Travel insurance

Duckynineteenseventyfour

Hi all hoping for some insurance tips. My friend and I want to book a UK holiday cottage with our kids. She lives in Kent and me in Yorkshire- cottage in Devon. Would any insurer cover us in the event of having to cancel the holiday if either one of us was in local lockdown (we would want to cancel if either family couldn’t go). Thanks

couriervanman

Well if your planning on booking anything for a stay in next 6 months.....DONT

jonesMUFCforever

Duckynineteenseventyfour said:

Hi all hoping for some insurance tips. My friend and I want to book a UK holiday cottage with our kids. She lives in Kent and me in Yorkshire- cottage in Devon. Would any insurer cover us in the event of having to cancel the holiday if either one of us was in local lockdown (we would want to cancel if either family couldn’t go). Thanks

No they would not. Why would any travel insurer want to take on the liability in today's circumstances?

Vegastare

I think the risk would be great, there was an insurer used by some UK holiday rentals called Master Cancel.  We booked a property last Aug for Oct 2020 and were allowed to cancel up to about 72 prior to arrival,  things started to go pear shaped again and 5 days before we decided to cancel, and were glad we did as Wales slammed a regional travel lock down on us.
We had all our money returned day after we were due to arrive(less agent fee).
Sadly Master Cancel has withdrawn from UK market stating it was unsustainable.  
It was used by some smaller companies....seems like nothing has replaced it.

eskbanker

Insurance is all about risk, and it's one thing for insurers to take a view about the likelihood of cancellation due to serious illness, based on many years of data (with perhaps a slight adjustment for Covid), but asking an insurer to assess the risk of lockdowns is ambitious, given the complete unpredictability thus far.

However, some accommodation providers are offering their own guarantees, to encourage people to book, so best find one who's able and willing to refund in the event of lockdowns at either end.

Duckynineteenseventyfour

Sorry I should have said we’re looking at August so very much hoping the risk would be much lower by then. Thanks for the advice

couriervanman

Duckynineteenseventyfour said:

Sorry I should have said we’re looking at August so very much hoping the risk would be much lower by then. Thanks for the advice

Unless you can get a cast iron guarantee of full refund be prepared to lose money if things get worse

mattyprice4004

It’ll be much more cost effective to find a properly with a ‘flexible’ rate that allows you to cancel up to a few days before then rely on insurance. 

sheramber

Travel insurance does not work on the premiss that a known risk will be lower in the future.
Just as   you do not want to risk losing money although you hope the risk will much lower then.
As advised be careful what you book and who you book with as many have found getting a refund has not always been straight forward.

Thrugelmir

Duckynineteenseventyfour said:

Sorry I should have said we’re looking at August so very much hoping the risk would be much lower by then. Thanks for the advice

Then look at the providers own terms and conditions carefully before deciding who to book with. 

Greater risk is that someone in either party might catch Covid and therefore decide not to go.