The Cash Saving Knowledgeable has issued an pressing warning to anybody planning to journey overseas in 2026.
Martin Lewis has issued an pressing warning to anybody going overseas this 12 months (Picture: ITVX)
Martin Lewis has issued a stark warning to anybody planning to journey overseas in 2026, cautioning {that a} widespread mistake might depart holidaymakers dealing with main losses and even lacking their journey completely.
The Cash Saving Knowledgeable founder urged travellers to ebook journey insurance coverage on the similar time they pay their vacation deposit, stressing that delaying cowl might show expensive if one thing goes fallacious earlier than departure. Talking on the most recent episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast on Thursday, January 22, Lewis mentioned failing to behave rapidly might depart individuals utterly unprotected.
You must get journey insurance coverage ‘as quickly as you’ve got booked’. (Picture: Getty)
“Essential warning if you happen to’ve booked or are reserving a vacation overseas,” he instructed listeners. “Ensure you get your journey insurance coverage ASAB – as quickly as you ebook. And if you happen to’ve already booked, meaning simply do it now. Simply get it as rapidly as attainable.”
Mr Lewis defined that many individuals wrongly imagine journey insurance coverage is barely wanted shortly earlier than they fly, when in actuality it additionally protects towards occasions that occur months prematurely.
“Half the purpose of journey insurance coverage is overlaying you for issues that will occur earlier than you go that cease you going,” he mentioned. “And if you happen to depart it to the final minute to get your journey insurance coverage, and one thing occurs, effectively, you received’t be lined.”
He warned that critical sickness, redundancy, household emergencies or different sudden occasions might stop journey, leaving holidaymakers unable to reclaim the price of flights or lodging if insurance coverage was not already in place.
Mr Lewis additionally clarified the variations between single-trip and annual journey insurance coverage insurance policies. For single-trip cowl, he mentioned travellers can purchase the coverage instantly, even when the vacation is months away, so long as the coverage covers the proper journey dates.
“Should you’re going away on the first of August to the eighth of August, you get a single journey coverage now for these dates,” he defined. “You pay for it now. You’ve acquired your coverage in place.”
For annual insurance policies, Lewis confused the significance of steady cowl. Travellers ought to guarantee their coverage begins instantly moderately than setting it to start simply earlier than departure.
These with an present annual coverage must also verify it doesn’t expire earlier than their vacation.
“In case your present annual coverage stops earlier than your vacation date, it would be best to get a brand new coverage that begins the day after your previous coverage ends,” he mentioned. “So you’ve steady cowl going all through.”
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Mr Lewis famous that whereas many annual insurance policies can solely be bought as much as 90 days prematurely, some will nonetheless cowl incidents that happen earlier, even when the journey itself falls after the coverage finish date. Nevertheless, he warned this isn’t assured and urged travellers to rearrange follow-on cowl as quickly as attainable.
With hundreds of thousands anticipated to journey overseas in 2026, Lewis mentioned reserving insurance coverage early is likely one of the easiest methods to guard each a vacation and a family finances. “Simply get it sorted,” he mentioned. “It might prevent 1000’s.”
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