Beware! Travel Insurance doesn't include swimming in open waters

Seph

I will be going on holiday soon and went on the Holidaysafe site as recommended by MSE. As we are travelling as a family and might be going away another couple of times within the next 12 months, I opted for the annual family policy, which seemed very reasonable.

However, when completing the forms, I came to the 'per person' options. I nearly ignored it but as it listed activity packs, some of which add nearly an additional £100/person to the cost, I had a look at the 'free' Activity Pack 1. To my surprise, the list includes 'Swimming (not open waters)'. This basically means that should anything happen whilst swimming in the sea or in a lake, you are not covered! Activity Pack 2 doesn't list it either. Only when you get to Activity Pack 3 at just under £20/person on top of the standard policy does it list swimming in open waters.

Who does not assume that a holiday insurance includes cover for swimming in the sea??!! I think this is very deceptive and I am surprised that Holidaysafe have received awards. I am really angry!!

boliston

to me "open water" would refer to sea far beyond where normal swimmers swim - ie a few hundred yards away from the coast where there are normally just boats & ships.

i remember swimming out to a buoy at a local beach once but that was probably only about 100 metres from the beach even though it felt a long way.

elsien

Have you actually contacted them to clarify what it means?

SandC

My policy covers swimming and swimming with dolphins (insureandgo), but there are other activities such as yachting which are covered as standard in 'territorial' waters only. This could be the kind of thing your policy is referring to. You need to ring them to clarify.

Mine has a ridiculous clause about sea kayaking - so i can actually race or crew a dinghy (interritorial waters), I can wakeboard and surf and swim, but apparently I can't paddle back to shore from the catamaran on a kayak without extra cover!

mattk_180

You need to check the policy wording and see what their definition is of "Open Waters". May not be is clear cut as it looks.

daveyjp

Its a reasonably priced annual policy. There will be exclusions, another one is no cover for lost or stolen passports.

Imagine a family of four have passports stolen, it could be thousands to get documents to get home.

Heliflyguy

daveyjp wrote: »

Imagine a family of four have passports stolen, it could be thousands to get documents to get home.

Its £100 each for an emergency UK travel document and can be done online plus the cost of a photo and getting to the nearest British embassy/consulate.

So a considerable cost but not thousands for most people in this unfortunate situation.

Always handy to have a copy of your passport.

Aretnap

The activities which are covered as standard (page 32) do include "swimming (pool - not open waters)" which does seem to imply that they mean swimming pools only.

On the other hand activities which ARE covered as standard include banana boating, whitewater canoeing (up to Grade 3), Jet-skiing, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, snorkelling and swimming with dolphins. It's hard to see how you could do all of those without any swimming outside a swimming pool (for some of them it's obviously impossible).

So I suspect that it's a case of the policy being badly worded rather than a genuine attempt to exclude splashing about on the beach with your kids. Still, if in doubt phone them up and ask.

forgotmyname

Open waters to me would mean not in clear view of land. But if you want a definitive answer you would need to contact them.

The insurers definition maybe just ponds/pools/lakes etc?

Record the call or get it in writing if in doubt.

Holidaysafe_Representative

Hi everyone,

Sorry to interrupt the thread, but I wanted to clarify our position on 'open water swimming' for you.

We define it as 'Swimming in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, lakes and rivers, outside of marked swimming areas and with the absence of a lifeguard.’

This means that we would cover swimming in open oceans, lakes and rivers as standard, as long as you were within marked swimming areas and/or there was a lifeguard present.

I hope that answers you queries, but if you have any other questions please let me know.

Kind regards,

Amber (Holidaysafe Brand Manager)

forgotmyname

So swimming in the sea is OK as long as lifeguards are present and your between the flags or whatever markings they use?

Is this just your policy or is it fairly standard across the range of insurers?