Staycations: Why You Should Still Consider Travel Insurance

Thanks to the heat wave we experienced at the beginning of July and the current weakness of the British pound against other currencies, staycations are currently enjoying renewed popularity, with more holidaymakers choosing to visit locations around the UK.

You could be forgiven for thinking that trading in flights and exotic locations for a drive down the motorway to Brighton would simplify your holiday. But did you know that you are still at risk of all the problems that can arise from a holiday abroad?

A recent study found that six out of ten holidaymakers do not take out a travel insurance policy when they holiday at home, which leaves them unprotected against risks such as cancellation and loss of personal items and luggage.

With the cost of a cancellation coming in at an average of £459 and an average claim for loss or damage of personal belongings costing £260, your holiday could have some expensive repercussions if you aren’t adequately insured.

Whilst you will not require a travel insurance policy for healthcare in the UK, you can still get coverage for issues with travel such as missed trains, ferries and internal flights, as well as issues with accommodation.

Last year, LV= reported that they paid nearly £1m for missed travel, cancellations, loss or damage to personal items and medical related issues on UK trips.

It’s a fact of life that when we travel, we take all our gadgets with us. Younger holidaymakers are travelling with over £1,200 worth of gadgets including, phones, chargers, headphones, speakers and laptops.

Surprisingly, over-50s also take a lot of expensive extras with them, including cameras, binoculars, sat navs and watches, totalling £6,000.

Luckily for some, most home insurance policies have an add-on for taking your gadgets out of the house. Whether you are planning on camping or staying in a hotel, your policy should cover you – but it pays to check the small print.