Sunshine Saturday’ is the first Saturday of the New Year and traditionally kicks off the peak holiday booking season, with Britons snapping up early deals to escape the winter blues.
As the UK travel industry gears up for ‘Sunshine Saturday’ – falling on January 4th this year – Multitrip.com, a specialist travel insurance provider, is calling on holidaymakers to organise travel insurance alongside their holiday bookings.
If someone needs to cancel their holiday due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, they need to have travel insurance in place to protect their holiday costs. Multitrip.com found that in 2024 more than half (55%) of those who buy its single trip travel insurance policies buy them less than seven days prior to departure. This delay means they lose out on this critical coverage.
Christian Bennett from Multitrip.com explains: “By buying insurance as soon as you book, or ‘ASAB’, you’re safeguarding your holiday investment, and ensuring you’re protected should you be unable to travel.”
Worryingly, in a Multitrip.com survey, carried out by Opinium, of 1,000 holidaymakers, 21% of holidaymakers say they have travelled abroad without any insurance at all, with nearly a quarter mistakenly believing that a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) covers all potential medical costs abroad.
“A GHIC only provides basic state medical care in some countries including the EU and Switzerland,” Bennett continues. “It won’t cover the expense of getting you home or the costs of an extended stay due to a medical emergency.”
Travel insurance is needed for more than just medical care. The Opinium survey further reveals that more than 60% of travellers have encountered issues abroad, from needing medical attention, to lost belongings and missed connections.
Bennett added, “It’s crucial to thoroughly research travel insurance options to ensure you have the right coverage tailored to your needs, and carefully review your chosen policy, paying attention to coverage limits, excess and add-ons. At Multitrip.com, we offer three levels of cover with optional add-ons, allowing customers to tailor their policy to suit their needs.”
Multitrip.com offers a range of policies to suit different needs and budgets. The Annual ‘Essential Cover’ policy, starting from just £19.99, includes up to £1,000 per insured person for cancellation or curtailment and £1,600 for baggage or baggage delay.
For those seeking more comprehensive protection, the ‘Premier Cover’ provides up to £3,000 per insured person for cancellation or curtailment and up to £2,000 for baggage. The ‘Premier Plus Cover ‘ offers the most extensive protection, with up to £5,000 for cancellation or curtailment and up to £3,500 for baggage or baggage delay.
Simon McCulloch, Chief Commercial Officer, Staysure said, “Sunshine Saturday—falling this year on Saturday, 4th January—is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for holiday bookings. Many travel agents and tour operators offer discounted holidays for the year ahead, giving people a great opportunity to secure some fantastic deals.
“Our research indicates that people are increasingly seeking alternative payment methods to cover the costs of their trips. Over a fifth (23%) are opting for buy-now-pay-later schemes, while over a quarter (27%) are using their credit cards.
“At Staysure, our own sales data shows a clear trend with people often waiting until payday to purchase their travel insurance policy following the earlier holiday deals available with Sunshine Saturday. In fact, 31st January 2024 ranks among the top five busiest days for policy sales.
“While we would always recommend that people purchase their travel insurance as soon as they have booked their holiday to ensure they’re covered for unexpected cancellations, we know January can be a financially tight month, given the long gap between December and January paydays.
“It’s vital however for holidaymakers to remember the importance of taking out travel insurance for their upcoming trips. Doing so ensures they can travel confidently in 2025, knowing they are financially protected for the unexpected.”
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