Travel Insurance

[eeyorefanuk]

I am starting to panic ... I have never booked a diy package before - ever.

After looking on here, and working out the differences between diy and package, decided on diy.

I have read somewhere that alot of travel insurance does not cover you if do diy.

We have booked flight, car, tickets etc via FC.

Hotel direct via uk disney.

Will we be able to get travel insurance that covers everything.

I was just going to upgrade my abbey account to include the free travel insurance.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cherjp]

Hi , i have taken the family annual travel insurance that came with my marks and spencer premioum credit card , it cost £10 per month and you had to take it out for a minimum of a year, total £120 which is around what other quotes were, this gives 10 million in medical and it given Independant travel cover which when I phoned then they said covers for people doing DIY holidays. which is what we are doing this year, Wahaaaaay. Hope this helps.

 

[2Tiggies]

For me it is better to open a Halifax Ultimate Reward account. It costs £12.50 per month but they give you £5 cashback per month so it is really £7.50. Similar to the M&S one. In the past I have always bought the Thomas Cook one (gold level) underwritten by AXA and doing a comparison, the Halifax one gives equal or higher level cover for each section but is a darn side cheaper.

I have bookmarked a really good website which discusses and gives advice on this very issue, but it is on my laptop so I will have to wait until I get home tonight to send you the link.

 

[2Tiggies]

Right, that's another week accounted for, i.e. one less week to Disney ! I am home and here is the link I promised. Scroll down to the part where is says "Have you got the right cover?"

 

[tigger137]

Will we be able to get travel insurance that covers everything.

I was just going to upgrade my abbey account to include the free travel insurance.

Any help would be appreciated.

Unfortunately it's a case of looking through each policy wording to check if it will cover what you need.

We have an annual policy with Halifax, cost about £80 for a couple. Under Cancellation it includes:

"1. unused non-refundable pre-booked travel and accommodation expenses which you have paid or are contracted to pay; and
2. unused non-refundable pre-booked excursions which you have paid or are
contracted to pay; ......"

where

"...... • your cancellation of the trip as a result of a Travel Delay (section 5) where the delay is in excess of 12 hours from the first international
departure time specified in your official itinerary"

Touch wood, I haven't had to make a claim but it seems clear that it should cover 'DIY' holidays.

But in case you haven't booked direct flights, be aware of the "first international departure" bit. What it means is that if you are delayed here in the UK, that's covered. But if, for example, you were flying Birmingam-Newark-Orlando and were delayed in Newark, that's not covered. Similarly coming home, if you were delayed in Orlando and couldn't get to Newark, that's not covered. Only a delay on the final leg, ie in Newark, would be covered.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Right, that's another week accounted for, i.e. one less week to Disney ! I am home and here is the link I promised. Scroll down to the part where is says "Have you got the right cover?"

Hello

Cannot see your link

 

[2Tiggies]

Hello

Cannot see your link

sorry, that appears to be because I didn't post it!

Here you go

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance

I do apologise about this.

 

[scottishgirl87]

I also highly recommend this thread over on the MSE forum, it's very informative!

We are going DIY and have booked our travel insurance with the AA as they cover things like scheduled airline failure and financial failure. I'm also pleased to read in the paper that they appear to be one of the companies who have agreed to cover people caught up with this Iceland volcano saga.

 

[2Tiggies]

I also highly recommend this thread over on the MSE forum, it's very informative!

We are going DIY and have booked our travel insurance with the AA as they cover things like scheduled airline failure and financial failure. I'm also pleased to read in the paper that they appear to be one of the companies who have agreed to cover people caught up with this Iceland volcano saga.

Oh I'm glad you're on here today. I know you booked through Disney US and there is a strong likelihood that I will do so for next year (helps me avoid the single parent supplements and a few more perks for me).

Here's my question: Does your travel insurance cover your accommodation package although it was purchased in USD directly from the USA?

 

[scottishgirl87]

Oh I'm glad you're on here today. I know you booked through Disney US and there is a strong likelihood that I will do so for next year (helps me avoid the single parent supplements and a few more perks for me).

Here's my question: Does your travel insurance cover your accommodation package although it was purchased in USD directly from the USA?

Ohhh, I've actually never even thought about that

It does say on their website:

Financial failure holiday protection provides cover for:

The insolvency of any travel arrangements booked in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Ireland (not forming part of an inclusive holiday) and not bonded or insured already.

These would include:

Scheduled airlines / Hotels / Car ferries / Villas abroad and cottages in the UK / Railway journeys including cross channel services / Coach journeys / Cruises not bonded / Car hire / Caravan sites / Campsites / Mobile homes / Camper rental / Safaris / Excursions / Theme parks.

Technically I have booked it in the UK only via a US provider??? I have no idea I probably should have thought of this!

 

[2Tiggies]

Ohhh, I've actually never even thought about that

Technically I have booked it in the UK only via a US provider??? I have no idea I probably should have thought of this!

Actually the only reason I thought of it was because I might just put down my deposit and pay while I am over there if there are good offers at the time (like bounceback for example ). I first wondered if my credit card provider protects me on the same terms as over here. That led me to wonder about insurance.

