It appears that around 500,000 people from the UK lose their passport each year while on holiday, with a subsequent loss, according to the Halifax, of over 1.7 million days as they wait to be allowed to come home.
The extra costs of staying abroad, including additional accommodation, flights and so on add up to nearly GBP390 million, or just over GBP130 per person. Advice from the Halifax is to use the hotel safe or safekeeping place in the room for their documents. They should also be aware that one in ten of the lost passports are actually stolen whilst outdoors, so being careful and discreet is important so as not to raise attention.
One further idea, this time from a Halifax travel insurance expert, is to take several copies of the back page of the passport and keep them in a host of different places. This way at least there will be some ID that will help get things sorted out.
Travel insurance is an essential part of any journey, though travellers should ensure that they are protected for things they do whilst on holiday warns esure.
Ten percent of people think travel insurance covers them for any situation, which is certainly not the case. Things such as scuba diving, bungee jumping and even riding a motorbike would not be covered should a claim be needed afterwards. Around eight percent of people suffer injuries after such activities so it is good advice from esure to check the policy details.
As an esure spokesman emphasised, suffering even a relatively minor injury can mean a big medical bill and without travel insurance cover those costs would have to be met by the individual.
Legal and General are reminding UK holidaymakers to make sure their travel insurance includes their luggage, even if the trip is within the United Kingdom.
From a study carried out by a team at Legal and General a typical family of four people could have belongings in their luggage worth over GBP3,000, so not having insurance in place for such a value would be a high risk strategy. The common conception of travel insurance is that it is needed for overseas travel, but this is not the case.
Baggage can be lost or damaged on any holiday say Legal and General, not just one in a different country, and losing GBP3,000 worth of items would not help anyone. Far better, therefore, to get suitable travel insurance.
