Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has issued an important warning about travel advice to anyone planning their next trip abroad.
Forgetting travel cover trips up many holidaymakers, but going without it means taking a big financial risk, especially when going overseas during the Covid pandemic.
The consumer champion said he is inundated with queries from people each year to ask what their rights are when they have to cancel a holiday due to unforeseen circumstances.
READ MORE: Brits have been eager to book their next holiday after the Government relaxed travel restrictions earlier this month
Martin shared his latest advice to holidaymakers during this week’s episode of his ITV Money Show Live.
Is comes as the Government relaxed travel restrictions earlier this month making it easier for people to fly abroad and return home without the need for quarantine restrictions.
Martin has urged anyone plotting their next trip to ensure they get travel insurance as soon as they book, reports the Liverpool Echo.
He explained: “The answer is you don’t have any. The flight is still going ahead and there’s nothing wrong with your ticket.
“I ask if they’ve got travel insurance and they say ‘I was gonna get it before I went'”.
Now, Martin has encouraged anyone who is going on holiday to purchase insurance as soon as possible because “so many of the things you can claim for can happen before you go on holiday”.
The ITV show host said the cheapest travel insurance for those under 65 can start from less than £10 a week for an individual in Europe.
The policies Martin identified cover people who can’t travel after testing positive for Covid – and also provides protection for anyone who contracts the virus while abroad and has to stay longer.
He added: “I call these deals no-frills because they’re super cheap and they all meet my minimum claim levels.
“But I can’t vouch for the service and how they handle claims. They’re very cheap and if you have a problem with how they handle the claim, you can take this up with the ombudsman.”
The money guru urged holidaymakers to check whether the policy is suitable before signing up.
He said: “Check the policy, check the cover levels, read through it before signing up to the check it is all suitable. That’s one of the things you can protect yourself of.”
What travel insurance do I need to get?
(Image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Now, travel insurance is as important as ever, but when you book a policy at the moment you need to check that it includes Covid cover, and always make sure to read the fine print so you know exactly what you are covered for.
You might need to extend the policy to include trip cancellations, medical expenses or being required to cut your trip short due to Covid-related reasons.
It’s worth noting that if the Foreign Office advises against travel to a destination, your travel insurance will be invalidated if you choose to travel against this advice.
If a country is on the red list, the Foreign Office usually advises against all non-essential travel, so your holiday will likely be cancelled.
If the travel firm cancels your holiday, you will be entitled to a refund. Some companies have still been offering alternatives such as rebooking at a later date or to different donations and even credit vouchers.
You are welcome to choose the option that best suits you, but remembers you are entitled to a refund.
If you booked a flight and hotel separately, then you may need to do some negotiating, especially if your flight isn’t cancelled. As for your accommodation, whether you can get your money back will depend on your booking policy.
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