Counting the costs

INSURING a trip can save travelers from huge financial losses when the unexpected happens, but many take the risk rather than adding the expense of an insurance policy. Travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, shares 3 hacks to save money on a travel insurance policy, proving coverage doesn't need to come at a huge cost.

Insure Only Non-Refundable Trip Costs - Travelers insuring the cost of a trip can expect to spend 4-10% of their trip cost on a travel insurance policy, so it is important to remember: the lower the trip cost, the lower the premium.

To save from spending too much on a policy, travelers should only insure expenses they would lose if they are unable to travel as planned, such as airfare and hotel costs. For example, if a hotel requires travelers to pay a 50% penalty to cancel a hotel reservation, they should insure just that amount, rather than the full cost of the hotel.

Skip Cancel For Any Reason Coverage - While the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade can offer greater flexibility if a traveler needs to cancel their trip, it typically increases the cost of a policy by as much as 40% and only reimburses a portion of the trip cost. Since most common Trip Cancellation concerns are covered by standard cancellation policies, there is no reason for travelers to pay more for the benefit unless they have a unique concern that isn't otherwise covered.

Compare Your Options - The best way for travelers to find the least expensive policy that fits their needs is by shopping around and using a third-party comparison site, such as Squaremouth.com, to compare premiums and coverages. While policies typically have similar benefits, premiums vary widely depending on the insurance provider. Travelers who are offered a policy through their cruise line, airline, or credit card should compare it with other policies on the market to make sure they are getting the coverage they need at the lowest cost.


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Beware car hire waiver costs

CAR hire companies’ excess waiver policies are adding almost 50% to the original hire cost, according to a study by iCarhireinsurance.com, which compared the costs to hire a medium-sized car for a week in five European destinations from five large rental companies.  

Travellers often don’t know about excess waiver insurance, or how much it costs, until they arrive to pick up their hire car. Not purchasing this leaves car hirers exposed to the first part of any claim i.e., the excess amount if their hire car is damaged or stolen, which can be up to £1,400 even if it’s not their fault.

iCarhireinsurance.com, a provider of stand-alone car hire excess insurance, found the average cost for a week’s car rental was £237, while the average excess waiver policy from the rental company was £111 - adding almost 50% to the bill.

The study researched the costs to hire a car in Barcelona, Larnaca, Milan, Nice, and Tenerife from five leading rental companies … Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and Sixt in spring 2016. 

In Tenerife, drivers will be paying an additional 59% again on top of their week’s car hire for an excess waiver policy from the car hire company.  The cost of excess waiver from the rental companies varies considerably, but was often over the £111 average across the destinations.  In Milan, Europcar and Hertz charged £194 and £199 respectively for a week’s excess policy, while in Barcelona the same companies charged more than £140, and in Larnaca, Budget charged £168.

‘Car hirers could save themselves an enormous amount of money with a bit of planning before they travel,’ said Ernesto Suarez, CEO and founder of iCarhireinsurance.com.  ‘Anyone buying an excess waiver policy from the rental desk is paying on average £80 more than if they bought a policy from a stand-alone car hire excess provider. Our policies include the vulnerable parts of the vehicle such as windscreens and tyres, which are often excluded by the rental desk waivers.’

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A dog’s life … in the back of the car

PET behaviour counsellor Kris Glover and comfort-insurance.co.uk offer families advice on taking their dogs with them on a holiday in the country

A CLASSIC sign of anxiety from dogs is dribbling in the vehicle. Being in a car for a long time is not comfortable or natural for dogs, so it’s important to acclimatize them to their new surroundings.

To lower anxiety, put your pet in the vehicle next to you while feeding treats and leaving the door open. The dog shouldn’t feel trapped and having them on the lead will help maintain control. Repeat these sessions, but ensure they are short and frequent. Providing familiar bedding and favourite toys will help settle your dog.

