Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not just for when you travel

Everyone should have travel insurance so that you can be looked after if anything goes wrong. Travel insurance covers you if anything doesn’t go to plan before you travel as well, so we recommend sorting it at the time of booking your trip. Buying travel insurance at the time of booking your holiday or experience means that you’re covered straight away for any instances that result in you having to cancel your trip before you travel. This should mean that you’ll be able to recover your holiday costs minus any excess if you have to cancel your holiday for certain reasons outside of your control. Be sure to check the policy terms to know what you’re covered for.

Please note that your tour operator is not obliged to refund you if you cancel for personal reasons. Most tour operators will make every effort to be flexible but ultimately they are within their rights to refer you to claim on your travel insurance.

Choosing the right policy

There are specialist types of travel insurance that cover active holidays. We’re all aware of winter sports cover but running events need specialist cover. If you are planning to take part in a trail running event above a certain altitude for example, you need to check that you are covered. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are insured for the activities that you will undertake, plus the equipment that you have with you.

FCDO advice

If you travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) it’s likely you’ll invalidate your policy – unless you’ve bought cover that specifically allows travel against this advice. To be sure, check the FCDO advice closely, as well as the fine detail of what your policy will cover.

Pre-existing conditions

Make sure you declare any pre-existing medical conditions when you apply as your cover could be void. This could even happen when you try to claim for something unrelated.