Cheap travel insurance - single trip holiday insurance quotes

Apart from covering items that may be stolen while you're on holiday, including small amounts of cash, travel insurance offers many other important benefits. Policies usually include cover for medical expenses.

Travel policies also tend to include some basic "personal accident" cover, paying a set amount in the event of loss of sight, limbs or injury resulting in permanent disability or death.

Cancellation cover

Another important element is cancellation cover.  If you have to cancel your holiday because of injury, illness or a disaster at home such as a fire, this will pay for any holiday expense you cannot recover. You need to check carefully what is covered and what isn't.

Make sure your policy is valid for the whole journey and includes comprehensive medical and repatriation cover. Always take a photocopy of your policy, along with a note of any 24-hour emergency numbers.

 

Travel Insurance restrictions

Like all insurance policies there are restrictions. Limits to the amounts that will be paid under different parts of the cover usually apply and you won't be covered for dangerous activities, such as abseiling or scuba diving.

Also, a claim could be turned down if you don't look after your belongings. If someone steals your things off the beach while you're taking a dip in the sea, the insurance company might decide that you have not taken reasonable care and refuse to pay up.

Try and keep receipts

Insurance companies are also growing increasingly concerned about fraud, especially with travel insurance. If you claim for anything that has been stolen they'll probably want evidence that you actually owned the item. Some insurers even ask for receipts!

Check household Insurance

It's worth knowing as the cover under your home contents may be better or may have a lower excess. If you have travel and household cover you cannot claim twice! Insurers will normally split the cost of a claim between them.

Pay by credit card

Don't forget the benefits of using your credit card to buy things abroad. Most include automatic insurance cover on items bought with your card for a short period of time, including things you buy overseas. Check with your card company.

Think about annual travel insurance

Finally, if you ravel often ask your travel insurance company about an annual policy. You pay a premium each year and are then covered for all holidays in that period without needing to take out individual policies.