Insurance essential if breaks are to banish winter gloom
Personal insurance
4th January 2010
Those planning a winter break abroad this year or booking their summer holiday in order to have something to focus on during the cold months should consider travel insurance at the same time as organising their vacation, Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd has recommended.
With many people going overseas to assuage the winter depression that often follows Christmas and others picking a sunshine holiday destination for later in the year to banish the blues, it is important to realise that comprehensive cover is required even for those travelling on the continent with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Winter breaks are often booked to destinations outside Europe in a bid to escape the seasonal gloom and cold - and insurance policies become even more vital when locations do not lie within the European Union. Holidaymakers can face bills running into the tens of thousands of pounds if they fail to take out protection before setting off for far-flung sunshine resorts. This highlights the importance of travel insurance for short breaks, as well as longer trips overseas, as incidents can prove expensive in such circumstances and the EHIC does not provide cover for all eventualities, such as air ambulances back to the UK for treatment.
Additionally, vaccinations may be required for journeys to the southern hemisphere and travellers are advised to be careful what they eat and drink to avoid sickness while away, as well as checking the standards of hygiene at anywhere they stay.
People with second homes abroad are also reminded to take out policies when visiting their properties after research for website Gocompare.com suggested 28.8 per cent of such travellers do not have insurance, compared with 12.8 per cent of independent travellers and 3.2 per cent of holidaymakers on package deals.
Commenting on the need for policies for Britons booking winter or summer breaks over the coming months, Susan Young, group personal lines director at Giles Insurance, explained: "Holiday insurance is as important a part of any break overseas as booking confirmation and airline tickets and should be checked as carefully before setting off. With a growing range of products available to suit the needs and pockets of all travellers, there is no excuse to go abroad without cover and an experienced broker can offer access to the whole market to ensure that policies are fit for purpose."
One of the UK's leading brokers, Giles has access to some of the top insurers and can help customers to find the travel insurance policy that best suits their specific requirements.
