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Travel insurance should be part of party preparations abroad

The rise of budget airlines has made air travel far more accessible to the general population, leading to an increasing number of Britons leaving the country for hen and stag parties. Prague has become one of the most popular locations to celebrate, but many head to other locations in Europe with some venturing as far abroad as America for the big night.

James Caldwell, the director of Fair Investment Company, an independent online finance portal said: An increasing number of people are enjoying cheap short-haul flights to celebrate stag and hen parties over a weekend, but it is important to make sure you go equipped with good Travel insurance.

Although many people leave the country with only a good time on their mind, they should nevertheless be prepared to encounter trouble. Illness, accident, lost passports and cancelled flights can all put a financial and stressful strain on a trip, but having adequate insurance cover can help ease these problems, Caldwell said.

Statistics from the Foreign Commonwealth Office illustrate just how common trouble abroad can be for Britons. Between April 2005 and April 2006, 955 British citizens were hospitalised in Greece, 376 died while in France and 6,078 reported lost passports in Spain.

Meg Munn, the FCO Minister said: One of the most important tasks for the Foreign Office is our work to help British nationals in distress overseas. As this report shows, although some of the incidents people face are unavoidable, many can be prevented with a little planning and careful preparation.

The FCO has several recommendations for Britons travelling abroad. No matter how short the trip, they advise travellers to research the destination, copy important documents and, like James Caldwell, they recommend every traveller take out comprehensive travel insurance.

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Jennifer Jones Editorial

17/08/2007