Independent holidaymakers 'are risking their trip because they are under insured'
Published On 14 May 2008
Consumers are increasingly rejecting travel agents and traditional package holiday, but those who are creating their own vacations are often under insured, a new report has warned.M&S Money found that 50 per cent of people from the UK with internet connections now use the net to book holidays independently.
Overall, the research showed that 29 per cent of people now book each element of their trip individually.
However, the report warned that many insurance policies did not cover this sort of independent travel.
For example, M&S Money explained that, in the past, if an international flight was cancelled that caused the holidaymaker to miss an onwards connection, the travel agency would need to make alternative arrangements. Now, it is unusual that a holiday insurance policy would cover such a mishap.
In fact, the study showed that a fifth (21 per cent) of independent travellers who encountered this sort of problem found their insurance policy of little help.
Worryingly, the report also found that 12 per cent of holidaymakers set off on vacation without any form of insurance.
