New research has revealed that around 7.4 million people are planning a UK break this Easter weekend. The sheer number of Brits taking a domestic break is predicted to take UK tourism to pre-pandemic levels.
While this is great for UK tourism, it is important that travellers continue to protect their staycations with suitable travel insurance as they did during the pandemic.
The reason we say this is because, alongside the other benefits that a UK or staycation policy offers, the majority of policies offer protection should anyone named on the policy catch Covid-19 before the trip and not be able to go on holiday as planned.
This type of cover is especially important as Covid-19 infection rates continue to remain high across the UK.
Many UK or staycation policies offer protection against disruption caused by Covid-19, including if any of the travelling party catches Covid-19 before the trip and can no longer go. As well as a benefit if those named on the policy catch Covid-19 while on holiday and are confined to their accommodation due to illness.
And while many accommodation providers offer more flexible terms and conditions these days, if an individual was to fall ill with Covid-19 outside of the free cancellation period, such as 48 hours before check-in, then they could be left out of pocket if they do not have alternative protection, such as a travel insurance policy, in place.
It’s worth being aware that some UK or staycation policies may require individuals to buy a Covid-19 extension to receive this cover.
UK and/or staycation policies can also be beneficial as they typically include protection against the unexpected. For example, some policies will cover any accidental damage to rental properties up to a certain limit – which can be handy if travelling with young children or animals. Others offer cover for breakdown in the event that the vehicle being travelled in breaks down or is involved in an accident on route to the holiday destination.
However, it’s important to be aware that some policies will require the trip to take place for a set number of days, with booked accommodation, in order to be classed as a getaway and be claimable, should anything go wrong. Generally, most insurers require policyholders to be away from home for at least two nights to class it as a getaway, although exact time frames can vary and this is something worth checking directly with the chosen travel insurance provider.
Travel insurance protection varies between providers. So, it is recommended that travellers carefully read their policy wordings when selecting a policy and buy based on their needs, rather than the price.
As always, we’re here to help you with any insurance-related concerns. So, if you have any questions, please feel free to email us at hello@travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk and we will do our very best to help!