Once the dog is relaxed, the vehicle’s door should be shut. Again, feed treats before letting your pet out. If you’re satisfied your dog is comfortable, feed meals within the car but observe from outside so they get used to being inside alone.

The last stage should be turning the vehicle’s engine on and allowing it to run while your pet is inside eating. A lot of practice and time is needed to help your pet learn to tolerate the vehicle. When this has been achieved, it’s then time to drive a short distance (around 100 yards) with your pet inside with treats, food and its familiar toys alongside. Once happy with this, plan a trip with your pet to a destination that would be good for them. Arriving at a fun holiday destination or park will help your pet associate vehicle journeys with positive destinations, rather than ending up at the vets.

For the journey …

It is essential the dog has an opportunity to go to the toilet prior to a long journey.

Dogs like comfort. So moving their bed from the house into the vehicle will allow them to feel as comfy as possible, and therefore as relaxed as possible.

A dog is much more likely to settle if they are prevented from seeing exciting things outside (e.g. a dog walking past), so try to place the dog’s bed in a location where he or she can’t see out of the windows. There will be some dogs who are more settled if they can see outside, so if your dog ticks that box, position their bed so they can see through the window.

Give them something to do. A food toy or a long lasting chew will give them a focus during the journey.

Make sure the dog has access to water (anti-spill water bowls are ideal for vehicle travel) if the inside temperature of the motorhome or vehicle is overly warm. Make sure the dog has an opportunity every two to three hours for a leg stretch and toilet break.

If holidaying abroad, consider whether the vehicle insurance includes the relevant cover. Motorhome insurance from Comfort Insurance includes up to £2,500 cover for pets.

www.comfort-insurance.co.uk

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Legal & General launches travel insurance offering

LEGAL & GENERAL has re-entered the travel insurance market, expanding the range of its insurance cover options.  

Travellers will be able to choose between three levels of cover – bronze, silver and gold – with a range of additional options such as wedding, winter sports, cruise, and golf cover, all available online via the company’s website (www.legalandgeneral.com).

Features include up to £15 million medical expenses cover, a 24/7 emergency UK helpline, gadget cover as standard, with the option to extend the limit of cover to meet specific needs, and all pre-existing medical conditions considered.

John Hyde, managing director, said: ‘Legal & General is committed to making life better for consumers, and our re-entry into the travel insurance market is just the next step in ensuring we are offering our customers a broad and competitive range of general insurance products across a variety of distribution channels.

Our new travel product is comprehensive and flexible, with customers having access to three levels of cover, gadget cover as standard, and a choice of add-ons to ensure their individual needs are met. ‘

Legal & General travel insurance is arranged and administered by the Hood Group.

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Aids for safe skiing

TO help safety-conscious skiers plan ahead. Airport Parking & Hotels has created a guide comparing safety regulations at some of the world's most popular resorts.

The research compares regulations and insurance options at 14 #ski resorts, including Breckenridge in Colorado, 3 Vallees in France, and Verbier in Switzerland, and looks at call-out costs for skiing accidents.

Ski insurance policies vary between each resort, with 12 of the 14 resorts included in the research offering specific cover options for visitors. French resorts including Chamonix, La Plagne, and Les Deux Alps provide the Carte Neige Insurance from £29 to £44, which covers medical and rescue fees for on and off-piste skiing and immediate replacement of lost lift passes. Alternatively, Verbier in Switzerland offer Snow Assist insurance for £3 per day or £66 per season, which covers refunds for rescue costs, ski rentals, lift passes, and skiing lessons.

Three of the resorts – La Plagne, St Moritz in Switzerland, and Valle d'Aosta in Italy – charge a call-out rescue fee. The fee varies from £140 at Valle d'Aosta to £569 at La Plagne. In Vail, Colorado, fees apply when a traveller has to be taken to hospital by ambulance, whereas rescues are free across the Mont Blanc Massif in France unless an airlift has to be arranged.

