06 Nov 2024
More than three in 10 travellers (32 per cent) have gone abroad without insurance – but a fifth (21 per cent) of those have been caught short.
A survey of 2,000 holidaymakers commissioned by loveholidays found a quarter who went without insurance simply 'forgot', while 66 per cent purposely didn't bother.
Those who ended up needing it were then out of pocket by £1,570 on average – from forking out on things like extra nights in a hotel (53 per cent), a hospital stay and medical bills (51 per cent), and new flights (43 per cent).
Almost a fifth (18 per cent) have even had to pay the full cost of a holiday they didn't go on after events out of their control halted their travel plans.
The majority who travelled without cover and were caught out admit they have learnt their lesson, with 92 per cent vowing they will always book travel insurance from now on.
This comes as a quarter (28 per cent) of holidaymakers admitted to being unaware that it can provide cover from the moment you purchase it.
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.
From being called for jury service or made redundant before a holiday, to slipping poolside or being stung by a jellyfish, there are 17 hazards to be found.
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 half (52 per cent) feel most adventurous when they are on holiday, as it's fun to explore new areas (68 per cent), easier to step out of your comfort zone (63 per cent) and no one knows you, so you can be a different person (42 per cent).
The biggest risks people take on holiday include swimming in the sea at night, trying extreme sports and leaving valuables in a hotel room.
For this reason, three in five (64 per cent) of British holidaymakers 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 BRITS TAKE ON HOLIDAY
- Eating exotic cuisines
- Not setting an alarm
- Mixing different foods they wouldn't normally
- Going on a hike somewhere they're not familiar with
- Walking outside barefoot
- Leaving their accommodation without having access to online maps
- Leaving valuable items in their hotel room/accommodation
- Trying extreme sports/water sports
- Leaving their apartment without their phone fully charged
- Swimming in the sea at night
ENDS
Notes to editors
Methodology
*loveholidays commissioned a survey of 2,000 UK holidaymakers via OnePoll in October 2024.
About loveholidays
Established in 2012, loveholidays is the UK and Ireland's fastest growing and largest online travel agent. Having launched in the German market in May 2023, it is on a mission to open the world to everyone.
loveholidays prides itself on giving customers unlimited choice, unmatched ease and unmissable value when booking a holiday, making it the smart way to get away. It puts together a choice of 39,000 hotels and flights from all major airlines and airports in the UK, Ireland and Germany, offering holidaymakers a trillion possible package holiday combinations, including the perfect one for them.
At the heart of the online travel agent's proposition is its focus on making travel accessible to more people by offering an unrivalled choice of great value holidays. It caters to all budgets with options from one star to five star getaways, and offers customers flexible payment plans to enable customers to spread the cost.
In January 2024, loveholidays became the world's first Ryanair-verified package holiday provider, making it easy for customers to take advantage of the airline's low fares while benefiting from the protection a package getaway offers. It was voted Nation's Favourite: Most Loved Holiday Company at the 2023 Travolution Awards, Ireland's Leading Online Travel Agency at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 World Travel Awards, and was named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work in 2023. www.loveholidays.com
