MSE Poll: Do you risk going on holiday without travel insurance?

MSE_Georgia-May

Poll started 25 June 2024

For years we've emphasised the importance of getting travel insurance ASAB – As Soon As you've Booked – so you're covered if you need to cancel before you go. That message still stands. With the summer holidays approaching, whether you're going abroad or staying in the UK, we want to know if you risk going without travel insurance?

Let us know!

Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below.

If you haven't already, join the forum to reply.

MattMattMattUK

Nope, it is just not worth the risk.

StevieDavison

NO NO NO NO, Get insurance ASAB, as soon as you book, always advised by Martin Lewis. Its really not worth the risk to travel without it

DullGreyGuy

It's a bit of a moot point for us as we have "free" insurance via more than one other financial product. 

In principle would generally agree with the ASAP basis however there are certain circumstances where buying it later may be a better idea. Namely those that made a booking that either has reasonable cancellation terms or is a BNPL and where the cost of travel insurance is very high (those of a certain age and/or with complex medical histories). It's not economical to spend £500 on travel insurance to attempt to protect your £100 deposit, especially when you consider the £75 excess.

Afourteen

It's getting to the point that I'm not really sure if it's worthwhile. I have a couple of medical conditions (Asthma and Prostrate cancer awaiting Radio Therapy + thanks to badly advised behaviour before a Blood test I had 'borderline' high cholesterol). I've declared them to the travel insurance company that 'supposedly' covers pre-existing medical conditions yet anything related to those conditions are specifically excluded - makes a joke of their advertising.
It's certainly making us rethink our travel plans.  

koru

It is important to have travel insurance before you travel.

But I agree with DullGreyGuy, the MSE mantra that you should always buy it as soon as you book is not always a good idea. You should do this IF you would lose financially if you had to cancel (say, due to illness).  But if the transport, accommodation, or any other thing you booked offer free cancellation then there is no benefit buying the travel insurance in advance.

And in fact, you could lose out, because if you cancel your holiday you don't get a refund of your travel insurance. So, you wasted your money.

mouse477

What makes me really angry, is that the travel companies - Jet2, TUI, Easyjet etc - tell me that it is a legal requirement for travellers to have appropriate insurance, BUT then tell me it's not feasible for them to check that we have. WHY???? Get to check in, hand over passport and boarding pass and your validation certificate. What is the problem? If you haven't got a validation cert, you don't get boarded. Big plus to this is we will no longer have to read the 'Go fund me' begging appeals because you have had an accident. YOUR INSURANCE COVERS YOU. 
All the travel companies need to do is add another box to their online check in asking for the certificate number. 
If it is a legal need, then why are travel companies allowed to break the law? After all, how would it be if, when stopped by the police and asked for driving licence we said "oh, I didn't think it necessary to get one? You will. no doubt, tell me I'm being ridiculous, what does a 78 year old know about anything? But insurance, of all kinds, is essential and, if you're going away more than once a year, an annual policy is very useful and cheaper. I pay more because of my age, obviously, but this years is costing me less than £40 per trip - with Staysure, if I'm allowed to say that - and that gives me peace of mind!
Oh, and I can't find the voting results??

Bextonian

MSE regularly stresses the importance of ASAB (As Soon As Booked). However, that is not always possible. A few years ago I booked a cruise for a special anniversary the following year. I tried 6 insurance companies but each one refused to quote me as it was more than 12 months in advance. Four of these companies did not tell me this until after I'd spent a fair bit of time entering personal and medical details. In the end I gave up and waited a few months until it was within 12 months of the departure date. 

cavingbiker

Hi, I'm organising a trip to the USA later this year and have a question, why is multi trip annual insurance cheaper than a single trip policy? Surely the more trips you take the more likely you are to have a claim.

lesbro

We have not been paid for a claim we made in April 2023 with Staysure. We are now over 80 and my husband has more health issues. The cost would be over half the total price of a cruise for us both if we bought a years cover. Usually we would go away at least twice in the year and do an automatic renewal. That is now cancelled.

miller

It would be good to see % claim success rate for travel insurance companies. No point having it if they don't pay out - see lots of letters to the press for refused claims that miraculously get paid out after media involvement.