The Italian resort Cortina d'Ampezzo has the 'SkiCortina' app including the resorts' essential telephone numbers and ski slope details as well as displaying any risk of avalanches.

The research can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website at www.aph.com/skisafety

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Holidaymakers upgrade insurance as safety fears persist

TRAVEL agents are selling more comprehensive, ‘higher-end’ holiday insurance policies as consumer’s fears about security persist. 

Consumers are ‘more conscious about cover’ in the current climate, according to Ashley Close, head of #travelinsurance partnerships and business development at Holiday Extras, which sells 90% of its insurance product via travel agents.

The trend has emerged as the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said it was seeking a review of travel insurance regulation following a ‘worrying rise’ in people travelling without cover.

Mr Close said agents who were ‘already doing a good job of selling lower-end policies’ were shifting to policies which offer more cover. ‘People are more conscious of making sure they are protected. If they are going to areas that may be risky, they want to make sure they are covered.’

Andrea Clayton-Norris, sales director at Citybond Suretravel, agreed consumers were ‘moving towards the higher-end, more flexible policies’.

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Personal injury claims set to fall

UK TRAVEL companies will face fewer claims for personal injury and reduced costs after a clampdown on ‘compensation culture’.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a rise from £1,000 to £5,000 in the limit on small claims for personal injury. The change will mean more cases will be handled by small claims courts, where most claimants cannot expect to claim legal fees, even if they win.

Industry lawyer Stephen Mason, senior partner at Travlaw, said: ‘Life-changing injuries will continue to go to a full court process, but the vast majority of injury claims, such as for a broken wrist or food poisoning, will be dealt with in the small-claims court.

‘The loser won’t pay the legal costs of the winner. It’s unlikely to be economic for claimants to instruct a lawyer. Many claims will not be brought at all, as it is quite daunting and quite technical to bring an injury or illness claim without a lawyer. So the industry will face fewer claims.’

Mr Mason added: ‘Even where a claim is successful, there will be no consumer’s legal costs to pay. It is quite common currently for a claim to be settled for, say, £3,000 and for a claimant to seek legal costs in excess of £20,000. This should help to reduce insurance premiums. Any of us could be the victim of an accident and find our access to justice weakened. But for the travel industry, this sounds good news.’

The Forum of Insurance Lawyers noted the new limit was ‘aimed at tackling the so-called compensation culture’ related to traffic accidents. It could be introduced as early as next spring.

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Holidaymakers pay out £1,700 a year for unexpected medical bills

A STUDY has revealed that over-50s holidaymakers in Britain are paying out £1,700 a year for unexpected medical bills that aren’t covered by their travel insurance. 

Half of the over-50s within the study suffer from a medical condition, and 23 percent admit they fail to declare their medical conditions, which means they are not covered if they fall ill while on holiday.

The research by over-50s insurance and travel specialist Staysure also highlighted the most common misconceptions about insurance cover for medical conditions. More than 58 percent of Britons think they cannot get travel insurance cover if they have cancer, while four out of ten believe they will not find cover if they have had a stroke. One in five respondents said they had been prevented from fulfilling all their travel ambitions due medical conditions.

Chris Rolland, CEO of Staysure, said: ‘The fact that 23 percent of people who have pre-existing conditions fail to declare them when buying travel insurance is a truly shocking statistic, as it means people are putting themselves at risk of potentially extortionate medical bills should they fall ill abroad. They’re also spending money on a policy that won’t cover them for what they need – which is a false economy.

‘We urge holidaymakers to talk to their insurer and answer all questions honestly and to the best of their knowledge, declaring all conditions and any medication they’re taking. If their medical circumstances change before they travel, they should let their insurer know. While travelling with a medical condition might feel daunting, many of our customers love to achieve incredible things that they never thought possible, from climbing mountains to seeing the wonders of the world. There’s no reason for a medical condition to hold you back from achieving your travel dreams.’

