If you had to put a price tag on your weekend bag how much do you think it would be? You may be surprised to learn that the average contents value of the weekend bag now tops £1,000!
According to research released by the Post Office, women pack an average of £1,208 in their weekend bags. This includes items such as expensive make up bags, hair dryers and hair straighteners.
The typical man packs on average £862 worth of contents, including: a digital camera, MP3 player and various other gadgets considered essential. Both sexes are equally as bad when it comes to packing designer clothes and shoes and this can add much value to the luggage contents.
This averages out to a value of £1,035 for the typical weekend bag.
The problem is that the majority of travel insurance policies have a low ceiling limit when it comes to individual item maximum value. For example, should you pack your laptop computer you may find that your cover only stretches to £300 for any one item.
You may wish to enquire about bolt-on insurance to cover the shortfall for particularly expensive items. This is something a lot of insurers now offer across the range and will allow you to pay an extra fee for extended cover on a particular item or eventuality.
The take-up of holiday insurance by the British public is still at an alarmingly low level and many holiday makers travel without any form of cover at all. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking “I’ll only be away for a couple of days, I don’t need any cover”.
The reality is there is just as much risk involved with a short duration holiday as there is with a longer stay. Many Brits experience theft of their valuables every year – and without cover they face the prospect of having to pay out to replace their valuables.
When you are looking at a prospective policy you should consider the following:
The cover level provided for your baggage and possessions
The single item maximum cover
Will you be travelling more than once in the year and if so would you save money by purchasing a multi-trip policy?
Do you really need to take every item you have packed?
Make a list and examine to see whether there is anything you can leave behind, this will also be handy should you have your baggage stolen as it will act as a list of contents.
Remember when searching for cover not to look just for cheap travel insurance . Obviously you will want to get a good deal and with a bit of patience and determination you should be able to find a policy that gives you all the features you desire for a competitive price.
Once you have finalised your holiday preparations you should make some final checks to ensure you have adequate cover. Make a list of contents for your weekend bag, and ensure your valuables, such as jewellery, are hidden in a separate compartment of your bag if possible, while anything fragile is packed carefully and securely.