Travel insurance - Tips & Advice - Understanding travel insurance

Travelling in the UK? If your destination is 25 miles or more away from your home, you can rest assured that your Direct Line Single Trip or Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance can provide you with cover in case of an emergency.

You may be surprised to find that your Direct Line Travel Insurance covers you for a UK break, as well as for trips abroad. That’s because Direct Line recognises that holidays or work trips ‘near home’ can be expensive and are subject to health, accident, cancellation or theft emergencies, too. A long weekend in Cornwall or a business conference in London can easily cost more than £300, simply for travel and accommodation, plus the personal possessions and valuables you might take with you, and the risk of travelling without insurance increases further.

If you already have Direct Line Single Trip or Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance, you are covered for UK trips outside a 25-mile radius of your home that are for two or more nights away in pre-arranged accommodation and that do not include manual work. Some common UK holiday activities, such as walking and cycling, are also covered, with a full list provided with your policy. If you are planning on any other activity just let us know firstly so we can advise you and make sure that you are covered. With Single Trip travel insurance, you are covered for one trip of up to 90 days (if you’re over 60 years old, the maximum duration is 42 days); with Annual Multi Trip you are covered for trips up to 42 days, with a maximum of 120 days in any one policy year, which can be taken at any time of the year and applies to trips in the UK and abroad.

Imagine you had to cancel or curtail your holiday in the UK because of a stay in hospital or because someone has fallen ill. Your Direct Line Travel Insurance could pay up to £5,000 for personal accommodation, transport charges and travel expenses you have already paid or agreed to pay. It also includes cover up to £150 for excursion charges paid in advance in the UK.

The NHS should be able to deal with many emergency medical situations. However, with Direct Line Travel Insurance (UK, European or Worldwide cover) you will also be covered for up to £2,000-worth of transport and accommodation expenses for someone to stay or travel with you should an accident or unforeseen illness occur. If you have an accident on holiday in Scotland and live in London, for example, we will also pay up to £2,000 to transfer you by ambulance to a hospital near your home. Of course, you should tell us of any pre-existing medical conditions when you book any travel insurance policy and must not travel against medical advice, particularly when planning to go abroad.

In the case of theft of your personal possessions, your Direct Line Travel Insurance will pay up to a total of £1,500, with a single item limit of £250 (your total valuables limit is also £250). Personal money is also covered up to the value of £500 (note the cash limit is £250 or £100 for a child’s personal money on a single trip policy). If you are taking more expensive items on a trip in the UK, you may be able to get additional personal possessions cover under your Direct Line Home Contents Insurance. Plus, if you are travelling by car, Direct Line Third Party, Fire & Theft and Comprehensive Car Insurance both cover you for the theft of certain contents from your car and, of course, your car itself. In all cases, terms and conditions apply, so check your policy document before you go and make sure that you keep all your valuables and monies secure, or on you, at all times.

If you have booked or are thinking of booking a trip away in the UK, it’s wise to check if your insurance covers you. If you don’t already have Direct Line Single Trip or Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance, you can buy our UK travel insurance online today.