Independent travellers warned over travel insurance

Britons arranging their own holidays to European destinations such as Prague have been advised to ensure they have the appropriate travel insurance.

According to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the number of people arranging their own trips abroad has overtaken the number of package holiday travellers.

Independent travellers, such as those arranging connecting European trains and car hire deals, accounted for 58 per cent of all holidays taken in 2006.

Axa's Personal Insurance director, Edward Dutton, warned that tourists arranging their own trips may not be covered for all eventualities despite having insurance.

He said: "A recent report from Defaqto underlined the need for insurers to offer cover that helps customers when things go wrong - the things that would normally be picked up by a tour operator or travel agent if it were a package holiday.

"As the Ombudsman pointed out in his latest report 'There is clearly a mismatch in ... what insurers intend to offer and the cover that consumers believe they are buying'."

Common travel mishaps often overlooked by both independent travellers and insurance firms include cancellation costs and expenses incurred following missed connections.