Insurance
Money
Providers
Blog
News
Newsletter
News Archive
Get the latest deals, news and advice in your inbox with our no-spam guarantee!
News in Travel Insurance
Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive the latest news headlines and special offers in your inbox. You may also be interested in our blog commentary updated on a daily basis. For more info on our editorial team click here.
North America tops fly-drive destination
As temperatures drop across the UK many Brits will be daydreaming of a summer getaway and new research has ranked North America as the best destination for fly-drive holidays.
Whilst Hong Kong was recently named as the best city break beating off competition from the likes of London and Paris, the lure of driving along Route 66 with the top down is too alluring for holidaymakers.
Carhiremarket.com also noted Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as popular destinations. The African country was recommended for it's plethora of safari tours as well as Victoria Falls, whereas the southern hemisphere states were highlighted for their wide open spaces, rugged terrains and "breathtaking" sights.
However, neither could hold a candle to North America which the website described as having "superb scenery" and also pointed to the easy car access around the country with a host of well-signposted roads. Not to mention the thousands of iconic sites the US has to offer. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Thu 2 Feb 2012
One in five skiers travel without insurance
Winter holidays are quickly becoming a favourite for Brits looking for a different kind of getaway.
However, research by Barclays has found that one in five UK skiers are hitting the slopes without any travel insurance. Whilst skiing is a very enjoyable and fun activity it also carries a high risk factor.
Bosses of the bank's insurance branch have warned that injuries such as a broken leg can cost £1,100 in Europe and £9,000 in North America. Even common problems such as torn ligaments and fractures can be very costly.
Kieran Murphy, managing director of Barclays Insurance, said: "Even experienced winter sports enthusiasts can have an accident so it is essential to check you have adequate travel insurance in place so you don't get hurt financially too."
Santander Insurance recently found that 17 per cent of holidaymakers planning to head out on the piste had only experienced skiing from playing computer games. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Wed 1 Feb 2012
London remains top UK destination
London remains the most popular place for getaways in Britain but two Scottish cities have also been named in the top five destinations for UK breaks.
Holiday website Expedia.co.uk ranked the English capital as the number one city based on bookings for January. However, Edinburgh and Glasgow were second and fourth respectively with officials highlighting Scotland's largest city as the most "exciting" in the UK.
Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: "To see both Edinburgh and Glasgow feature in the UK's top five destinations is tremendously welcome. Glasgow is becoming increasingly well known for its museums and its shopping and earning a reputation as one of the UK's most exciting cities."
Many people have been favouring holidays in England as a way to cut down travel insurance and other costly fees involved when travelling abroad.
Skiing holidays have been very popular with Brits but many insurance firms have warned that if people do not take out the correct cover it could lead to expensive repercussions should they have an accident. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Fri 27 Jan 2012
Hong Kong beats London to number 1 city break
Hong Kong has been named as the top destination for travel insurance holders looking for a city break.
The Asian country headed the list of 100 popular cities beating off competition from the likes of Singapore, Bangkok and New York City. London was knocked off the top spot of Euromonitor International's popular city list and sat in a respectable third spot.
Whilst the English capital is still the most popular European destination it failed to claim the world prize after its volume growth for 2009/2010 stagnated at 2.6 per cent compared to Hong Kong's and Singapore's rate of 18 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.
Caroline Bremner, head of travel and tourism research at the organisation, said: "Asia is booming with increased urbanisation driving income generation and hence driving demand for outbound travel. Key Asian destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand are benefiting from the growing middle classes."
Skiing holidays are becoming increasingly popular for UK holidaymakers but research by Santander found that 17 per cent of Brits took to the slopes with no prior training. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Wed 25 Jan 2012
Untrained skiers cause more accidents on the slopes
Brits are running the risk of losing their travel insurance cover by skiing whilst drunk or without being trained, according to Santander Insurance.
The company found that 17 per cent of holidaymakers hitting the slopes had only practised skiing on a computer game whilst 23 per cent admitted to being drunk from the night before when they headed out on the piste.
Research by MORE TH>N recently found that British skiers would welcome the introduction of breathalysers on the slopes with 47 per cent saying that the dangerous "speed skiing" should be banned.
Santander has urged anyone planning a winter holiday to take out the right insurance before they go and to be careful whilst gliding down the mountains. Bosses said that accidents can become costly eventualities with air ambulance rescues costing £30,000 in North America.
Moyra O'Doherty, group marketing manager for Santander Insurance, said: "People can get a little over-excited when they are on skiing and snowboarding holidays, and while they should of course enjoy themselves, it is very easy to forget how easy and potentially costly it is to get injured on the mountain." More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Mon 23 Jan 2012
Holidaymakers urged to take out appropriate insurance
Holidaymakers are being advised to take out appropriate travel insurance when they set off on their getaways over the summer.
Financial research company Defaqto is warning that before any money is committed to the holiday a suitable protection policy should be in place in the unlikely event that the travel arrangements need to be changed or cancelled.
