travel insurance

[Guest eric 83]

while checking through our travel insurance policy we have found a discrepancy between the cover given to my wife and myself as main insured (lengh of holiday cover). Looking further we also found that possibly our valuables may not be covered in the motorhome.Insured with AXA, through Direct Travel. Has anyone experience or knowledge of this cover or could recommend a more suitable policy. Thanks.

[Guest Mel E]

Travel Insurance really is one where you need to read the policy IN DETAIL. It has become a commodity product that sells, largely, on price. The other key thing is that you MUST declare any pre-existing medical conditions of any nature from however far back, NOT JUST for the insured, but also for any relatives whose sudden illness might make you claim under the policy for cancellation or rapid re-patriation when abroad. My own impression is that the letter columns of weekend newspapers seem to have more than their fair share of refusal to pay claims involving AXA, but maybe that's because they have a bigger market share. If you're a motorhomer, I would get an Annual Policy. Either go via a reputable broker (one specialising in motorhome insurance such as Comfort, Bakers, Safeguard, or your own insurer) or try Nationwide, whose policy is good and whose people I found very helpful.

[Guest Yorkshire Tyke]

Who ever you are with You SHOULD read the policy documents EVERY time you RENEW the policy We renewen our Motorhome Insurance last year with the Camping Club the renewal notice arrived THREE DAYS before the due date While reading through the docs I came across a six line section which reduced my overseas trips to 30 days per year from the expected 180 days We were due to go away the following week for 90 days - already booked Within 24 hrs I had found a new insurer and taken out a policy and cancelled the CC Insurance

[Guest Nick Miller]

I have all my motorhome and travel insurance with Camping & Caravan Club.Cheap but not particularly user friendly. All are for any number of European Trips upto 180 days per year.All cover outlined on C&CC web site. Nick

[Guest Brian Kirby]

Nick I obviously don't know how long you actually go for, or whether your home is occopied/visited in your absence but - in the event the property is left unoccupied etc - have you checked that your home buildings and contents insurances will "allow" you to be absent for more than 30 days? Many policies are quite restrictive as the periods of absence, and the amount of cover provided during absence. Brian

[Guest Nick Miller]

Thanks Brian,a good point. Allianz Cornhill 60 days unoccupied. Daughter visits every day or so and even cuts the grass.Costs me a fortune in Auchan to keep her happy. Nick

[Guest Alf W]

Nick, "visiting every day or so" will not mean that the house is not "unoccupied" will it ?

[Guest Mel E]

Alf, please try to avoid double negatives - they give me a pain in the brain! I think that I agree with you however: daily or frequent 'visits' do not mean that the house counts as occupied. The visitor would have to stay in the house and 'house sit' on some occasions. But you'd have to ask the specific insurance company how long a period of occupancy has to be before the unoccupancy counter goes back to zero - unlikely that one night counts, but is it a weekend, a week, a month or what?

[Guest Sue]

Hallo! My own insurance broker advises one overnight means the 30 days starts again. My CC insurance policy on the motorhome can be extended free of charge so long as I let them know how long I will be away and the countries visited - always better to over estimate in this case!