Beware of last minute daredevil holiday pursuits

Half of British holidaymakers have done impulsive activities while abroad. The top ten popular escapades include parasailing, rock-climbing, white-water rafting and bungee jumping, according to research by price comparison website moneysupermarket.com.

Holiday fashions are changing and while Brits may think a last minute daredevil pursuit abroad, such as white-water rafting, is covered by their travel insurance, moneysupermarket.com asks them to think again as most standard policies are unlikely to cover you.

Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: “Our research shows Brits don’t think twice before deciding take part in impulsive activities while abroad. While rock climbing or bungee jumping might add to the holiday experience, many insurers such as Marks & Spencer, Post Office and Norwich Union Direct classify these as dangerous sports and will not cover you in their standard policies if anything goes wrong.

“Policies can vary significantly with exclusions and caveats commonplace. Read the small print to give you peace of mind and make sure you are covered for any eventuality. You need to think about the specific activities you want insurance for as well as the level of cover you need, before shopping around for the best value policy for you.”

Richard Mason continued: “Make sure you are covered for your holiday needs. If you are just going to soak up the rays on a beach and the thought of climbing a rock face or bungee jumping fills you with dread, then a standard policy will be right for you. If you are planning to do anything a little more adventurous, you should make sure you are covered and aware of any exclusions in your policy. For example, scuba divers should be aware they are usually not covered below 30 metres.”