Advice from Staysure on travelling with medical conditions:

1. If there is any doubt as to whether you are fit to travel, always take your doctor’s advice

2. Don't underestimate the value of a good travel insurance policy to cover your medical costs should you need treatment while you are away.

3. Declare all your pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance. Claims directly arising from any pre-existing medical condition will not be covered unless you have declared all your medical history, hospital visits, and the medication you’re taking to your insurer at the point of purchase, and have them accepted by them in writing. It’s also important to tell your insurer if your medical history changes before you travel to ensure your policy is kept up to date, especially if you have annual cover.

4. You can get insured for cancellation, curtailment, and trip interruption cover which protects you against any unforeseen illness or accident that prevents you from travelling after you have booked your holiday.

5. You might need a licence for taking some medicines abroad (e.g. morphine-based pain killers). This can be obtained from your hospital, GP, or hospice. Rules vary from country to country, so you may need to contact the embassy for the country you are visiting to check.

6. Check that your insurer can help with replacing any lost medication or prescriptions while you are away.

7. Check with your doctor and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office if your destination requires vaccinations.

8. If you’re travelling in Europe, most insurers will require that you carry an EHIC card as well as your travel insurance.

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FCO urges Brits to upgrade travel insurance

WITH recent data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) revealing that the average travel insurance medical claim rose by nearly 10% last year, Britain’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is highlighting the risk of taking the Getaway Gamble of travelling overseas without adequate insurance. 

Travelling abroad with inadequate cover can cost thousands of pounds if things go wrong – the average cost of a claim for medical expenses rose to £1,022 in 2014 (from £930 in 2013). This contrasts sharply with the average cost of an annual travel insurance policy, which is £32.

‘Rolling the dice, not hedging your bets and being left with a £1,022 bill is no way to start or end a holiday,’ the FCO said.

The FCO is encouraging British nationals to make travel insurance an essential part of their holiday preparation. It is advising travellers to:

· Ensure they have the level of insurance cover required for their needs and the activities they have planned

· Answer questions about their medical history fully and honestly with the insurer; they might not be covered if they need to make a claim

· Bear in mind that travel insurance policies might not cover accidents that occur when someone has not taken reasonable care or had excessive amounts of alcohol

· Carry an up-to-date European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if travelling in the European Economic Area, in addition to valid insurance cover

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Driving abroad? Know the rules!

BRITISH motorists made almost six million overseas trips by car last year, according to Sainsbury’s Bank, which is urging motorists to brush up on the driving laws of the countries in which they are plan to drive.

France was by far the most popular destination for those travelling by car last year with 3.4 million visits from UK residents. The Republic of Ireland and Belgium complete the top three.

Tom Thomson, of Sainsbury’s Bank Car Insurance said: ‘Driving abroad is an entirely different experience to driving in the UK in terms of both road regulations and road etiquette. Before leaving the country, it’s vital that drivers brush up on local motoring knowledge and check with their insurer that they are covered overseas.’

It is compulsory in France to carry a warning triangle and a breathalyser in the car at all times. In many European countries, a reflective jacket, first aid kit, and headlamp converters for driving at night are now required, and in Spain, motorists who wear glasses are advised to carry a spare pair with them if it is noted on their licence.

Those planning to hire a car should also be aware that driving licence paper counterparts have now been replaced with a code that can be generated by the DVLA website, at https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Sainsbury’s Bank car insurance tips for driving overseas: 

