Travel insurance matters – buy it as soon as you book

Planning a holiday, mini-break, or even just a weekend away? Remember, travel insurance is an essential part of booking a holiday, not an optional extra.

While many people wait until closer to departure to buy it, taking out cover as soon as you book can make a critical difference if your plans change.

One of the most important benefits of travel insurance is cancellation cover. If you need to cancel your trip due to unexpected events such as:

• serious illness or injury to you or someone you are travelling with
• a close family bereavement
• redundancy or a major change in personal circumstances

you may be able to recover some or all of your non refundable costs – but only if your policy is already in place.

If you wait to buy insurance and something happens before your policy starts, you will generally not be covered, even if the event was unforeseeable.

Travel insurance covers risks that ATOL and credit cards do not

ATOL protection and credit card protections are valuable, but they have limits:

• ATOL protects you if the travel company collapses, but it does not cover personal cancellations, illness, or lost luggage.
• Credit card protection may help if a company breaches a contract, but it will not usually cover cancellation due to personal circumstances.

Travel insurance fills these gaps and can also cover:

• Emergency medical treatment abroad
• Repatriation if you need to return home unexpectedly
• Lost, stolen or delayed baggage
• Travel disruption, such as delayed flights or missed connections

Buy early, check carefully

When choosing a policy:

• Buy insurance as soon as you confirm your booking, even if the trip is months away.
• Check the cancellation section carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered.
• Declare any pre existing medical conditions accurately – failure to do so could invalidate a claim.
• Make sure the policy suits your trip, particularly if you are cruising, skiing, or travelling to multiple countries.

Keep your documents safe

Once purchased, keep your policy details, emergency contact numbers and certificate accessible, particularly when travelling. This can save valuable time if you need assistance.