The danger British holidaymakers face if travelling without comprehensive travel insurance over the winter is highlighted today.
The cost of winter claims is 24% higher at £800 than the average annual claim value, with more than half (56%) of all winter claims exceeded £1,000.
This amounts to over £97 million in travel insurance claims over the three-month winter period, according to analysis of Direct Line Travel Insurance claims data.
Spain dominates the list of most claimed for countries, with nearly a fifth (19%) of all travel insurance claims last winter.
The winter holiday favourite is followed by claims from France (9%) and the US (8%), many of which arise from skiing and snowboarding.
The most common claims seen during the winter are for cancellation, followed by out-patient medical procedure and accidental loss of baggage.
New data from Direct Line reveals a fifth (20%) of all travel insurance claims are made during the winter months, despite only 15% (seven million) of all holidays taking place in this period.
And those with insurance make more claims in the December to February period than at any other time of year.
This is approximately one claim for every 57 trips people made during the period compared to the annual average of one travel insurance claim for every 67 trips made by Britons overseas.
It amounts to around £45,000 worth of travel claims every hour during winter.
Direct Line head of travel insurance Tom Bishop said: “It’s unsurprising that we want to escape the gloomy British winter.
“However, with winter claims not only more common but also more expensive, anyone looking to enjoy a winter break should ensure they take out comprehensive travel insurance at the point of booking their holiday, so in the event something derails their trip, they won’t be left out of pocket.”