• Local laws: Find out exactly what equipment you will need to carry with you in order to comply with local motoring laws. This might include anything from a first aid kit to a warning triangle and will differ from country to country. 
• Documentation: Check what documentation you will need – some countries such as Turkey and Morocco require you to carry a Green Card/International Motor Insurance Certificate. It’s always advisable to carry basic licence and insurance documents, plus the V5 registration document, in your vehicle with you. 
• Car hire: Anyone planning to hire a car will need a DVLA-generated code. 
• Maintenance: Do some basic checks on your car to help minimise the risk of breakdowns or accidents, e.g. check tyre pressures, oil, brake fluid and water levels. 
• Insurance: Call your insurer before you leave to check whether you have comprehensive cover abroad and, if required, upgrade your policy to include this. 
• Route: Plan your route in advance and carry a map and/or satnav. 
• Take your time: Set a realistic timescale and take plenty of breaks. Driving on busy and unfamiliar roads abroad can be stressful, so consider planning your route to avoid the centre of major cities if this is a concern. 
• Footwear: Avoid driving in flip-flops or open-backed sandals. Not only is this dangerous, but police have been known to fine people for this, especially in holiday areas. 

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Cash cover upgrade for travellers to Greece

HOLIDAY EXTRAS and underwriters Allianz and White Horse are providing a complimentary insurance upgrade for customers travelling to #Greece, which almost doubles the cover for cash. The increased cover is in response to advice from the UK government’s Foreign Office that travellers might not be able to rely on ATMs or banks in Greece and might therefore need to travel with more cash than usual. 

The company’s current Premium, Essential Superior and Essential Plus policy holders travelling to Greece and all new policyholders leaving before September 1 will automatically benefit from increased cover for cash, from £300 to £500 per person; £250 to £400 per person; or from £200 to £350 respectively.

Holiday Extras is offering FairFX #currency cards free of charge. These can be pre-loaded with money in the UK and can be used as a back-up to carrying large amounts of cash.  

In the wake of the Greek government’s debt default, the Foreign Office advised holidaymakers going to Greece take enough cash to cover their entire stay.

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Post Office survey reveals cost of accidents abroad

AN ESTIMATED 4.4 million UK holidaymakers suffered injuries on trips abroad over the last three years at a cost of more than £1 billion, according to research by Post Office Travel Insurance.

More than a third (38%) of people who holidayed abroad in that period had an accident and 37.5% of them suffered injuries that cost an average of more than £252 each.

Animal bites and insect, jellyfish, or stingray stings were the most frequent incidents, suffered by a quarter of holidaymakers polled by the Post Office. Potentially serious problems such as food poisoning (14%) and sunstroke or severe sunburn requiring medical treatment (8%) were also commonplace.

One in 20 holidaymakers slipped or fell around swimming pools. The same proportion of people tripped or fell downstairs, suffered cuts from broken glass and other sharp objects or sustained injuries while swimming, snorkelling, or diving. Cuts and bruises together with broken or fractured limbs, shoulders and ankles were among the more common injuries.

Most injuries cost holidaymakers relatively small amounts of money. These ranged from an average of £47 for bites and stings to £118 for sunstroke or sunburn, £121 for a rental motorbike or scooter accident and £150 for a bathroom fall. But tourists not covered by travel insurance could find themselves paying much more than the average bills uncovered by the research.

It found individual injuries caused by bicycle accidents costing around £850 and of a sunburn victim paying around £1,500 for treatment. Some suffered multiple accidents costing them up to £7,500.

More accidents happened to UK holidaymakers in Spain than anywhere else, according to the poll of more than 2,000 people. Ten percent of food poisoning incidents were in Turkey.

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Warning over sharing holiday details on social media

INSURANCE against burglary could be jeopardized if holidaymakers share details of their trips on social media. The UK’s Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has warned that comments on Twitter and Facebook, locations check-ins on Foursquare and selfies uploaded onto Instagram could be used by burglars to target empty properties.

Many consumers are unaware that insurers are likely to check social media accounts if they are the victims of crime – a practice that is already common for investigating medical claims, The Times reports.

Most insurance policies include clauses that specify that “reasonable care” must be taken to protect property.

The FOS said: ‘People will cancel newspaper deliveries to make their absence less obvious, but then post pictures of their trips – and even dates – online for everyone to see.’

