Insurance
Brits’ luggage worth three times the cost of the holiday
The average Brit takes more than £2,500 worth of luggage on holiday – more than three times as much as the cost of the break itself.
On average, Brits take £700 worth of electronics (including cameras, ipads, phones and laptops), around £400 in clothes and shoes, £350 of accessories such as jewellery and close to £100 worth of toiletries on their trip abroad, according to research by insurer LV=.
One in six also packs at least £500 worth of cash in their case before it goes in the hold.
Despite heaving bags full of expensive items abroad, one in six travels without having either travel insurance or the optional personal belongings add on in place.
Often personal belongings cover is often not included as standard on a travel insurance policy and must be purchased as an add on.
Without this holidaymakers wouldn’t be covered by their travel insurance for any loss, theft or damage to their personal belongings.
Valuables – including cash, jewellery and gadgets – are never covered if they are stored in the hold on an aeroplane.
Nearly one in five has had to fork out for excess baggage charges on arrival at the airport, totalling £412m over the past five years – around £84 each.
The research also found that kids pack expensive items too.
The growing popularity of the Trunki – designed to allow youngsters to take their own bag on holiday and rest on it when they are tired – means that children as young as three are pulling around items such as gadgets (£151) and clothes (£149), worth nearly £550 on average when combined with the value of the case itself.
More than half a million holidaymakers have had a suitcase or hand luggage stolen while travelling abroad.
Selwyn Fernandes, managing director of LV= travel insurance, said: “The plethora of gadgets now being taken abroad has pushed the value of luggage to more than the holiday itself. With suitcases and contents worth so much, it is vital that travellers check they have travel insurance in place and are fully protected just in case their belongings go missing or are stolen.
“Travel insurance exists to cover day-to-day belongings rather than a vast array of expensive items. So if you have a number of valuables it is worth checking that any insurance you have in place for them, such as personal possessions, includes cover for when you are abroad.”
