| With the credit crunch biting hard, many would-be | | | | If you plan to take two or more holidays in a year, |
| overseas travellers are faced with cutting the holiday | | | | perhaps one at home in the UK and one abroad, |
| budget and staying close to home - a 'staycation' as | | | | always consider opting for the Annual Multi-trip policy. |
| it is now known. If you live in a country with | | | | While it is important to take out travel insurance for |
| socialised medicine, such as the UK, it may not seem | | | | a trip to Spain to soak up some sun, or add on |
| important to take out travel insurance. After all, the | | | | winter sports cover for the winter ski trip, many |
| National Health Service will take care of medical | | | | Annual policies also include cover for a staycation or |
| needs if an accident or illness should strike. Statistics | | | | weekend away in the UK. |
| have proven that a large percentage of car accidents | | | | Suppose you plan a trip to London for your |
| occur within a few miles of home on familiar roads | | | | anniversary and splash out on a two-night stay at a |
| when we are functioning on 'auto-pilot' and not | | | | swish boutique hotel and a West End show. If an |
| paying attention. The same phenomenon is likely to | | | | unexpected illness or covered event should cause |
| be true when taking a holiday in familiar surroundings. | | | | you to cancel or curtail the trip, your Annual travel |
| Travel Insurance is not all about missed flights, airlines | | | | insurance policy may kick in to cover many of the |
| losing luggage, emergency medical treatment, and | | | | associated losses. An illness or accident is not just |
| repatriation back to the UK. There are a host of | | | | confined to you or your partner or travel companion, |
| other mishaps that are just as likely to occur close to | | | | it may also apply to close family members or |
| home as they are during a week at a resort in Spain. | | | | relatives back home. This would be invaluable if it |
| Theft is a growing problem throughout the world, | | | | should become necessary to cancel and return home |
| and tourist spots everywhere are heavily targeted. | | | | immediately. Extra caution is needed at times when a |
| You are more likely to carry expensive gadgets and | | | | global pandemic, such as the Swine Flu, is spreading |
| valuables with you - like an iPod, iPhone and laptop | | | | throughout the world. |
| during a staycation. Theft can occur from your hotel, | | | | You may decide to take advantage of an advertised |
| vehicle, or rental car, or even from your beach bag | | | | last minute holiday package to Turkey, or take the |
| while snoozing in a deck chair. The car might break | | | | family for a week at a holiday camp in the UK. |
| down, preventing you from reaching your | | | | Wouldn't it be nice to know that choosing the Annual |
| pre-booked hotel in time, or a family member might | | | | Multi-trip policy will also provide cover if you decide |
| become sick and unable to travel. Hotels have | | | | later in the year to book a city break or impress |
| cancellation policies, which could leave you out of | | | | your loved one with a weekend away in a romantic |
| pocket for the unused nights. | | | | cottage. Accommodation in the UK is not cheap, |
| Most travellers are too busy or can't be bothered to | | | | especially during peak periods, so having to cancel or |
| read the small print in their travel insurance policy. | | | | leave early could mean a significant financial loss. |
| Consequently, many travellers do not realise that the | | | | Next time you book a holiday and have the choice of |
| Annual Multi-trip travel insurance policy they | | | | whether to take out a Single Trip travel insurance |
| purchased for the holiday in Spain may also include | | | | policy to cover that one holiday, or the Annual |
| cover for a staycation. Check the terms of your | | | | Multi-trip policy, consider paying a little extra for the |
| particular policy, because the cover often extends to | | | | Annual policy. That way, cover will already be in place |
| your country of domicile (your home country) when | | | | if you find that you can afford a second holiday |
| accommodation has been pre-booked in advance for | | | | abroad later in the year, or decide to take off for a |
| two or more nights. It would be a very welcome | | | | staycation or weekend break close to home. |
| bonus if disaster should strike. | | | | |