Travellers should be particularly wary of posting comments that detail their itinerary, such as saying they are enjoying the first day of a two-week holiday.

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When vacations just don’t to plan …

ALMOST a quarter of Americans said their travel plans were impacted by medical conditions, natural disasters – including severe weather – or mechanical or carrier-caused problems, according to a survey by the US Travel Insurance Association.

The number of Americans saying their travels had been disrupted grew from 17% – almost one in six travellers – in 2012/13 to almost one out of four in 2013/14, an increase of 35%.

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Travellers – beware when booking!

TRAVEL specialists are warning holidaymakers to watch out for six “sins” to avoid when booking their get-away. 

The tips come from holiday claims lawyers at BL Claims Solicitors, who say couples and families can often be so excited when booking their summer breaks that they forget to pay attention to vital details.

Lauren Haas, a solicitor at BL Claims Solicitors, www.blclaims.co.uk, has identified the sins that holidaymakers should try to avoid:

Not checking the details of travel insurance – We all know we need travel insurance – but are you sure you’ve picked one that covers you properly? Check your policy actually covers the country you are visiting – for example, Turkey and Egypt are not in the European Union., so you’ll need extended cover. Check what you plan to do, too: ballooning, diving or quad-biking trips may require extra insurance.

Having out-of-date documents – Ensure your passport is up-to-date and that you have all the visas you need. Don't just rely on your tour operator or booking agent telling you all is well. If you are not allowed to fly and you have out-of-date documents, it is very difficult to bring any claim for compensation.

Not being wise to scams – If you are booking a holiday home over the internet, be aware that some sites simply act as agents for the actual owners and are not liable for any fraud or anything that goes wrong. In some cases, people have fallen victim to fraudsters by booking a holiday home that simply doesn’t exist. Watch out for requests for payment to be sent by Western Union or similar companies, as they are commonly used by con artists. It may be worth taking out insurance to guard against fraud.

Not having a backup – While abroad, it pays to keep a copy of your passport and travel documentation in your hotel or holiday villa. If you are pickpocketed, it is much easier to deal with the aftermath.

Picking the wrong card – You might want to consider paying any amounts over £100 by credit card. They offer an extra layer of protection and rights over a debit card or cash payment.

Not thinking ahead – While many excursion providers abroad are legitimate, if you are booking an excursion with a local company and pay in cash, then the rights and protections you have are not going to be equivalent to booking the excursion with a UK tour operator. Book ahead if you can.

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Heading for the slopes? Read the insurance small print!

COMPARISON website PayingTooMuch.com has published a list ‘watch-outs’ if you’re heading to the slopes this winter, so skiers don’t caught out by travel insurance small-print.

Check the insurer’s definition of ‘ski equipment’. When purchasing winter sports insurance, check the insurer’s definition of ‘ski equipment’ in the terms and conditions. Commonly, this will include only skis, snowboards, bindings, boots, and poles. Many snow-seekers might not realise they aren’t covered for loss, damage or theft of other expensive items, including ski clothing and accessories such as helmets, goggles, and gloves.

Make sure the policy covers you for winter sports activities. While it may sound obvious, don’t just head off to the snow hoping your annual travel insurance policy will suffice. Make sure the policy covers you for winter sports activities, as these will not be covered on standard travel insurance policies.

Check the total number of days the winter sports policy covers you for. It’s not uncommon for insurers to limit travellers to just 17 days of winter sports cover per year, so if you’re planning on playing on the slopes for the whole season or going twice in one year, make sure your policy covers you for this.

Wear a helmet or beware. When skiing or snowboarding, always adhere to your insurer’s guidelines in case you need to make a claim. For example, most insurers insist you wear a helmet during winter sports activities. Failure to do so in the event of a claim, could see your policy fail to pay out.

