What could possibly go wrong on a holiday in the UK that would warrant getting travel insurance? From your dog getting ill the day you are meant to leave for your holiday rental to accidentally losing your luggage in a Cornish harbour, the cost of holiday mishaps and misfortunes can soon add up. We take an alternative look at unexpected holiday risks and see what it could really cost if you don’t have cover!
Scenario 1: The dog gets ill or injured as you are about to leave!
Vets bills aside, the impact of dealing with an unwell dog instead of enjoying your much-earned break could cost you, or rather, lose you money. At such short notice there’ll be no chance of amending and cancelling your accommodation, whether that means you miss out on a night or two or the entire break is anyone’s guess.
With the cost of a 4 bed Air BnB in the UK sitting between £250 and £700 a night, that is a lot of holiday you won’t get back unless you have travel insurance that covers it.
A late (or non) arrival to your destination may also impact bookings you have made. Many restaurants charge a non-refundable reservation fee, upwards of £20, and many tickets and tours don’t offer refunds if you can’t make it. Maybe it is a cheap family ticket to an attraction, maybe it is a hefty ticket price for a show – the cost could be anything between £25 to £400 for a family of four.
Potential claim: £700 – £2,500
Based on a long weekend for a family of 4 with reservations and tour bookings
Scenario 2: Bad weather damages your holiday cottage during your stay
Unlikely, but not impossible, and while the cost of repairs might not be down to you, the incident could leave you out of pocket if you don’t have travel insurance.
Alternative accommodation arrangements cost money, and it needs paying out before any chance of a reimbursement from your original accommodation provider. If that means that the only available accommodation for your family of four is a penthouse hotel suite, you’d want to be able to recover your costs with travel insurance.
Potential claim: £150 – £500 per night
Based on family rooms at low-to-mid-range rural hotels in the UK
Travel insurance for a whole family: a fraction of the cost of a UK break
And it can protect your holiday investment when things don’t go to plan such as:
Trip cancellations
Missed connections – flights, ferries, and trains
Lost luggage
Personal liability cover
Repatriation within the U
Cover for private treatment and rescue
Missed pre-booked activities, tours and events
Plus, just like its international counterpart, it has a 24/7 helpline to provide assistance and advice when you need it most. Read more about Why You Need Travel Insurance for UK Holidays or go straight to our Staycation Travel Insurance page!
Scenario 3: Your luggage goes overboard in a Cornish harbour
OK, highly improbable, but it has happened to someone before and it will happen again. In the unusual situation that you are transferring to your accommodation by boat and either your luggage is manhandled and goes overboard, or the ride is rough enough to toss it out, you could be looking at a hefty bill to replace your belongings.
For a typical UK holidaymaker, it is estimated that the total value of a suitcase and its contents is somewhere between £1,400 and £2,000, depending on whether you’ve packed your iPhone, airpods, kindle, and camera. But even if your belongings are modest, and you’ve left your Dior and diamonds at home, you could be looking at replacing a lot of everyday items and it all adds up.
Potential claim: £1,400 – £2,000 per suitcase
Based on the average contents of a UK traveller’s suitcase.
Travel Insurance for the unexpected
While these reasons may be far-fetched (some more than others) the uncomfortable truth is that lost luggage, missed bookings, and accommodation let-downs are a common occurrence on UK staycations as much as they are on holidays abroad.
It could be a family member that gets ill (been there, done that, missed a trip to Iceland, but thankfully Travel Insurance covered the lot), it could be that someone steals your suitcase from the train (I’ve only ever left mine behind, but had to pay for things before it was finally found), it could be that your holiday let was a scam listing (thank fully I have not had to endure this, but I know someone that has), and you have to pay for emergency accommodation.
At the very least travel Insurance buys peace of mind, and in the worst-case scenario, the right cover buys back what you have lost!
Get an instant online travel insurance quote or call us on 01892833338 to get the cover you need to cover you for the unexpected.