Analysts at the company have said that the level of cover can differ in various insurance policies with some companies not protecting against cancellations or alterations.
Defaqto's data found that seven per cent of policies would provide £1,000 or less towards the cost of the holiday should it need to be cancelled while only one per cent would reimburse the entire trip.
Mike Powell, the company's insight analyst for general insurance, said: "To ensure they get the right type and level of cover to protect their holiday, people need to focus first and foremost on pinpointing the features they need from a travel insurance policy."
Elsewhere, research from MORE TH>N found that 47 per cent of Brits booking a winter holiday would ban "speed skiing" on resort slopes deeming it "too dangerous". More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Wed 18 Jan 2012
Brits to spend £22.1 billion on getaways in 2012
British holidaymakers will spend £22.1 billion on getaways this year with the average person booking a break at a cost of £765, according to new research.
Sainsbury's Travel Insurance suggests that 28.9 million Brits will escape the rat race this year but found that 78 per cent of people are looking to cut the costs of their holiday.
Of the 45 per cent planning a foreign holiday, 13 per cent said they would be staying with friends or family in a bid to save money on expensive hotels. In contrast only ten per cent of people were looking at all inclusive deals with a further 12 per cent looking to book a self-catering holiday.
David Barrett, Sainsbury's travel insurance manager, said: "It appears that more people will delay booking their holiday this year, presumably hoping to secure a better deal and the majority of us are aiming to reduce our spending money too."
Moneysupermarket.com recently revealed that 30 per cent of Brits planned to take a holiday in the UK in 2012 ahead of Spain and the US in second and fourth respectively. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Wed 18 Jan 2012
Brits would welcome breathalysers on the slopes
Ski resorts are one of the most popular destinations for Brits wanting to escape the rat race and enjoy some relaxation.
However, many believe that ski culture is becoming more "aggressive and selfish" with alcohol being highlighted as the main cause of this problem. Research by travel insurance company MORE TH
Many have been injured as a result of high-speed collisions on the piste with 33 per cent surveyed saying that they have had a near miss as a result of people skiing dangerously on the slopes.
Matt Pernet, head of travel insurance at the company, said: "It's perhaps surprising how many skiers would like to see motoring style deterrents, checks and punishments introduced on the piste. Aside from the potentially life changing consequences of dangerous skiing, if someone is responsible for an accident and has been drinking they won't be covered on their insurance policy. "
People who spend their holidays skiing are being urged to take out the right travel insurance and not to rely on the European Health Insurance Card. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Fri 13 Jan 2012
Arctic and Antarctica becoming more popular with travellers
Travellers are looking for the "ultimate escapism" and are finding it in the shape of visiting the Arctic and Antarctica, according to an expert. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Fri 6 Jan 2012
More students look to gap years before university
Picking up a travel insurance policy could be on the things-to-do list for students in 2012, with many likely to take a gap year. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Fri 6 Jan 2012
Price war begins for ski resorts
Travel insurance customers will be able to pick and choose where they do their skiing this year after a price war broke out between resorts desperate to catch the attention of the budget aware skiing fan. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Fri 2 Dec 2011
Holidaymakers experience freak weather in Wales
People who opt to take a caravan holiday in December in the UK cannot expect to see the best weather whilst they are enjoying their break, but a tornado might just be a bit more extreme than normal. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Fri 2 Dec 2011
Travellers angered by aviation taxes
British travel insurance customers are becoming increasingly angered by the continued high rate of aviation tax, as the government gets ready to increase them by twice the rate of inflation. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Thu 24 Nov 2011
Ensure travel insurance covers winter sports
Many people who travel abroad this year to indulge themselves with a bit of festive skiing, will not be aware that they may need to buy extra coverage to ensure that their medical bills will be covered in the event of an injury on the slopes. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Tue 22 Nov 2011
Brits shun US for short haul holidays
British holidaymakers looking to shop online for travel insurance policies have been shunning the US and other long haul destinations this year in order to save cash, as the cost of going further afield has increased on a large scale. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Fri 18 Nov 2011
Make sure of winter sports cover
People looking for travel insurance to travel abroad for a spot of skiing this winter should ensure that they add essential winter sports cover to their policy in order to be certain that they are fully covered against injury. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Tue 15 Nov 2011
Beat inflation with cheap city breaks
Travel insurance customers on the lookout for a city break to beat inflation rates should look to a number of capitals around the world for value for money. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Thu 10 Nov 2011
Brits 'want environmentally rated holidays'
A growing number of British travel insurance customers who are heading abroad believe that holidays should have an environmental rating in the same way as they are rated in terms of quality. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Tue 8 Nov 2011
Travel insurance: Brits want extreme holidays if they win the lottery
Brits would choose to vacation in a hot country like the Caribbean or go skiing in the Austrian Alps if they won the lottery, it has been claimed. More »
By Tom Farley, Travel Insurance - Fri 21 Oct 2011
