Two in five (40 per cent) holidaymakers from London have been on holiday without travel insurance – but 42 per cent of them have been caught short.
A survey of 2,000 UK holidaymakers commissioned by online travel agent loveholidays found more than a third (35 per cent) from London who didn’t purchase travel insurance have had to stump up the costs of a holiday they didn’t even go on.
A fifth (19 per cent) had to cancel their holiday because they were called for jury duty, while falling ill before their holiday (38 per cent), family bereavements (15 per cent), and redundancies (12 per cent) also halted travel plans.
This comes as a quarter (25 per cent) of London-based holidaymakers admitted to not knowing that travel insurance can provide cover before their trip.
Those who ended up needing insurance but didn’t have it found themselves out of pocket to the tune of £2,132 each – having to fork out on extra nights in a hotel (62 per cent), hospital stays and medical bills (52 per cent), and new flights (50 per cent).
Of those who had purchased travel insurance, over a quarter (28 per cent) didn’t secure a policy until right before going on holiday.
In response to the research, the online travel agent has developed a holiday hazard perception test, designed to highlight the unexpected events that can lead to a travel insurance claim both before and during a holiday.
Al Murray, Chief Marketing Officer at loveholidays, said: “Booking a holiday without travel insurance comes with risks, and our research indicates not all holidaymakers are aware of them.
“Things outside of your control can prevent you from going on a holiday you’ve already booked, or affect you while you’re away, potentially leading to unexpected costs.
“Making sure you have the right insurance in place from the moment you book your holiday helps to protect you from those costs, whether that’s medical bills, extra stays in hotels, repatriation flights, or even the cost of a holiday you’re no longer able to go on.”
The research went on to find two thirds (66 per cent) of Londoners feel most adventurous when they are on holiday, as it’s fun to explore new areas (74 per cent), easier to step out of your comfort zone (61 per cent) and no one knows you, so you can be a different person (42 per cent).
The biggest risks they take on holiday include eating exotic cuisines, trying extreme sports and going on a hike somewhere they are unfamiliar with.
For this reason, three in five (64 per cent) of holidaymakers from London say they are more likely to book travel insurance for an adventurous trip.
Al Murray from loveholidays added: “There’s nothing wrong with letting your hair down on holiday and having fun.
“But you do need to be careful, and having the right protection in place just in case something happens is key.”
TOP 10 RISKS LONDONERS TAKE ON HOLIDAY
- Eating exotic cuisines
- Mixing different foods they wouldn’t normally
- Trying extreme sports/water sports
- Not setting an alarm
- Going on a hike somewhere they’re not familiar with
- Leaving the accommodation without having access to online maps
- Swimming in the sea at night
- Walking outside barefoot
- Visiting areas they maybe shouldn’t that could be dangerous
- Leaving valuable items in their hotel room/accommodation
Featured Photo by Rowan Heuvel on Unsplash.
