Martin Lewis has issued a stark warning to “millions of people” planning to book a holiday this year, or those who have already organised a trip. During the latest episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV, the consumer champion urged everyone to buy travel insurance as soon as their holiday is booked - or risk losing a lot of money.
Martin explained how every year he receives emails or messages from people with “heartbreaking” stories of sudden, serious ill-health diagnoses which prevents them from travelling or going on a holiday they had previously booked. Unfortunately, they had not taken out travel insurance and as a result, their holiday is not covered for the unexpected medical emergency and the money they paid is not protected, so they lose it all.
The financial guru urged viewers to buy travel insurance, which can cost as little as £9, as soon as they book a holiday and explained how it provides financial protection before you even set off on holiday.
Martin told viewers: “This is a warning. There are millions of people booking holidays at the moment and I need you to understand travel insurance is not just to protect you when you go away. I want you to get your travel insurance ASAB - As Soon As you Book.”
He continued: “Every Spring, I get one or more emails from someone who says something like, ‘I’ve just been diagnosed with a very serious form of cancer’ - or another equally severe illness - ‘I’ve booked my summer holiday, I’ll be having my chemo in the summer so I won’t be able to go, I’ve spoken to the airline, they won’t refund me, I’ve spoken to the hotel, they won’t refund me because I didn’t book it flexibly - what can I do?’”
Martin explained that when he replies asking them to contact their travel insurer, they often say they hadn’t taken insurance out as they were waiting to get it just before they went on holiday.
He then urged people again to get it As Soon As you Book (ASAB), adding: “Please, do not be that person who sends me that heartbreaking email this year. If you’ve booked a holiday, travel insurance can be as little as £9.
"Get yourself on a comparison site and get yourself some protection so that if you can’t go on the holiday you’re covered not just if something goes wrong when you are on the holiday.”
Cocoa emailed the show with her own heartbreaking holiday tale. She wrote: “I booked a holiday for Christmas last year but I was then medically advised not to fly. The holiday was already paid for and I hadn’t taken out any travel insurance. I’m now being told I’ve lost all the money for the holiday! Is there anything that can be done?”
Martin looked solemn as he explained that because she didn’t have any travel insurance, legally, she has no consumer rights.
He advised Cocoa: “What I would say is speak to the travel agent or the hotel or the flight company, tell them your situation and ask if there’s anything they can do. Legally though, it is very unlikely that you have any rights.”
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