Travel insurance is important no matter what time of year you go on holiday. After all, the last thing you want is to end up sitting in a hotel room for several days in the same clothes because your luggage got lost. This is associated with flying of course but things can go wrong when you go on a self drive as well, or even travel by ferry. Christmas is the worst time of year for things to go wrong, which means that it is inevitable that it does for some people. Travel insurance plays a big part in damage limitation and can even give you the peace of mind you need to be able to enjoy a Christmas holiday no matter what.

The likelihood is that you will be travelling with presents if you are on holiday for Christmas. Very few people leave their presents at home. As such, if you lost your luggage or your car was broken into then you would lose a lot more than standard luggage that incorporates clothing and toiletries. However, some travel insurance policies will only cover your goods for up to a certain amount and that amount is often nowhere near enough to replace any Christmas presents that are stolen. Furthermore, some travel insurance providers will not cover presents if they are not declared and would certainly not cover high value goods like jewellery.

As such, you need to check all of the available travel insurance policies if you are travelling over Christmas and read the small print. Speak to an operator of the provider and ask questions. All phone calls have to be recorded and any assurances you get when taking out a policy have to be honoured if you should claim. Check the claim limits and the excesses and make sure that your travel insurance will literally cover everything you are taking with you. You cannot be too careful. If you are a bit dubious of the limits then either take out another policy or opt for higher goods values for a little extra in terms of the premium.

Travel insurance is important if you want to have a good Christmas. Get that peace of mind before you go and you will find that your Christmas feels much happier and trouble free than it may otherwise be!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Being approved for health insurance as part of a travel insurance package so you can travel often feels impossible for those with serious illnesses, as you may realise if you have ever applied for it. That may actually be why you have decided to go to the Continent on the ferry or via Eurostar in the first place because many airlines will not accommodate you if you are ill without insurance just in case anything happens. However, it is obviously best not to travel without travel insurance or health insurance of some sort if you are heading out of the country.

Of course, you do have the option of going on holiday without travel insurance but it is not advisable so it may be that the person you are going with should obtain travel insurance in case anything does happen when you are on holiday. If you can find a company to approve you or a basic policy that does not include health costs then you should also obtain cover. In terms of the health insurance element though, if you are ill then you should try to obtain a policy that will enable you to get home quickly and efficiently should the need arise. Some specialist providers do offer these policies but they are rather expensive. That is not to say that you should remain at home and not go on holiday but you will have to assess whether the cost is worth it.

If you are in need of any health insurance and are facing difficulties as a result of your health then you should consult your doctor. He or she will have to perform an examination anyway and certify you fit for travel. Forms will need to be completed for an insurer and you will also need to take details with you regarding your treatment and any other details that your doctor may deem vital should you need hospital treatment when you are on the continent.

Do not be disheartened by repeated rejections from insurers when looking for health insurance. You must persevere for your own sake if nothing else. After all, collapsing on holiday is hardly enjoyable but when you can’t get home it is even worse! Your health is no joke so make life that little bit easier.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Travel insurance is a necessary expense despite the fact that it is not compulsory. You can easily travel without travel insurance these days if you do want to save money but rather than thinking of how much it would cost you and that you probably won’t need it, you should be thinking of how much it will save you instead. Believe me, good travel insurance can save you an awful lot of money.

Thinking it will never happen to you is a mistake. That one time that you do not have travel insurance will undoubtedly be the one time that you car is broken into and all of your stuff is stolen. It will also be the time that you misplace your expensive camera. It will also be the time when you cannot find your passports and cash in your bag because you have been pick-pocketed. As such, it is absolutely essential that travel insurance be on your priority list because it will cover all of the above instances. If you do not have insurance then you would have to cover the cost of all of the above and it could actually cost you hundreds of pounds. However, if you do have travel insurance then all you would have to pay is the excess, which is minimal on some policies. There are some policies you can choose to have no excess on but they do tend to be a little more expensive.

The initial cost of travel insurance is not particularly high. You can get a good policy to cover a family for very little outlay. If you do want to save money and will only go on one trip next year then choose a single trip policy rather than an annual policy as that will cost you less. When that is in place then you can most definitely go away with peace of mind that if anything does go wrong then you will not find it a financial strain! Anything that offers minimal financial strain is, after all, a blessing at the moment!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Did you know that the majority of mobile phone insurances and approximately half of travel insurances would not cover lost or stolen mobile phones if you were away from your home country? Those that do cover it also cut their losses because many stipulate that they will not pay costs if the person that stole it in the first place uses it and charges the calls to your bill. Bear in mind, if you’re abroad then you’re paying the roaming charges too… ouch!

There is help at hand though, as long as you follow the hints and tips outlined here.

Firstly, check your mobile phone insurance and travel insurance documents. Both will outline exactly what you are covered for and how much you are covered for. If they cover your mobile, they will also outline any stipulations that they have should you lose it or have it stolen and individuals makes calls on it. Pay attention to the small print here because there may be clauses, such as if you do not report your phone right away then you are fully liable for the calls. If you are not covered under either then contact your provider of mobile phone insurance because they will often offer an add on you can select to cover you when abroad.

After making sure that you are covered under at least one of the insurances, you need to write down two things on a piece of paper, which you should then keep entirely separate from your mobile phone at all times. The first is the customer service phone number of your network provider. The second is the mobile serial number. It is commonly called the IMEI number and can be found underneath the battery of your phone. If you don’t know your mobile phone number off by heart then you should also write that down too!

If your phone does get lost or stolen when you are abroad then you should call the network provider straight away and give he information outlined above. They can then block the phone and the SIM card right way so no more phone calls can be made with immediate effect. If any more calls are made after the time that you call then they are liable for the costs, not you. As such, you should always endeavour to call from your hotel room or on a family member or friend’s mobile phone so that there is an easily accessible record of it should it ever be queried.

