Martin Lewis has spent his entire career saving the nation dosh, and a recent pearl of wisdom is no exception: it’s an urgent warning for anyone who has a holiday booked this year.
Speaking on his ITV series, The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, earlier this year, the consumer finance expert extolled the virtues of travel insurance and why it is vital for UK travellers.
With many about to head on summer getaways, putting contingencies in place for worst-case scenarios is essential to avoid losing thousands of pounds.
And contrary to what you may believe – or have managed to get away with in the past – it matters long before you board the plane.
Martin Lewis’ travel insurance advice
‘Travel insurance is not just to cover you while you’re away,’ warned Martin, ‘It’s also very important to cover you in case something happens before you go that stops you from going.’
The Money Saving Expert (MSE founder) shared a rule to help viewers remember this: ‘Get your travel insurance ASAB – as soon as you book.’
Further stressing the importance of getting cover sorted, he continued: ‘Right now, many people have already booked and, if you don’t have your travel insurance… do it right now!’
The money guru then explained his reasoning for hammering home the advice, saying: ‘Every year, something asks me a question that goes something like “I’ve been diagnosed with cancer. We can’t go on the holiday. They’re saying we can’t have our money back. What do I do?” And I’m impotent. Because the answer is – you get on your travel insurance.’
Later in the show, an email MSE had received last year was read to the audience, spelling out that exact scenario – someone who had been medically advised not to fly, and lost all of the money they had spent, due to a lack of travel insurance.
‘Please don’t be the person who asks me that question this summer,’ Martin responded. ‘If you’re going to get travel insurance; ASAB.’
On X, Martin was challenged as to whether this warranted the term warning or if it was simply ‘best practice’, replying: ‘Forgive me but it is 100% a warning.
‘If you got the emails I got from desperate people who’ve had a serious health diagnosis in the summer and can’t afford to lose the holiday money. You’d warn people too.’
And travel insurance protects you from a number of other issues that may arise before your trip too, from extreme weather that prevents you from flying to geopolitical events that deem your destination too dangerous.
‘Comprehensive coverage is key,’ Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy, previously told Metro. ‘It is always best to ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance organised once you’ve booked your holiday.’
How to get cheap travel insurance
If you are yet to arrange travel insurance for an upcoming break, hopefully Martin Lewis’s words will sufficiently motivate you to do so.
Fortunately, the Money Saving Expert website provides a Cheap Travel Insurance Finder tool to help holidaymakers find the ideal travel insurance for them at a price point that works.
But whichever policy you go for, heed the warning and avoid burying your head in the sand until your suitcase is packed: ASAB is always best.
This article was originally published on March 11 and has been updated.
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