New research from Confused.com reveals that Brits who cancel their UK holidays are losing out financially—by as much as £440 per trip.
A third of UK adults (33%) admit to cancelling all or part of a domestic getaway, with illness being the top reason. Alarmingly, nearly 1 in 5 (19%) forfeited the full cost of their trip. With the average holiday worth around £440, these cancellations are leaving a significant dent in travellers’ pockets.
According to the research, Brits go on UK staycations twice per year, on average. And the average trip costs around £292 per person, on average. Based on this, the cost of a UK holiday could reach more than £1,000 for a family of 4, and more than £2,000 per year.
However, due to the close proximity of being away in the UK, Brits may feel more inclined to change their travel plans. According to the research, of those who’ve cancelled a full trip, almost half (47%) cited illness as the reason. Meanwhile, 2 in 5 (40%) had a change of plans, while almost 1 in 4 (24%) cancelled due to the unpredictable UK weather!
Meanwhile, for those who cut their trip short, the main reason for this decision was a change in plans (39%). 1 in 3 (32%) blamed the weather.
And it’s not just accommodation or travel costs which people are losing out on, due to a change in plans. More than 4 in 5 (86%) also lost money on other plans, such as concert tickets and reservation fees, losing £133, on average.
Fortunately, of those who cancelled a full trip, most were able to reclaim all (32%), or some (36%) of the costs back from the holiday provider. However, not all providers will offer a refund policy for trip cancellations, especially if the request is last minute. And depending on the reason for cancelling, or cutting short, having travel insurance could help.
While travelling in the UK can be a cheaper option to overseas holidays, it’s still a significant expense, and one that many aren’t protecting themselves for. That’s as the research found many aren’t taking out insurance for UK holidays, putting them at risk of a financial loss if their plans change.
According to the research, almost half (47%) of Brits buy their travel insurance as and when needed. But more than 2 in 5 (42%) say they don’t buy insurance for UK holidays.
Meanwhile, 1 in 3 (33%) Brits have annual travel insurance policies in place. This could protect them from any unforeseen changes which could affect their UK holiday. Though, worryingly, more than a third (37%) of UK adults didn’t know that annual insurance policies would cover UK trips.
For those who don’t consider UK travel insurance policies, almost 2 in 5 (38%) cited having the NHS for medical emergencies as the reason. However, just like overseas policies, UK travel insurance can protect travellers against a number of incidents. This includes cancellations due to an illness or injury, lost or stolen luggage, travel and accommodation changes, or personal liability.
These are incidents that have impacted people’s UK holidays in the past. According to the research, more than 1 in 10 (11%) holidaymakers have lost luggage or personal belongings while on a trip in the UK. Of these, almost a third (32%) had to pay to replace the items, forking out £108, on average.
Meanwhile, almost a third (29%) have experienced travel disruptions, or cancellations (15%). And just under 1 in 8 (12%) have had changes to their accommodation, or a full cancellation (11%).
While a UK holiday may seem like a quick and easy break, it still costs a significant amount, which without insurance protection, could be lost. And this cover goes beyond needing medical services, as many policies will also cover you for any other mishaps you may come across on your trip.
Alvaro Inturmendi, travel insurance expert at Confused.com comments, “Travel insurance is just as important for UK trips as trips abroad. You may not be able to claim for cancelling a trip if you change your mind. But if you have to change your plans due to an illness, then you could reclaim the cost of any money lost.
“Equally, if any of your personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged while away, then insurance could cover the cost to replace or repair these.
“Each insurance policy is different, so shopping around to find one with the right level of cover to suit your trip is essential. But it’s important not to disregard it just because it may not seem worth it. We’ve outlined everything that you could be covered for on UK travel insurance policies – and it may be more than you think!
If you’re a frequent traveller, then annual travel insurance may work out more cost effective, as this will cover you for UK trips. This can cost as little as £9.75 for UK and European trips
