Travel Insurance

At a time when laptops and Blackberries are fast becoming poolside accessories and one in seven Britons admit to using them to keep in touch with their office while on holiday - one in four people will cancel a holiday this year because of severe pressures at work.

With the growth in overseas travel showing no signs of slowing the need for travel insurance has never been greater. The number of trips abroad grew by over 17% between 2002 and 2006 and Britons are travelling further and further a field in search of the ultimate holiday experience.

Over 42,000 footballing fans are planning to travel to Russia this month to watch the clash between Chelsea and Manchester United at the Luzhniki Stadium - the first time that the event will be contested by two English football clubs.

Bupa Travel Services has signed an agreement with global airline Emirates to offer customers extra peace of mind when they travel.

From this week M&S Travel Insurance has been enhanced to ensure that travellers who book their holidays independently of a tour operator are covered if their flights are cancelled and if other parts of their holidays are affected.

Bank Holiday mini-breakers are urged to ensure they have comprehensive travel insurance and motor breakdown cover secured ahead of the May Day mayhem says price comparison site moneysupermarket.com.

Following assurances from British Airways and BAA that service levels at Heathrow's Terminal 5 have returned to an acceptable standard, Direct Line travel insurance policies will be valid should customers suffer lost and delayed baggage or flight disruptions at the airport.

James Harrison, chief executive of Insurancewide.com, the online insurance comparison service, advises travellers: "If you're planning to travel from Terminal 5 and don't yet have an insurance policy, you are unlikely to be able to buy cover from any insurer as the issue has been deemed an "uninsurable risk".

The AA has expressed surprise that some insurance companies are withdrawing cover for delay and loss of baggage at Heathrow's new Terminal 5.

Commenting on recent introductions, by some travel insurers, of baggage claim exclusions on passengers travelling through Terminal 5, Saga would like to reassure travellers that not all insurers are taking such a hard nosed view!