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Travel insurance confusion: two in five Brits unsure of what they’re covered for | Company News

Holidaymaker holding travel documents — travel insurance cover and exclusions

Company news · 3 min read · January 26, 2026

Travel insurance confusion: two in five Brits unsure of what they’re covered for

Holiday Extras research suggests many UK holidaymakers are planning “active holidays” without realising some sports and activities may require additional travel insurance cover.

Short on time? Let us summarise this press release for you.

As sun-starved Brits flock to book their breaks for the year ahead, new research has revealed mass misunderstanding about what travel insurance actually covers, leaving holidaymakers potentially at risk and out of pocket should something go wrong.

The research, completed by Holiday Extras (the UK’s market leader in holiday extras including airport parking, airport lounges, airport hotels and travel insurance), found that four in ten (40%) of those polled were unsure about what is covered by their travel insurance, with many planning activities that could unknowingly invalidate their policies.

With searches for “active holidays” increasing by +366% in the past month alone, a third (30%) of those polled said they plan to take part in sea kayaking on their summer escape, with safari trekking (23%) and white-water rafting (22%) other popular thrills.

Yet despite the nation’s appetite for adventure, the research with 1,000 UK holidaymakers found that over half (51%) wrongly assume that these kinds of activity are automatically covered in their travel insurance, with a third (30%) unable to name a single sport or activity that is commonly included.

At the peak of ski season, Holiday Extras warns the risk of hitting the slopes and relying on standard travel insurance — which doesn’t normally cover skiing unless extra cover is taken — is especially concerning.

In reality, many policies do not cover these activities as standard, with travellers required to clearly state the activities they intend to take part in and pay a premium for additional cover.

What holidaymakers say they’re planning — and what they assume is covered

Unsure what their travel insurance covers: 40%

Assume adventurous activities are automatically covered: 51%

Plan to go sea kayaking: 30%

Plan to go safari trekking: 23%

Plan to go white-water rafting: 22%

Unable to name a single commonly included activity: 30%

Alice Lawson, Holiday Extras

Alice Lawson, Associate Director – Insurance at Holiday Extras, said:

“Most holidays are happily trouble-free and most people don’t need to claim on their insurance — but in the rare circumstances where something goes wrong, it can be either dangerous or expensive not to have the right insurance.

“In most cases, the largest costs holidaymakers could face if their insurance is invalid are medical bills or medical repatriation. Medical repatriation alone, just from Europe, could be even more than £30k or even £60k — meaning the financial risk of travelling without the right insurance is high.

“Holidays are all about switching off, relaxing, and doing the things we want to do — even if they’re on the more adventurous side. Purchasing the right kind of insurance is essential.”

Holiday Extras has long campaigned for travellers to buy the right insurance for them. Its AI tool, “SYD” (Search Your Documents), helps make it easier to understand policy documents, allowing holidaymakers to quickly find information about their policies and exclusions — ensuring they know exactly what they’re covered for from the outset.

For more information on how to find the best travel insurance policy for your needs, visit holidayextras.com.

For more information

For more information contact the GOLD79 team on [email protected].

Notes to Editors

1. Method: 1,000 UK adults surveyed in August 2025 via Attest. Please note that percentages relating to awareness and understanding are based on qualitative analysis of open-text survey responses.

2. “Active holidays” data: Sourced through Google Trends / Glimpse on 13.01.26.

About Holiday Extras

About Holiday Extras
Holiday Extras is the European market leader in airport parking, airport hotels, worldwide airport lounges, destination car hire, airport transfers and holiday insurance. Established in 1983, Holiday Extras helps more than 11 million travellers have a better holiday every year. Flextras ensures it is easy and free to cancel or change bookings. The company has been listed eleven times in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For.