Holidaymakers urged to buy insurance for breaks in Britain

Cash-strapped holidaymakers who opt to save money by spending their vacations in the UK instead of abroad are being urged not to overlook travel cover. Although the number of Brits planning to spend their holidays in the UK this year is booming, travel insurance providers say there has been no corresponding increase in the number of policies taken out for UK travel, prompting concerns that travellers are forgoing insurance simply because they do not think it is relevant if they are staying in the country.

The insurance price comparison website Confused.com said only 2% of all travel quotes sought via its portal were for customers looking for UK cover. "The number of UK insurance policies sold is dwarfed by that of European and worldwide policies, and in our experience fewer people shop around for UK cover," said Steve Williams, head of travel insurance at Confused. "But travel insurance should be seen as a vital part of any holiday you are planning, whether it be in the UK or further afield."

Although Brits do not need travel insurance to cover them for medical emergencies in the UK, it is recommended in case of cancellations or curtailment, which could leave holidaymakers with lost deposits and reservation fees, or hefty cancellation charges. However, Williams said holidaymakers should be careful to avoid doubling up on insurance they already have – items taken on holiday may already be covered by home insurance policies, while people with annual global or European travel cover will automatically be covered for trips in the UK.

Direct Travel Insurance said the most common reasons for cancelling holidays were redundancy, family illness or jury service. Last year, more than 150 claims relating to holidays taken in the UK were made by its policyholders, with an average of £1,074 being claimed for cancellations. Hoburne Holiday Parks, which has seven holiday parks in the UK, has seen its bookings rise by more than a third compared with this time last year. The company offers its customers an optional holiday cancellation scheme for its family lodges, which can cost more than £1,000 during peak times. Under the scheme, the company will waive its contractual rights if customers are forced to cancel a holiday.

news source : http://www.guardian.co.uk/