FCO warns travellers of insurance importance

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued British travellers with some advice after a report found that the nation is continuing to get into scrapes aboard.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued British travellers with some advice after a report found that the nation is continuing to get into scrapes aboard.

Its study found that people are still losing passports, getting hospitalised or needing assistance in a variety of countries.

However, with FCO research also finding that two-thirds of people plan to spend less on their holiday preparation this year, the organisation’s Meg Munn said she is worried this could translate into skimping on travel insurance.

“Taking out comprehensive travel insurance is a crucial part of your holiday planning and not something that should be sacrificed to save a few pounds.

“Helping British nationals in distress overseas is one of our most important tasks but many of the problems faced by holidaymakers are preventable,” she said.

Thailand was found to have the third highest rate of hospitalisations, which the FCO put down to people renting motorbikes and being involved in accidents.

Anyone considering renting a bike while on holidays to Thailand should remember that a Thai driving licence or an international driving permit is needed to do so.

Travel insurance will be invalid if such a license is not obtained.