Forgetful Brits leaving travel essentials behind

More and more Brits appear to be making last minute decisions on the travel plans for Europe, a study suggests, and many are forgetting even the most essential parts of travel — like carrying passports — when they leave home.

AA Travel Insurance, which conducted the study, has said the trend to make impromptu trips and to delay organisation to the last minute means many Brits are losing out on the better value deals that are available. They are also forgetting many vital components of their travel, including in some cases, travel insurance.

A total of around 17% of UK travellers hop aboard ferries, trains or planes bound for European destinations without any sort of cover at all, says Christian Young, AA Travel Insurance’s director. The insurance company also says that over 50% of the travel insurance policies are bought only around three days in advance, with some travellers buying their cover only hours or minutes before they leave.

Young advises that travel insurance is an absolute essential, and should not be left to the last minute. He points out that travel policies cost the same whether bought days in advance, or no more than a few minutes before travel.

Young cautions that British travellers who think their EHIC reciprocal medical card is sufficient as a substitute for travel insurance are mistaken. Not only could the travellers be charged despite having the card, but will find that they cannot be flown home in emergencies without adequate travel insurance.

The insurance company says that making last minute plans for trips leaves travellers with very little time to be adequately organised for travel. Besides forgetting their insurance cover, Brit travellers have been known to leave home without even their passports, ending up unable to travel.