Vacation Reviews

Finding the Best Travel Insurance

Whether you are planning a holiday somewhere hot and sunny, or cold and snowy, you need to find the best travel insurance to protect you in case something were to happen while you are away. Buying travel insurance, unlike most other types of insurance, seems to be a relatively straightforward process.

When you book your holiday, many travel companies offer travel insurance as an extra. Or you may have been offered free travel insurance with your credit card or mortgage, in which case you think it’s all sorted and don’t need to worry about it again.

The travel insurance industry has changed a lot over the past ten years or so, especially since the rise of the internet. Now, as well as buying it from your travel agent, you can buy your insurance online, via a broker, at the post office and even at your local supermarket with your weekly shop.

Travel agents take the most commission from travel insurance, at around 35 per cent. This is a lot, yet around 30 per cent of people are still opting to buy from travel agents, mainly because of their sales techniques and everything can be done in one place without any extra hassle.

Those using their credit card for insurance, should read the small print as most cards only offer travel accident insurance, which does not cover all aspects. What you need to look for in a policy, recommended by The Consumers’ Association, is: up to £2m worth of medical treatment, up to £1m cover for personal liability, a 24-hour emergency helpline, membership of the financial ombudsman service, £3,000 to £5,000 cancellation or curtailment cover, up to £1,500 baggage and belongings cover, up to £500 for lost or stolen money.