Cancelled holidays can cost a small fortune

Holidaymakers are possibly losing out on hundreds of millions of pounds a year after cancelling trips they haven’t insured.
The figures highlight the importance of taking out a policy when you buy a trip rather than waiting until the last minute – or not buying insurance at all.
The figures are based on stats released by Aviva, which said it paid out more than £19m last year to holidaymakers whose trips were cancelled before they travelled.
But given that only a quarter of travellers are thought to take out their insurance at the same time as booking their trips, and this is a figure relating to just one insurer, there are likely to have been vast sums lost by those who weren’t covered at the time of cancellation.
According to Aviva, a third of people take out insurance only the month before their trip, and 10% of travellers don’t bother with cover at all.
The insurer said the average cancellation claim was £640, but it received more than 60 claims for trips worth more than £10,000. One claim was for £26,000. The reasons for the cancellations included illness and family bereavement.
“As the peak holiday season approaches, it’s important holidaymakers make sure they have enough cover in place if the worst happens and they’re not able to travel,” said Adam Beckett, of Aviva.
“Many travellers assume travel insurance protects them just while they’re on holiday, and they might not take out cover until just before they jet off for sunnier climes.
“While we hope the worst never happens, it’s a sad reality that sometimes our plans have to be changed or cancelled due to illness or other unforeseen events.
“Taking out travel insurance at the same time as booking the holiday will avoid any unnecessary and added stress if holidaymakers aren’t able to travel.”