Going off-piste? Check your insurer’s limitations. Most standard travel insurance policies will not cover skiing or snowboarding off-piste unless with a qualified guide or instructor, although each insurer’s definition of off-piste varies. Most insurers define it as ‘within resort boundaries’, leaving it up to you to figure out exactly what that means. Are you allowed to ski in the resort’s woodland? If you go just to the side of the marked areas, will your policy be valid? Before purchasing travel insurance, ask the individual provider about the specific limitations and how they define ‘resort boundaries’. And if you’re planning going off-piste, make sure you have specialist winter sports cover because if you are involved in an accident, you might face steep medical bills if inadequate travel insurance cover was in place.

Delayed ski season? Don’t get caught out on your last day on the slopes. Weather predictions suggest we could still be experiencing snow in the UK in May, and if this spreads to Europe too, travellers could get caught out by a clause found in most winter sports policies which says you are covered only until April 31 in the Northern hemisphere and October 31 in the Southern hemisphere. Check your policy for any limitations on when you can claim for winter sports. Meanwhile, unpredictable weather conditions mean more travellers could be vulnerable to piste closures. Should you need to claim for piste closure, ensure you have obtained confirmation of the resort closure from the local representative – failure to do so could invalidate any claim.

Medical costs. While it might sound obvious, make sure your insurance policy covers private medical costs. These would be required if you had an accident on the slopes and had to be transported from a mountain to a hospital by helicopter. Without cover for private medical costs, you could be left with a huge bill.

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How NOT to travel light

PACKING for a summer holiday can be a heavy business, with British holidaymakers cramming their suitcase full of goods worth thousands of pounds. According to research by LV travel insurance, the average UK holidaymaker now takes more than £2,500 worth of clothes, shoes, electronics, and jewellery in suitcases and hand luggage – the combined value of which being more than three times as much as they spent on the break itself.

On average, Brits will take £700 worth of electronics, around £400 in clothes and shoes, £350 of accessories such as jewellery and close to £100 worth of toiletries on their trip abroad.

As well as proving cumbersome, over-packing can be costly. 

Almost one in five (17%) holidaymakers have had to fork out for excess baggage charges on arrival at the airport, totalling £412 million over the past five years.

Valuable baggage is an attractive target for thieves; more than half a million holidaymakers report that they have had a suitcase or carry-on bag stolen while abroad.

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Insurance warning for Brits driving abroad

A SURVEY by Auto Windscreens in the UK found that 57% of motorists do not know if their vehicle is covered for travel abroad.

Chris Thornton, Auto Windscreens' managing director, said: ‘While it might be that many motorists are not concerned if their policy covers them for overseas holidays as they have no plans to travel by car, a proportion of them are at risk should they be in need of assistance and find they do not have sufficient protection.’

Motorists are urged to check the 'travelling abroad' section of their insurance policy before driving in Europe.

While all UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third party cover to drive in other European Union countries, theft or damage to a policyholder's own vehicle might not be included.

Outside of the EU, a Green Card should be carried to prove a policy meets the relevant country's requirements and can be supplied by insurers upon request.

Factors that could contribute to increased accident risks abroad are:

Longer non-stop driving times as people head to holiday destinations, such as the south of France

• Driving on the right-hand side of the road

• Differing road conditions and speed limits

• General nervousness about driving abroad

• Distractions caused, for example, by children or map reading

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Check before you book!

Planning a villa holiday? Looking for car hire deals? Kathryn Liston’s tips could save you money...........

MOST holidays go without a hitch, but there are times when things don’t always go according to plan – holiday scams, companies going bust and accommodation not being as described. According to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, 1,000 people lost a total of £1.5 million in holiday scams n 2013. 

Fortunately, there are ways to ensure a trouble-free holiday and protect your cash.

• Villa bookings

Pay by credit card – Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, the credit card company is jointly liable for any breach of contract or misrepresentation, such as a company going bust or failing to deliver the quality of villa promised. It applies to transactions over £100 and less than £30,000. Even if you pay only the deposit by credit card, you will still be able to make a claim.