Doing all of the above will protect you to a certain degree. If you can’t do the above, for whatever reason, then I have one piece of advice for you – leave your mobile at home!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Every person that goes on a self drive holiday to Europe should have three types of insurance. That is, you should have three types of insurance if you own or rent your home. The reason for this will become clear in a moment. 

The following insurances are absolutely essential because between them they will protect your interests whilst you’re away:

Travel Insurance – This is the most obvious one, but not everybody chooses to take out a policy. It should be a part of any good holiday purely and simply because it provides you with peace of mind should anything happen. For example, if a member of your family is taken into hospital with food poisoning then you know that the travel insurance will cover any medical bills should it be necessary. If your caravan or hotel room is broken into then it doesn’t matter what’s gone because your travel insurance will cover it. Of course, both of these problems might just put a dampener on your holiday but it won’t ruin it if your insurance company can help you to replace what’s lost and bear the burden.

Car Insurance – Every driver going on a self drive holiday is legally obliged to have car insurance. It’s the same on the Continent as it is at home – if you don’t have car insurance then you’re on the road illegally and can be prosecuted as a result. You should make sure that the insurance for your car or for your rental car is comprehensive in its coverage. It is worth asking your insurance company how far you are covered just in case. There is nothing worse than getting into an accident and finding that you are libel for damages because your coverage wasn’t good enough or didn’t count because you were outside of the UK.

Home Insurance – This is one I guarantee that you won’t think about. If you are on holiday though, what happens if someone breaks into your house or something happens to damage it? This is why it is essential to have home insurance in place before you go. Another element of home insurance is that it will often cover you for things that travel insurance does not. For example, you have personal possessions cover on home insurance that will cover items that your travel insurance won’t, such as your mobile phone. As such, obtaining a policy if you don’t already have one is a great idea.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Expert after expert advocates that travel insurance is well worth the money. For a single trip policy for one person, you are looking at a fee of £30 to £50, sometimes more or less depending on what you want your policy to include. It could potentially include winter sports cover (which is an optional extra), a variable excess or no excess at all, personal possessions and various other optional elements, all of which do not come as standard. This will lower or raise your premium accordingly, but this still does not tell you whether it’s good value for money or not.

I personally would never travel abroad without travel insurance but an incident that occurred a few months ago will definitely make me be a little bit pickier in the future. I want to share this experience because it highlights that the cheapest quote isn’t always the best. After a trip abroad earlier on this year, I had to claim for my digital camera. The security people decided to open my suitcase and my camera, which was in it, disappeared.

I had read the policy before I left and there were no clauses stipulating I had to carry it with me in the terms. Despite this, and despite the insurance company being one of the most renowned ones in the UK, I was told I couldn’t claim because I had no proof I’d locked the case in the first place. I paid £27 for the policy and consider it wasted money. However, I had a similar claim approved before, albeit for a piece of jewellery and not a camera, but that one cost me £42. The insurer and premium was the only major difference.

Whilst I am not saying that all insurers will not pay good claims, I am drawing the conclusion that cheaper is not always better when it comes to travel insurance. It is worth looking at consumer reviews as well as the price. Too many people only pay attention to the premium cost and not the value that it offers you in return. That is more important than getting the cheapest possible price.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

It all sounds great. And, in all probability it will go like a dream and your holiday will be everything that you hoped for. But snags, small and large, can be just a heartbeat away. And if something does go wrong it’s best to have the peace of mind that you are well covered by sound insurance.

Some insurance policies might seem like an expensive addendum to what is already a hefty cost. But the price of not being properly covered is likely to be much, much worse.

I’ve only once been in a hospital abroad, thankfully for me only accompanying someone, but I can vouch that it is a scary experience. On that occasion, following a bizarre accident involving a kilt, a high kerb and a lot of blood, the staff took pity on us and treatment was offered free, the only price being the stares and laughter of almost every doctor and nurse on duty at the time.

But healthcare can be expensive abroad – and the price can be much, much higher if you need to be transported back to the UK.

The first tick on your checklist should be the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC for short), the replacement for the old E111 form. You can get the card easily by filling out a quick online form (including children, partners etc) and it should be delivered in seven days or so.

The EHIC is a first step but a valuable one. Some countries do apply restrictions but as long as you do your research before you go the card offers some peace of mind.

Of course it is better to have the additional security of your own health insurance policy. Age and existing medical conditions are two factors that will affect this. So try and shop around: price will be a factor but don’t be tempted to scrimp on a policy only to find out that you won’t be covered if disaster strikes.

If you are mugged, robbed or simply lose your money and cards then an adequate insurance policy can reduce the stress of a horrible experience. It’s amazing how many of us Brits spend so much on a holiday, fill expensive suitcases with expensive clothes and stuff wallets and handbags with cash and credit cards only to find that if any, or all, of this stuff goes missing we have very little protection.

It’s also a good idea to keep in mind what sort of activities your holiday is going to consist of. If you are, say, mountain biking or golfing then you can find an insurance package that will protect both you and your equipment.

Finally, for the self drive holiday goer, there is the question of vehicle insurance. Your existing insurance provider may offer insurance for driving abroad. If that doesn’t suit you then there are plenty of other companies who can provide an insurance policy that matches your requirements.

Things like the age of your car might affect cover and costs. And bear in mind other things: if you’re planning a day trip into another country then make sure your insurance won’t be affected.

So the moral of the insurance tale is quite a simple one: it’s better to be safe than sorry. Plan your holiday and plan the insurance that will suit you best. The irony is that you’ll probably never need to call on your insurance. But the peace of mind is worth it.

Guest Article by Tom Hall