Holidaymakers are advised to check their travel insurance policies carefully, as many contain surprising exclusions for common activities. A Which? examination of 160 policies from 47 insurers found that limits or exclusions are often placed on activities such as high-altitude trekking, downhill cycling, and specific water sports.
For example, some policies have strict altitude allowances, with one insurer, Top Dog, only covering group trekking up to 1,000 metres above sea level. This could leave travellers unprotected in many popular walking destinations. Similarly, Free Spirit was found to cover mountain biking up to 1,000 metres but excludes downhill cycling.
Other common exclusions include incidents where alcohol consumption contributed, as illustrated by Saga's policy, which may not pay out if a doctor links a condition to alcohol or if blood alcohol levels exceed 0.19%. The use of scooters and mopeds is also frequently excluded due to their higher risk, with Just Travel Cover Good2Go's policy excluding claims resulting from the use of motorised vehicles. Unattended baggage is another area of concern, with some policies, like Staysure's, defining 'unattended' as being unable to see or be close enough to prevent interference or theft.
Water-based activities such as banana boat rides and jet skiing may also lack personal liability cover, even if other water sports are included. InsureandGo, for instance, covers canoeing and scuba diving for personal liability but excludes it for banana boat rides and jet skiing. Travellers engaging in professional sports or activities with prize money may also need specialist insurance.