There are a few grey areas, however. Some purchases bought through a third party such as a travel agent rather than directly with a villa owner or airline might not qualify for protection. Where possible, make credit card payments direct to the company supplying the goods.

Debit card payments do not enjoy legal protection, but you can make a claim through the chargeback scheme, to which participating banks subscribe. If you do not get the holiday advertised, you might be able to get your money back from their bank, although there are no guarantees.

Speak to the villa owner – Telephone the villa owner or agent to ensure the holiday is legitimate and ask lots of questions. Don’t rely only on e-mail exchanges.

Read the terms and conditions – Read the deposit policy and terms and conditions, and get clarification on points about which you’re not happy.

ATOL protection – If you are booking with a tour operator or travel agency, check that the holiday is protected by an ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’ Licence) or the Flight Plus scheme. This will prevent you from losing your money or being stranded abroad if the company goes bust. To search for a company’s ATOL visit www.caa.co.uk.

Book safely online – For tips on booking and paying for your holiday safely online, visit: https://www.getsafeonline.org/protecting-yourself/holiday-and-travel-booking/#.UpyYVtKzKuI

• Car Hire - Hidden costs in car hire 

Car hire often looks a bargain until you pick up the vehicle and find there are a host of hidden extras to pay. These charges can sometimes double the cost of your rental, with a full tank of petrol, excess waiver insurance, breakdown cover and extra drivers the main culprits. There are ways to reduce your bill.

A full tank of petrol can whack €100 (£80) onto your bill – and if you’re told to return the tank empty, you could be paying as much as €50 for petrol you have not used. This is particularly the case on short trips or on holidays where you only use the car to pop to the shops in the nearest village occasionally.

Go for a company that allows you to return the tank full, so that you pay only for the petrol you have used. Unfortunately, the companies that tend to offer this, such as Avis, tend to be more expensive than a local dealer, but they can work out cheaper in the long run.

Before you book, check the rental company’s fuel policy. It’s usually buried in the terms and conditions. If you are using a broker, call to ask which company you will be renting from, and check their fuel policy.

Buying waiver insurance at the car rental desk is expensive. However, without it, you will have to pay what is often a high insurance excess should your rental car be damaged or stolen.  Visit http://govillasandcottages.co.uk/blue-excess for a quote. It is far cheaper to buy a policy before you leave the UK, although, if you do this and are involved in an accident, you will have to pay the excess for any damage upfront and then claim it back.

Don’t assume that breakdown cover is automatically included. Check before you book. Adding a second driver can also be costly. Hertz, for example, quotes €5.90 (£5) a day for rental in Malta, adding £70 to a 14-night holiday. Search for a company such as Economy Car Hire (www.economycarhire.com/) which includes an additional driver and excess cover in its prices.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
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Picture Credit: Go Holiday Publishing / Blue Insurance.

Holiday home insurance in the spotlight

A HOLIDAY home insurance provider based in the UK has revealed that a third of holiday home owners have invested in the wrong insurance for their properties, resulting in substantial risk to both the owners themselves and their guests.

They, schofields.ltd.uk, surveyed more than 1,600 British holiday home owners, all of whom have at least one holiday property abroad or in the UK.

Respondents were asked: ‘Have you ever come to the realization that you have had the wrong type of insurance cover for your property, or one which was not what you wanted?’ to which a third stated that that they had. They found out the hard way with their wallet suffering the consequences. They realized their errors when trying to make a claim which they thought would have been covered by their insurance, but wasn’t.

The top five reasons for getting the wrong cover were:

1. Did not fully understand the policy I was buying

2. Details about my holiday home were incorrect which compromised the insurance

3. Had insufficient service which did not advise me properly about my policy

4. Did not fully understand what I needed

5. Did no research into what else was on offer


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
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Picture credit - Spotlight by Leon Brooks via Wikimedia Commons