With sterling continuing to be very strong against the Euro, there is also significant anecdotal evidence from estate agents suggesting that many are booking short hop trips to France, Spain and Portugal for recce trips to look for property-buying bargains. According to recent research by high end property agent Savills it is currently 25 per cent cheaper to buy a property in France than in April 2013.

That’s not a bad incentive to get on a plane or jump in the car for a European break. And whether you are in the market for an overseas home or just planning a holiday or weekend break, you will need travel insurance.

Recent research conducted by my company, travel insurance specialist AllClear (March 2015) has revealed that a third of all holidaymakers (32 per cent) have admitted to previously travelling in Europe uninsured, despite the risks – and the potential expense – should they be involved in an accident or taken ill.

There is a suggestion that the growing strength of the Pound against the Euro is making travellers more relaxed. The shrug and forget it mind-set that thinks, well, even if I do come a cropper and have an accident it is not going to cost the earth to get is sorted while I am away.

Some, we have found, simply forget, others run out of time or consider the cost is too great, but interestingly one in five believe that they do not need insurance for travelling in the European Union at all.

Many of the travellers we canvassed are confused as to why they need insurance in addition to their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in the first place.

It appears that a worrying number of people in our sample think that an EHIC is effectively their ‘passport’ to getting free or reduced medical treatment in an EU country.

Sorry guys, it’s not. The card only entitles the holder to the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the country, which is not the same as healthcare equivalent to the NHS.

In some countries patients must contribute to the cost of their treatment and some state-run hospitals in Europe have privately-operated ambulance services that you would have to pay for.

Spain, which is by far and away still the most popular European travel destination, can be confusing because the same healthcare centre could offer private and state-provided healthcare and it is up to the patient to understand and specify what they want.

And there is a further misconception that should be corrected.

The UK Government will not cover bills in the event of something going wrong, although many mistakenly believe that they will.

The nearest British Embassy or Consulate can contact family at home but it cannot arrange better medical transport and nor can it pay bills for British nationals.

In the worst-case scenarios, uninsured holidaymakers would be obliged to cover the cost of repatriation.

This could run into thousands or even tens of thousands of pounds when you account for a medical attendant, flights and accommodation.

We have seen many really difficult scenarios, where people have had to borrow money, or family members have had to take out a bank loan or even sell their house to get a loved one home. Which for the sake of spending a few additional pounds on short break or annual travel cover, can be completely avoided.

So when you book your next European holiday think about insurance; don’t leave it to the last minute and don’t leave anything to chance by relying on the EHIC.