Luxury travel has boomed in recent years, as holidaymakers set their sights on ever-more adventurous holidays in far-flung, untouched destinations. But whether it’s a weekend getaway, or the trip of a lifetime, it’s vital to consider whether you’re properly insured.
As our experts explain, taking the time to review your cover before you travel can save you time and stress later down the line.
1. Confirm your passport expiry dates
Ensure your passport is valid and has sufficient time left on it. Be aware of the “10-year rule” for certain EU countries: UK travellers with up to nine months remaining on an old passport used to be able to carry this over, meaning that their new passport could be valid for more than 10 years.
However, following Britain’s exit from the European Union, your UK passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the EU (the “date of issue”). It must also be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave (the “date of expiry”).
If your passport does not meet these requirements, you will be refused entry. It’s also a good idea to take a copy of your passport with you (or keep a digital one) in case of loss.
2. Check your departure/end point is covered
Before you travel, make sure that you’re covered for your trip from start to finish. Many personal travel policies are not valid if your original departure and end point (i.e. where you booked the trip to start from/end) is different to the country in which you reside, and where the policy was taken out.
If your journey involves returning to a different country, or includes an extended stopover, your policy needs to cover that too. If your itinerary is unusual, speak to your insurer or broker to confirm the coverage details.
3. Avoid ‘do not travel’ territories
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issues travel advice, including a “red list” of destinations where they advise against all travel, or all but essential travel.
If your itinerary includes a country, region, or even a city on the red list, most insurers will refuse claims for incidents occurring there. This applies whether you entered knowingly, or the area was added after your departure.
To stay protected:
Check the FCDO advice before booking and before travelling
Monitor updates during your trip
Have contingency plans in case advice changes mid-travel
If you are travelling to a red list destination, speak to your broker. They may be able to arrange bespoke cover for high-risk travel on an individually underwritten basis.
4. Be mindful of trip length limitations
Most travel insurance policies have a maximum trip length they’ll cover. Common restrictions for many high-net-worth policies include a limit of 30-60 days for any one trip. Some standard policies will also limit the number of days participating in winter sports.
If your trip is longer than the limit, you may have no cover at all – even for the early part of your holiday. Some policies allow you to pay extra to extend your coverage, but you must arrange this before departure.
Be especially careful if:
You’re combining multiple countries into one long trip
You have an open-ended return ticket
You’re planning gap year travel or an extended stay with family abroad
5. Check your activities are covered
Activities like skiing, scuba diving, rock climbing, white-water rafting, or even zip-lining may fall outside the standard cover in many travel insurance policies. Insurers often classify these as ‘high-risk’ activities, meaning accidents or injuries won’t be covered unless you have a specific add-on or specialist policy.
Before you book your trip, check your policy’s list of excluded activities. You may need to source additional coverage to ensure you’re protected if something goes wrong.
6. Disclose pre-existing medical conditions
The main reason for travel insurance is to cover the costs of emergency overseas medical treatment. Together with any repatriation required back to the UK, this can easily run into tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.
When taking out your policy, make sure you answer all questions fully and disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. Common exclusions include any conditions for which:
You were awaiting diagnosis before you booked or commenced the journey
You were scheduled to undergo treatment when you booked or commenced the journey
You had been treated as an inpatient or outpatient or visited A&E (other than for routine check-ups) in last six months
You did not take prescribed medication as directed
Travel insurance can be sourced from specialist providers, dependent on individual circumstances and subject to insurers’ acceptance. This includes cover for those with life-limiting or terminal conditions, who may have been declined elsewhere.
7. Cosmetic surgery requires specialist insurance
Most travel policies do not cover you if the main purpose of your trip is to receive medical treatment abroad, including cosmetic or elective surgery. Such treatment brings an increased risk of complications, longer stays for recovery, or unrelated illnesses. In these scenarios, your insurer may refuse to pay for medical care or repatriation.
If you are travelling abroad for medical treatment, there are specialist providers offering dedicated medical travel insurance. You will likely need to complete detailed medical questionnaires prior to taking out cover.
For more information, reach out to a member of our team.
Visit our Private Clients (opens a new window) page for further insights.
