Travel insurance is often the last thing one thinks about when organising a holiday and last minute buys frequently leave travellers out of pocket in instances where luggage has been lost or illnesses occur.

Many think their credit card accident cover, home insurance, or private health cover is sufficient. However, emergencies abroad are extremely expensive, statistics supplied from FirstAssist Services Ltd show that air ambulances from the United States East coast alone costs between £35 – 45,000, which no home insurance will cover.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office states a good insurance policy will cover you for cancelling or cutting a trip short and aims to make people aware that travel insurance needs to be fully researched before purchasing cheap holiday insurance.

Although deals will always carry exclusions in their policies, in relation to drug related instances for example, the FCO states that a good policy should always cover you medically, allowing you to have 24 hour emergency assistance, legal expenses cover and lost or stolen possession cover.