Keith McGregor

Happy Campers!

The falling value of the pound abroad and credit crunch at home does not mean total gloom and doom for the holiday maker this year. Most travel commentators are now indicating a boom in camping holidays in the UK and caravans look likely to make a comeback this this summer.

Figures from the National Caravan Council reveal a 20 percent rise in camp site bookings for July and August, while trade in caravans is steadily rising. With many people nostalgic for seaside holidays that they remember from their childhood, it is not surprising, given the increasing costs of taking a holiday abroad, that there is now a huge demand for holidays in the UK.

One of Britain’s biggest caravan holiday companies, Haven Holidays, reports a 30 percent rise in bookings with families scrambling for places over the school half term and the main summer holiday in July and August is no different.

Is this year then, the time to look at taking a break in the UK rather than travel abroad? Well certainly worthwhile considering but the same rules apply to holidays in the UK as they do elsewhere, do make sure you are properly covered in case of emergencies.

Travel insurance, for example, is not always thought of as a necessity if you take a break in the UK, being so close to home and under the safety net of the NHS should you have an accident but travel insurance covers much more than medical emergencies. It is a fact that most people buy travel insurance for trips and holidays abroad but these policies do generally provide cover for travel within the UK, though do check the small print rather than assuming that this is always the case. So is travel insurance that covers holidays in the UK worth considering?

It can be very useful to have insurance should you subsequently cancel a trip, say for illness, as your holiday costs will be reimbursed subject to any excesses to pay. Your personal effects will probably be covered too which is an important point to consider as theft and loss is not just confined to holidays on the ‘Costas’ – these things happen at home too. What you will almost certainly not be covered for will be for medical emergencies and expenses as insurers argue that the NHS is available for such instances and will point out that travel insurance is not a substitute for private medical insurance.

One final word of advice though is do check the small print as many, if not most, insurers do require you to have proof of booked accommodation for a minimum stay of normally 2 nights away for the policy to be in force so the Sunday ‘trip out’ is definitely outside this definition.

Article Tags: Travel Insurance

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