The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is advising all families to “ensure” they are prepared for the upcoming October half term, when it comes to traveling abroad.
As the Government’s foreign affairs department, one of the FCDO’s key responsibilities is to keep the public informed about travel-related matters, reports the Echo.
This includes providing updates on safety guidelines, travel restrictions, and essential information for those planning to travel overseas.
On Wednesday, all families received a warning regarding holidays, with a message from the official FCDO X account stating: “Got some family fun planned for this half-term? Make sure it’s not a wild ride! Get travel insurance that covers all your planned activities.”
Parents and caregivers are also urged to find more information on the Gov.uk website.
The FCDO further advises: “Travel insurance is important. It provides protection and coverage for unexpected events that can happen on holiday.
“Travel insurance can cover a range of scenarios, such as medical emergencies and repatriation, lost or stolen baggage, trip cancellations or interruptions, and/or natural disasters. You must purchase cover that is appropriate for your travel plans.
“Travelling without the right cover can be very expensive if things do go wrong while you are abroad. If you buy a basic policy that does not provide enough medical coverage, you may get a big bill if you have an unexpected health issue on holiday.”
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reports an increase in travel insurance claims.
One traveller visiting Thailand in 2022, suffered a serious blond infection. Resulting in a staggering £250,000 worth of medical bills, which was paid by their travel insurance provider.
With another tourist, who went to Spain needing private medical treatment for a kidney infection, that totalled to £15,000.
This comes just after the Foreign Office updated the ‘no travel’ list for Turkey, again highlighting the importance for proper travel insurance. The Sirnak and Hakkari provinces of Turkey have been taken off the ‘no travel’ list.
Warning that extremist groups in Syria pose a threat of attacks in Turkey, previously targeting boarder crossings and nearby areas on the Syrian side.
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