to the UK it could cost you thousands of pounds, unless you are adequately insured.

Relying on your credit card accident cover, home contents insurance, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or private health cover is often not enough and remember don't bank on the British Embassy or High Commission helping as they will not cover these bills.

What your travel insurance policy should cover

Medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness or death abroad 

24-hour emergency service and assistance services

Personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing accident to a person or their property

Cover to replace lost and stolen possessions

Cancellation and curtailment cover

Extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as skiing or extreme sports

The policy should cover the whole time that you’re away. Multi-trip policies may specify a maximum number of days’ travel.

Personal accident cover

Legal expenses cover

Financial protection if your airline goes bankrupt before or during your trip

Travel insurance buying tips

Cheaper policies will usually have less cover – for some the price seems most important, but is it worth the initial saving? Our site provides a quote with everything and which then can be tailored. We don't work the other way round and potentially leave you exposed.

Consider annual multi-trip insurance if you make several trips a year – you’ll save time and money.

If travelling within the European Economic Area you will need an EHIC as well as travel insurance as this will reduce on a medical claim down to zero for emergency hospital treatment.

Holiday cancellation and abandonment

A good travel insurance policy will also need to cover you for cancelling or cutting a trip short because of:

Accident

Illness

Family bereavement

Pregnancy 

Jury service or witness summons

Home emergency: fire, storm or flood, burglary

Redundancy or required for service in Armed Services

Strikes

Bad weather – affects the departure of flights and ships

When buying a travel insurance policy you should also look out for the following;

· Personal liability cover

If you accidentally cause an injury to someone or damage their property they may sue you. Good travel insurance will cover you for personal liability.

· Personal accident cover – disability and death

Travel insurance can cover a personal accident payment made for permanent disability or death.

· Cover for stolen, lost or damaged possessions

Limits for single items such as cameras and jewellery can vary from as little as £250 up to £1000 or more. Check these limits are adequate and realistic. You should report a loss to the Police within 24 hours. Proof of notification will be required when you make your claim.

All insurance policies say that you must take care of your belongings at all times. If you don’t, the policy may not pay out.

Take as much care of your property as if it were uninsured.

· Lost baggage on flights

Do not rely on compensation from an airline if it loses your luggage. By law, airlines only have to pay a specified minimum value per kilo of lost luggage. This is unlikely to cover the full value of your things.

· Legal expenses cover

Taking out legal expenses cover will help you to pursue compensation or damages following personal injury while you’re abroad – very important in countries without a legal aid system.

Extra sporting Activities

It's so important to ensure that when you do travel your policy covers you for whatever activities you wish to undertake.

Too many times we get calls from people abroad who have travelled and who then find that they can't go skiing on their free bank policy or it won't cover them off piste, or it will allow sailing but not Hobie Cats or it will allow hiking but not over 2000 metres.

Our policy is always to be flexible and provide the widest choice possible of sporting activities.