Overcrowded hotels, unsuitable transportation, marauding soldiers, a pregnant backpacker going into labour: we might think that Christmas travel chaos is a relatively new phenomenon, but a brief analysis of the Nativity Story reveals that all the signs were there 2,000 years ago. Just as the three kings journeyed across the Middle East bearing expensive gifts, so millions of Britons set off to visit loved ones in present-packed cars or fly abroad in search of festive sunshine making Christmas one of the busiest travel times of the year.
With so many travellers heading for their trains, planes and automobiles, travel insurance specialist Columbus Direct is offering Britons a seasonal reminder to check their travel insurance and make sure any shopping trips, Christmas getaways and winter sports activities are covered.
Travel delays can also be a major problem during Christmas and New Year: Columbus Direct recorded over 1,000 travel delay claims in January 2011 due to unexpectedly harsh weather conditions and wide-spread snow in the UK which shut airports including Heathrow. During the Easter holiday break in April 2010, Columbus Direct recorded almost 4,000 claims due to the volcanic ash cloud that halted flights across Europe.
Greg Lawson, spokesperson for Columbus Direct said: “The past couple of years have really demonstrated the sheer power and unpredictability of Mother Nature at this time of year. Having your travel plans cancelled or delayed is upsetting enough, but if you don’t have the right type of insurance cover, your money won’t be making the return journey to you!”
Based on the Nativity Story, the Columbus Direct travel insurance team offer these six tips…
Travelling with valuables
While today it’s more likely to be iPods, tablet PCs and games consoles, rather than gold, frankincense and myrrh, many people travel across the Christmas period taking gifts with them.
Your policy should cover the loss and theft of, and damage to, valuables although there is often a limit of £200-£300 so you need to check that this will cover what you’re taking on your travels.
Mix up at the hotel
There was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph and there may be none for you. In the event of a being stuck with no accommodation, it is important to note that the holiday company used to make the booking, or the hotel themselves, would be liable to find you alternative accommodation. Travel insurance policies would not cover this.
Civil unrest
Mary and Joseph were travelling as part of a census to pay taxes. Just as they had to be careful of any conflicts in the area with Roman guards or marauding peasants, modern day travellers need to be vigilant when holidaying abroad.
In the event of civil unrest while travelling, we recommend you contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In fact we recommend that holiday makers always check with FCO before travelling as they provide checklists, country information, Embassy details, passport and visa requirements and more. For more information, please visit the FCO website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/
Emergency medical assistance
As the story goes, Mary gave birth while travelling to Bethlehem. Today the majority of insurance companies will only provide limited cover up to about 7 months of any pregnancy. Generally, travelling overseas after 30 weeks carries a higher risk of a both premature birth and complications of pregnancy and needs to be considered carefully with advice from a medical consultant.
If you are travelling by air, it is also important to check with the carrier to see what their rules specify regarding a safe travel timeframe for pregnant women – don’t assume it’s the same for all as it varies from airline to airline.
It is essential to have a policy that covers you for emergency medical expenses while holidaying overseas, in case of sustaining unexpected injury or illness. Your policy should cover you for both emergency in-patient and out-patient treatment, which includes treatment costs, consultations and even emergency dental treatment. However, you are recommended to take out the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) although this only covers state-provided treatment and not private clinics or repatriation costs.
If it becomes medically necessary to repatriate you back to your home country, then this should be covered too. Should you require emergency medical treatment or repatriation, Columbus policies provide you with access to a 24-hour multilingual staffed medical emergency company.
Strange goings on in the sky
The three wise men navigated their way to Bethlehem guided by an unusually bright star where they discovered Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. These days we experience other atmospheric acts of God such as volcanic ash, hurricanes and fog.
It is important to check your travel policy as most will not cover ‘acts of god’. Having covered customers in the 2009/10 Iceland volcano incidents, Columbus Direct continues to offer cover for Travel Delay, Abandonment and Missed Departure as a result of volcanic ash.
Visiting foreign cities
Shepherds came from all over the land to visit baby Jesus and deliver gifts. With Christmas markets across Europe open, thousands of Brits will travel to cities such as Bruges, Munich and Prague in the annual quest for fabulous Christmas gifts. Most policies cover a limited amount of money for items bought abroad. If you are spending big bucks on your Christmas shopping and bringing your gifts back, make sure your policy has cover for loss, damage and theft of baggage.
It should also provide you an allowance to purchase essential items in the event that your baggage is delayed for a certain period of time.
As with all good stories, past and present, we wish you a safe and happy ending to your travels this Christmas!
Source : Columbus Direct
