The current economic climate has seen many Brits tightening their belts on a variety of things – from switching where to go food shopping to utility usage and holiday destinations. It can be difficult to sacrifice the things you’re used to in order to get through tough financial times, but a few changes can ensure that some luxuries – like holidays – are still well within reach. Whatever holidays you’ve planned, there are ways to keep that dream destination in mind whilst still not overspending the budget. It can be hard – perhaps you have to downsize a break away from two weeks to one to save on accommodation costs, or search for a cheaper mode of transport. Whatever you do to save the pennies, don’t let holiday frugality ruin your plans – you can still enjoy an excellent break whilst cutting costs. You can do this by the methods mentioned above, but you may not have to cut your trip down to size if you don’t need to make massive savings. In any case, cheaper accommodation may be a better option. For example, two weeks in a rented apartment can create huge savings when compared with the cost of a decent hotel. If you’re flexible about your travel dates, a few adjustments here and there can find you inexpensive flights, train links or coach services. A self-catering accommodation is far cheaper than catered, and by staying at home rather than going out for meals, the amount of money you won’t spend is astronomical – which can then go into paying for the necessities like travel and accommodation or seeing some attractions. If you really need to save on your break, shop local. That is, forget long haul flights halfway across the world and consider staying in your home land instead. Just because a destination is in the same country it doesn’t mean that it’s not completely different to what you’re used to. Compare a week in the bustling streets of London to a quiet cottage in Cornwall, or the changes between an industrial city like Glasgow and the spiralling streets of York’s charming centre – there are myriad excellent places in the UK to explore without the extortionate air fares. However, often going abroad is the holiday of choice – so just remember that it can be easy to save thanks to some forward planning and cost-cutting measures. Don’t forget to shop around for different options regarding accommodation, travel costs and the little essentials like possible visa charges. Furthermore, you can ensure you don’t suffer from any unnecessary costs by having suitable single trip travel insurance in place – you could find that a holiday on the credit crunch may turn out to be your most rewarding yet.

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

If you are traveling, alone or with your family, it is essential that you get adequate risk cover for everyone. Travel insurance is a must, since it covers you for all exigencies during your trip. Having said that, there are some important things that need your attention.

If you are traveling with your family, you should take a family travel insurance plan that covers your spouse and children. In case you have an extended family, you can go for either the extended family plans or the group travel plans. These work out to be far cheaper than individual coverage plans. However, the actual policy that a travel company offers would depend on the number of members traveling with you.

In case you have missed out on an extended plan, do read the offer document carefully and check if your family members are included in the plan. Since the insurance companies look out for ways and means for offering less for more, it is up to you to ensure that you have adequate insurance and that you have seen and checked the fine print in the offer document, something that most of us miss to do.

To ensure that you are getting value for your money, read the exclusions and restriction clauses carefully. Some of the common exclusions are sporting risks like bungee jumping, mountaineering, etc., recurring treatments, particular age groups and specific cases of pregnancies. The standard policies also exclude use of alcohol and drugs, any terminal illness not reported at time of taking the policy, self-inflicted injury, AIDS, etc. If you are a sports freak, please have a look at the extreme sports insurance cover. Though the premium will depend on the activities included and the provisos, it will cover you while you enjoy your favorite sport. However, check for the exclusions here also.

If you have read these terms and conditions carefully, it will help you if you need to file a claim. Since the insurance company looks for the smallest of the reasons to disqualify your claim, it is in your interest to know what is covered and what is excluded and also the correct procedure for making a claim. Be sure that you send a completed claim form along with all the relevant receipts including medical reports, police reports and others, to ensure that your claim is processed in your favor. Since the insurance company will look out specifically for false and misleading information in the exclusions and also the paperwork submitted with the claim, it will help if you have read and understood all the procedures beforehand.

Misfortune can strike anyone. Even a seemingly innocuous activity like camping can turn dangerous since you are staying outdoors and there may be wild creatures in that part of the country! Hence it is better to be safe than to be sorry afterwards. If you are a frequent traveler, you can opt for an annual plan. And if you travel once in a while, you can take the temporary policies that cover you for the duration of your travel. Whatever the case, it is prudent to be insured and wise to know the details of your policy.