Holiday horrors

19/01/17 Enjoy a winter holiday, not an unlucky break

January really is the longest month ever, isn’t it? It’s cold outside, cash is tight, the bills are building and the days are still far too short. Our daily trip to Resolver Towers is spent passing unhappy looking joggers, while people committed to January resolutions stare longingly at smokers, bars and fast food joints.

Well, cheer up, you’ve nearly made it to the end of the month! For many people, payday is around the corner and after a few weeks of enforced austerity, you might be planning a blowout.

This time of year is one of the busiest for travel and holiday bookings. There’s bargains to be had and planes to be boarded. So if you’re planning a spontaneous winter getaway, or you’ve already booked and you’re getting ready to travel, here’s some tips for winter holidays so you don’t slip up on the slopes.

Get covered now!

A surprisingly large number of people still bank on using their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) when going on holiday. But it doesn’t cover everything – and if you get ill or injured, it could be very expensive. Different countries have different rules about what the card will cover so don’t assume it’ll be cost-free if you need to pop to a clinic or hospital. Take out travel insurance before you travel – and make sure the cover starts from today. That way if you slip and fall on a typically glacial January morning, you’ll be covered if you have to cancel. There are lots of different types of travel insurance but the basic rules of shopping apply here too: buy cheap, get cheap. Don’t save £5 on cover that could have given you much more protection when away.

Pause before clicking

If you love a bargain then you might have been tempted by an email from an airline or an advert for a travel comparison site, telling you that the January holiday sales are on. There are lots of bargains to be had – but it pays to be realistic. A flight or hotel is only worth what you’re willing to pay for it. So 20% off a £300 a night boutique hotel isn’t a great deal if you wouldn’t have looked twice if it cost £300 normally. Factor in spending money and the exchange rate and have a think about cancellation options – just in case a better deal comes along closer to the time.
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Take out Winter sport insurance

If you’re doing anything even slightly adventurous while on holiday, don’t forget to take out the Winter/ sports cover. This might seem obvious if you’re planning on skiing off-piste but you’ll need it even on the nursery slopes. The same goes for what might seem like relatively tame things, like going for sedate ramble on a nature walk. A few years ago, we helped out a couple who did just that, got lost, broke a leg or two and had to be rescued by helicopter. They were billed for the helicopter rescue. It’s only a little extra cash to be covered – not paying the supplement is a false economy.

Flight delays

It’s foggy. It’s snowing. It’s suspiciously overcrowded in the airport terminal. Uh-oh. 

It’s ridiculously annoying If your flight is delayed. Our top tip? Grit your teeth and be charming. You’re more likely to get on the next available flight if you make sure the staff see you’re being polite and courteous. If your flight is delayed by more than three hours, then you are potentially entitled to compensation depending on the circumstances. This is based on how late after the scheduled arrival time your flight arrives. The rules vary quite a bit but don’t let that put you off. If you’ve waited for ages, put in a claim. Find out more about your rights at resolver.co.uk.

Going on the piste!

You’re on holiday so have a good time. You shouldn’t invalidate your insurance policy if you have a few drinks as long as you’re sensible. Just don’t go mad. We got rather cross when some insurers introduced vague clauses about alcohol consumption into their terms and conditions a few years ago. They’ve backed down now, which is good news, but bear in mind that you get into trouble after a heavy night out, your insurer can invalidate your claim if you’ve been found by the powers that be to have over indulged. And lock down your social media profiles. Insurers also check the story you’ve told them with what you’ve posted online. So watch out for those late night posts!

Find out more about your rights with holidays, flights and insurance at www.resolver.co.uk