Stupid things Brits do abroad!
Emma Roberts reveals that thousands of Brits risk their finances and health by making avoidable mistakes abroad.
With the British summer time being all that we expected (July was reported as the wettest month of the year) many of us Brits are fleeing the gloomy British isles to seek sunny shelter abroad.
But whether you’re heading off for a romantic getaway, ‘living it large’ with the lads or a well-deserved break with the family, you should definitely read this before you go.
Taking unnecessary risks
The latest study by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) shows that a large number of British holiday makers are taking foolish and costly risks when they go abroad.
Many Brits opt to travel without any type of travel insurance. This is a huge concern since 3,689 British people were hospitalised abroad last year, with Thailand being the most likely place for a Brit to end up in hospital.
So what can you do to make sure you don’t end up in a sticky situation overseas?
Ensure you insure!
Most people are wise enough to take out travel insurance but shockingly, one in five Brits travel without any type of cover.
This is highly risky behaviour, as it means you could face paying huge medical fees and you won’t be covered for anything else that could go wrong.
Before you take out your travel insurance, always read the small print so you know exactly what your cover includes.
John Fitzsimons looks at some common mistakes we make with our travel insurance that hit us in the pocket
Make sure you’re covered for the entire duration of your stay and remember to extend your insurance if you decide to travel for longer. Also check that it covers loss of luggage and any legal fees.
If you’re travelling within the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This will entitle you to reduced medical costs and free emergency medical help, yet you still need to make sure you have travel insurance.
For the adventurous types out there, if you’re planning on taking part in any adventure activities or using any vehicles (such as renting a quad bike) always check that you’re covered by your policy.
Remember that most insurance policies won’t cover any accidents that happen while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, so bear this in mind.
Travel insurance is an essential and inexpensive necessity, so check out our travel insurance comparison centre for the best deals.
Plan ahead
After taking out your travel insurance, I highly recommend that you spend some time planning ahead.
As well as excitedly researching all the top attractions and restaurants, it’s also important to undertake some significant precautions.
It may sound obvious, but many people don’t bother filling in the contact details section of their passports. Make sure you fill this in, so that emergencies can be dealt with more efficiently. Make two photocopies of your passport and keep one at home with family or friends and take one with you.
Recent question on this topic
- champagne-girl asks:
Just been delayed returning to UK from USA by 9 days, due to flying ban. Insurers say extra costs incurred not covered by travel insurance...??
- SoftwareBear answered "You really need to deal with your airline .. it's their fault they couldn't fly you home when you..."
- SmudgeButt answered "after you check with the airline also check what other insurance you might have lurking. some..."
- Read more answers
This means if you’re unlucky like the 27,272 British people who lost their passports last year, you’ll be able to get a replacement quicker.You might want to invest in a passport clip, which ensures that your passport is secured safely at all times.
Check out the local laws and customs of the area online. Some countries have strict dress codes and rules about public displays of affection, which could result in you spending your holiday behind bars, so don't be caught out.
Also, you should be aware that some countries, such as Thailand, have extremely severe penalties if you’re caught with drugs, including the death penalty. Make sure that you buy sufficient locks for your suitcase to avoid anyone stashing drugs in them at the airport.
It’s also really important to get the relevant vaccinations before you go away. Some people wait until they arrive at their destination before purchasing drugs, such as anti-malarial medicine.This is a huge risk, as you need to start taking some drugs before you depart for them to be effective.
Hassle free holiday
Holidays are great fun, but the relaxed atmosphere means that people can let their guard down and become vulnerable.
I think these Spikey drink toppers are a fantastic investment. At £4.95 for a pack of ten, you put the little toppers on the top of your drink bottle which protects your drink from being spiked with drugs.
I always carry a personal alarm, especially when I’m on holiday and this Sureguard professional personal alarm is one of the loudest and costs £8.17.
It’s always a great idea to have access to some emergency funds if you happen to become stranded and make sure you extend your travel insurance if you decide to stay away longer.
So before you go away, make sure you make the essential preparations to ensure you have a hassle free holiday.
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Comments
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Like Lidurian, I found out the hard way that I was not covered by my travel insurance. Most insurers will only pay out if your trip is cancelled on the OUTWARD journey. So, when you are in a safe location, i.e. not far from home in your own country, they will pay out. However, when our return ferry from France to Jersey was cancelled - and we were 7 days into our holiday and 1000 miles away from the port - we were NOT covered. Luckily we were able to get friends from home to rebook our return ferry for us. We were never reimbursed for the cancelled crossing. I really think insurance companies should look into this. After all, what is the point of insurance that does not cover you when you most need it???
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EHIC cards: CHECK THE EXPIRY DATE on yours. I assumed that they were 'for life' until my wife broke her arm in France, then discovered the card had expired 8 months earlier. Luckily my insurance company* sorted it all out, so ultimately no problem! Apparently (in France anyway) the EHIC pays 80% of the cost and the insurance pays the balance and any other related costs. * Tesco Travel Insurance
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I agree with the sentiment of this article, but would like to put some objectivity into the insurance 'need'. You say that there were 3689 people were hospitalised abroad last year. Out of the many million holiday departures last year, what is the risk? Very low I would say. Who were most likely to be hospitalised, and by what sort of ailments? Quoting a headline figure is very misleading and tries to say that everyone is affected to the same rate. This is simply not true. I would hazard a guess that young people are mainly affected by alcohol or 'self inflicted' injuries through their own actions or pursuits, and older people are more prone to slips, falls, and medical complaints not associated with accident or injury. I have no evidence for taking this position though, it is just assumption. SO, maybe conclusions can be made from all this. eg if you are young and don't drink to major excess, are organised and don't do dangerous or risky activities you may not need travel insurance. . . . . For years I didn't take out any sort of insurance, and have never actually needed it. I missed a flight back from Israel, but that wouldn't have been covered anyway as it was totally my mistake, and I genuinely lost my passport in USA. It was found and handed back to me, but after it had been canceled and a temporary one issued by the Britsh Consulate in Chicago. There is a whole story to this, which I won't bore anyone with. Suffice to say, it is very handy remembering your passport number..... and the airline involved isn't on my christmas card list, as their lost property 'service' didn't work at all. A top tip is to scan in your passport / visa / driving licence etc and then email the file to yourself. That way they are accessible anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.
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10 October 2010