Best Travel Insurance that *doesn't* define a trip as requiring you to stay in a hotel?

Grumpy_chap

IrishGypsy said:

Seems barmy that you have to pay for accommodation for something to be defined (in their eyes) as a "trip".

I can well imagine this tripping others up as "staycations" become more and more common (more so if people go on camping holidays).

I assume Airbnb or camping is still classed as commercially provided accommodation.

maman

Thanks for raising this but I suppose it is logical when you think about it. If I travelled to stay with friends and family in the UK my belongings would be covered by my home insurance and I wouldn't have any concerns about medical cover. The fact that you chose not to travel wouldn't be covered on any policy. You made the decision that social distancing would spoil your trip so that's definitely disinclination. 

What I find unfair is when the FCO advice says you're not to travel to various destinations. I think that should be covered regardless of whether the flight is still on. 

IrishGypsy

maman said:

Thanks for raising this but I suppose it is logical when you think about it. If I travelled to stay with friends and family in the UK my belongings would be covered by my home insurance and I wouldn't have any concerns about medical cover. The fact that you chose not to travel wouldn't be covered on any policy. You made the decision that social distancing would spoil your trip so that's definitely disinclination. 

What I find unfair is when the FCO advice says you're not to travel to various destinations. I think that should be covered regardless of whether the flight is still on. 

I have a positive update, but I'll address a point made here. Northern Ireland was put into a full lockdown after the flights were booked. Nationwide stated that a refund of the flights would have been covered, but the fact that we weren't staying in booked accommodation was the problem.

On the plus side, I just spoke with the travel insurers that my employers use (Crispin Spears) and they confirmed that their definition of a UK trip doesn't require you to stay in commercial accommodation, just that you had "internal flights" booked (they also include pre-booked campsites or Air B'n'Bs as far as commercial accommodation is concerned). On a extra plus side, my work also pays for that travel insurance (although it's taxable - but I can live with that). so, win/win for my circumstances at least.