'Extreme day trippers' told to do crucial thing before travelling

Rome wasn't built in a day, but it seems many are now visiting the Eternal City within 24 hours. The trend for spontaneous "extreme day trips" is becoming all the rage among adventurous jet-setters on a tight schedule, with travellers flocking to cities and back home before the clock strikes midnight.

Yet, there's a cautionary note ringing for those enticed by the idea of a whirlwind escapade.Experts warn that many travel insurance policies may not cover these rapid round-trips.

According to Michelle Cooper, director of travel insurance at Saga Travel Insurance: "We're seeing more people embrace extreme day trips: short, high-intensity trips where you fly out and back in the same day. But what many don't realise is not all travel insurance policies provide cover for trips under 24 hours or those without an overnight stay. Travellers should take caution, as it's an easy detail to overlook and even whirlwind getaways come with risk - like flight delays, cancellations or medical emergencies.

"In some cases, however, Saga may offer cover for independently booked flights or excursions if your extreme day trip is impacted. Regardless, we always recommend checking your policy carefully before booking this kind of trip and being aware of the risk."

In all, 40% of British travellers tend to leave travel insurance to the last minute or skip it altogether, a risky game that could end up costing more than just peace of mind, says Saga in its recent findings from a survey conducted with 902 Brits this February.

The study unearthed that 16% of holidaymakers don't bother with travel insurance when jetting off abroad. Alarmingly, 40% of those who do get insured snap up a policy at the 11th hour, potentially leaving themselves high and dry if disaster strikes pre-departure.

According to Saga's insights, a sizeable 16% of British globetrotters typically forgo travel insurance for trips abroad. Amongst the insured crowd, half favour single-trip policies while 34% opt for multi-trip cover.

Michelle said: "You'll never know how important travel insurance is unless you need to make a claim. This could be before you go, if your trip must be cancelled because of an unexpected event, while you're away, if you're taken ill, or have an accident and need medical treatment, or even when you get back, if your baggage gets lost."

Saga’s report indicates that a worrying 40% of UK holidayers are flirting with the danger of non-refundable cancellations by securing travel insurance at the brink of their trip or whilst already soaked in foreign sun – wildly missing Michelle's sage advice.

Michelle urged: "The best time to buy your travel insurance is right after you've booked a holiday."

A mere third of Brits nail the timing when snapping up single-trip travel insurance, reveals a survey by Saga.

Michelle said: "Protecting your plans in the run-up to your holiday is just as important as when you're there. We recommend getting a policy that includes cancellation cover so you're protected if you can't go due to illness or there's an unexpected turn of events, like your accommodation cancels your booking. Though some holiday providers do include cancellation cover as part of the holiday booking, so check this first."

For those 5% who leave it until the day they jet off, Michelle advised: "You can still get travel insurance on the same day you travel. Most providers specify that your trip starts when you leave your home, so you need to buy your last-minute policy before you leave. Some providers might not let you make a claim in the first 24 or 48 hours of taking it out, though.

"If you're at the airport, you may still be able to buy cover. But do it before you go through customs, or you'll have a harder job finding cover and it may come with exclusions."

And for the 5% who book while already on their holiday, Michelle added: "It still might not be too late once you've arrived at your destination. Some providers sell 'post-departure insurance', but this could come at a premium and with certain limitations. It won't cover you for anything that might have gone wrong already, but it may prove valuable later in your trip."

Michelle warns holidaymakers not to overlook declaring pre-existing medical conditions when snapping up last-minute insurance: "If you want to be covered for a pre-existing medical condition or anything associated with it, always declare it when buying travel insurance, otherwise it could lead to complications should you need to make a claim."

Saga reveals that 75% of regular annual multi-trip insurance purchasers typically secure their policies well before their holidays, aligning with Michelle's suggested planning schedule.

The trend among policyholders is to renew their insurance right when it expires (31%) to ensure continual coverage. Meanwhile, 25% get a new policy just before their next holiday and almost one in 5 (19%) bag their insurance on the day they book their future getaway.

Meanwhile, Saga dispels some myths around UK staycations, highlighting that millions of Brits forego travel insurance when vacationing at home.

However, multi-trip policy buyers are more likely to recognise the importance of getting insured even for holidays within the UK.

Michelle added: "Travel insurance for UK staycations is just as important as for holidays abroad. Take holiday cancellation cover for example, if you or someone in your party falls ill, you'll be able to claim for any pre-paid expenses. Insurance does much more than just cover the cost of any unexpected medical bills."