• Shop around to get the best deal, despite what you might think or may have been told, there is no law that says you have to buy your travel insurance through your travel agent. Ensure your travel insurance policy covers the main problems you may encounter on your travels. As well as covering the cost of cancellation and medical treatment, make sure you are protected if your money or valuables are stolen or lost or if you miss your flight. You should also check the full range of benefits and exclusions within the policy. If you are planning any special excursions or sports then ensure they are covered. Take a copy of your policy with you.
• Book your travel insurance as soon as you can after you have booked your holiday to safeguard you if the trip is cancelled, or in certain circumstances, if you are forced to cancel yourself.
• If you are planning to take more than one trip during the year, one of the best ways to reduce the cost of travel insurance is to buy an annual policy as opposed to single trip cover. This policy will also cover you for any future holidays/breaks throughout the year.
• If you do have anything lost or stolen whilst on holiday, make sure that you obtain a report from the police – this is a condition of many policies and claims are often not covered if a report has not been obtained, especially for valuables and cash.
• Read the small print, it's better to go through it now than in a hospital bed or police station - especially if you find there is something missing or the cover starts on the wrong date.
Tips for the independent traveller...More and more British consumers are booking 'DIY' holidays independently of travel agents, meaning that elements of your holdiay might not be ATOL protected, for example you may book your accommodation, car hire or flights online, many travellers are taking the independent route, but it isnt risk free. What happens if the company you booked with goes bankrupt? Read on...
Booking with a credit card: If you use your credit card abroad or pre-book elements of your holiday using your credit card you might not be covered. You must have spent at least £100 on each element of your holiday. There’s no protection for payments made on debit cards.
Travel Insurance: Again read the small print, make sure you are covered for insolvency and always check the small print, as many policies do not include this cover.
