With some holidaymakers set to spend big in 2025, it’s important to avoid any costly pitfalls that could scupper your plans.
More than a third (39 per cent) of shoppers are scouring for a bargain holiday during January, according to a survey by MyVoucherCodes, and more than half (59 per cent) of people have started planning international trips, according to research by American Express.
Younger adults in particular could be splashing the cash this year.
So with that in mind, here are the common pitfalls to avoid:
1. Not taking out cover as soon as you book
There are a range of reasons why holidaymakers may need to cancel or shorten their trip – and travel insurance can provide cover for an “unforeseen” event such as illness, bereavement, jury duty, redundancy, significant home damage, or a burglary.
There are also optional add-ons to choose from, such as travel disruption cover, which can provide extra protection against events such as natural disasters.
Insurer Aviva says data shows that the average cost of cancelling a holiday in Europe is £725.
Travellers often claim for unused flights, accommodation, car hire, excursions and other costs involved when booking a holiday.
According to its travel insurance claims data for 2024, within Europe, holidays to Greece generated the highest costs for cancelling on average, at £1,298.
With Spain being a popular holiday destination with UK holidaymakers, Aviva found that holidays to Spain were the most cancelled in its data.
And it’s not just overseas trips that can be scuppered. Staycations are also common for cancellations, with the UK being the second-most cancelled destination.
2. Not declaring pre-existing medical conditions
Failing to declare any existing medical conditions or ongoing medical investigations when a policy is taken out could lead to a claim being rejected.
Directories are available to help people with medical conditions, and people in other circumstances, such as older holidaymakers, to find cover, such as the British Insurance Brokers’ Association’s Find Insurance Service.
3. Falling for a scam
Scammers know that now is a particularly busy time for holiday bookings.
They may create fake websites or offer deals via social media. They may also copy photos from legitimate websites, so it may be worth doing an image search to see if the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…