Destination vacation – keep it covered!

Jetting off to Dubai this winter for some sun? Or perhaps you’re planning to hit the slopes in the Alps?

Wherever you are travelling, it’s important to make sure you’ve got the correct travel insurance in place. We know (yawn) but it’s got to be done. Failing to take out adequate travel insurance can turn out to be a costly mistake. In some parts of the world, even minor surgery can cost from £7,500 and this can be increased by up to three times this price if you are traveling to the US.(¹)

We’ve put together some top tips for travelling smart, wherever in the world you’re heading . . .

• It’s not all about the getting the cheapest deal – you wouldn’t skimp on your car or home insurance knowing that you may face difficulties if you ever need to claim and your travel insurance is no different. Give yourself piece of mind so you are safe in the knowledge that you have the correct policy for you and if anything happens, you are covered. Look at the policy features and shop around to get the policy that suits you best.

• What type of policy? – do you just need a single-trip policy? Or are you going away again shortly, and so an annual policy might prove to be more cost effective? An annual policy runs for 12 months and typically costs around £25 (dependent on individual circumstances), so weigh it up and see what’s right for you. Remember, if you decide on an annual policy, make sure it covers the extremities of both trips i.e. you may be going to Dubai for a sunbathing holiday, but to the Alps for a skiing trip and will therefore need to ensure that you are covered for adventure sports!

• Holiday destination – world-wide cover will be more expensive than European and it may be more cost effective to purchase a single trip policy for world-wide cover each time you travel outside of Europe. It’s vital that you check which countries are covered under your policy before you travel as this will vary for each insurer.

• Baggage – some bank accounts offer benefits such as baggage insurance – check before you travel so you don’t pay for something you’re already covered for.

• Cancellation – try to buy as far ahead as you can, as you should benefit from cancellation cover. It’s worth reading through your policy to make sure that your cancellation cover makes sense. If the holiday costs you £4,000 there is not much point in paying to be covered for £300 cancellation . . .

• Airline failure – always check the small print for this one. If you bought your flight with a credit card you should have more protection, however it is always best to check with your credit card provider.

It might look like a lot of things to consider before you even depart for destination vacation, but it really is worth doing your research so that you can relax on your holiday whether you are sliding down the slopes or soaking up the sun.

¹: www.moneywise.co.uk/insurance/travel-insurance/10-tips-when-buying-travel-insurance