 

[2Tiggies]

Next question, referring to your quote re. insurance:

Is a MYW Disney booking considered "inclusive"? I dont' intend to alarm you, just making sure I make an informed decision. When Wayne gets back we can ask him. I cant think off the top of my head who else has done this via the US site.

 

[Samlovesthemouse]

Just thought Id post about a fab travel insurance company I used last year. Im not sure if they cover DIY but it may be worth having a look into it.

They are called Travel Insurance Web and when I got ill last year I rang them to confirm how to pay the doctor and then after that they rang me several times including when I got home to check that I was ok.

It cost me £15.99 for two weeks cover and you can choose to cover exsisting medical conditions or not. I didn't cover my asthma and I had managed to get flu of some kind and they paid out no problems.

 

[scottishgirl87]

Next question, referring to your quote re. insurance:

Is a MYW Disney booking considered "inclusive"? I dont' intend to alarm you, just making sure I make an informed decision. When Wayne gets back we can ask him. I cant think off the top of my head who else has done this via the US site.

I didn't buy a MYW package though. I have bought my MYW tickets separately (through Orlando Attractions). So there isn't really any part of my holiday that is inclusive. I believe hotel + tickets does not count as an inclusive package but I could be wrong. I'd be more inclined to say flights/hotel would be classed as an inclusive package.

 

[2Tiggies]

I didn't buy a MYW package though. I have bought my MYW tickets separately (through Orlando Attractions). So there isn't really any part of my holiday that is inclusive. I believe hotel + tickets does not count as an inclusive package but I could be wrong. I'd be more inclined to say flights/hotel would be classed as an inclusive package.

That makes sense. I take in "inclusive" is another term for a "Package Holiday". I will make some enquiries to a few insurers and find out what their take on it is. Does your information booklet/online page not have a section where they define the terminology? I didn't even think to look at my old AXA book but I seem to think they covered packages only as it was done through Thomas Cook. Sorry if I caused you to panic.

 

[scottishgirl87]

That makes sense. I take in "inclusive" is another term for a "Package Holiday". I will make some enquiries to a few insurers and find out what their take on it is. Does your information booklet/online page not have a section where they define the terminology? I didn't even think to look at my old AXA book but I seem to think they covered packages only as it was done through Thomas Cook. Sorry if I caused you to panic.

No, no, it's ok! I've had a flick through the AA booklet and couldn't find anything defining it. You can view the policy booklet on their website, though.

Tbh, at the moment I think my biggest problem is this great big volcano and I'm just glad AA are one of the people who are agreeing to pay out on it!

 

[2Tiggies]

No, no, it's ok! I've had a flick through the AA booklet and couldn't find anything defining it. You can view the policy booklet on their website, though.

Tbh, at the moment I think my biggest problem is this great big volcano and I'm just glad AA are one of the people who are agreeing to pay out on it!

Thank goodness for that. I was actually going to upgrade my banc account to get the Halifax insurance. I wonder if I should have another look at the AA one. I am quite picky about levels of cover for certain elements. Mine is a package so I should be fine regardless. How far out from your trip do you buy your insurance? I have been procrastinating because at the moment all I would lose is deposit. As I get closer however I need to have something in place. This is the first time I have booked a trip without doing insurance at the same time. Is there a rule about that? This time something I never thought of

 

[scottishgirl87]

Thank goodness for that. I was actually going to upgrade my banc account to get the Halifax insurance. I wonder if I should have another look at the AA one. I am quite picky about levels of cover for certain elements. Mine is a package so I should be fine regardless. How far out from your trip do you buy your insurance? I have been procrastinating because at the moment all I would lose is deposit. As I get closer however I need to have something in place. This is the first time I have booked a trip without doing insurance at the same time. Is there a rule about that? This time something I never thought of

LOL I'm not too sure myself We took our travel insurance out in January and had had flights booked since July.

I think in relation to the volcano the problem now is alot of the insurers have said they'll cover existing customers but not those who are buying travel insurance from now. Hopefully someone who's a bit more savvy than me can help!

 

[MyBubbles]

It's best to check your documents or read the documents online before buying a policy. Whatever you do don't purchase an aviva policy or any policy they underwrite because they have come out and said they will not cover this incident in any situation. Normally they are quite flexible when something like this happens so it's surprising! I guess it's due to tough times.
I read s great article I'm the Sunday times money section this morning about what's what and they recommended s marine policy which says they automatically cover this kind of incident.
I'm off to check my docs now even though I'm still 5 months away from going to be on the safe side !

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm off to check my docs now even though I'm still 5 months away from going to be on the safe side !

Me too! I have been checking insurance diligently for the last month or so as it is now past the 6 month mark for me too. I am willing to pay for insurance! What I mean is that I am more interested in the cover I get being right for me than the price of the policy. For example I have a young child and I am a single mum. I therefore want a very good medical cover level. I also like to shop , so a £500 luggage cover is not going to cut it for me. I wish there was a comparison website where you could select your preferred cover level for each criteria and then do a search. Everyone does a best price match. I want a best cover match. After all, I only save absolutely everything for our trips so why would I want to try and save £70 and leave it all open to risk?!

BTW, this thread seems to have gone Scottish