UK holidays have grown in popularity over recent years. The poor economic climate is one of the leading reasons behind their resurgence as families have sought destinations on a limited budget.
As well as the being cheaper, holidays at home have plenty of other benefits. You can pack as much as can fit in a car without worrying about weight limits and it’s far more convenient to be able to drive to your camp site, resort or hotel.
You might also think that travel insurance is one less thing to worry about if you going away within the UK, but this is not the case.
(photo credit: The Guardian)
If you were to ask most people why it’s important to have travel insurance, the most likely answer you would receive is that it would save on medical bills should someone fall ill or suffer an injury abroad.
Obviously, with British citizens able to get free treatment on the NHS this is not the case if you are on a UK holiday, but there are many other reasons why taking out a travel insurance policy is still essential.
Expensive Possessions
One benefit of taking a break in the UK is that you can take with you as many possessions as you can get in a car. Parents of teenage children will vouch for the fact that this is likely to include expensive gadgets, electronic games and consoles. Once you’ve thrown in the sat nav, MP3 player and a laptop, all of a sudden you’re transporting a small fortune’s worth of equipment.
A travel insurance policy would cover for the loss of or damage to of all possessions taken on holiday.
You would also be covered if you have to cancel or cut your holiday short. In the event of a member of the family falling ill the day before you depart, it is reassuring to know that you could claim back any money you’ve paid out.
Missed Flight or Ferry
While most holiday destinations in the UK will be driveable, there are some that will require a ferry trip or a short flight. If you happen to miss your flight due to an accident on the motorway, for example, your policy will cover the cost. This would also be the case if your flight or ferry trip was delayed for more than 12 hours.
While you won’t be hit with expensive medical bills after a holiday at home, there are other factors to think about when considering travel insurance. If you happened to suffer an injury that required lengthy hospital treatment, many insurance policies would pay to transport you to a hospital closer to home, saving you’re the cost of extended hotel stays for your family. However, it is important to note that very few travel insurance policies will include private health care.
If you take a break particularly close to home, you need to pay close attention to the terms of your travel insurance as it’s a condition of most policies that your destination is at least 25 miles from your home. Your policy is also likely to state that the purpose of your trip must be pleasure rather than business.
Post supplied by Tony, a UK travel blogger who writes for comparison site SO Switch. If you’re looking to save money on car insurance, check out the SO Switch car insurance quote comparison to ensure that you get the best price available.