Travellers urged to shop around for insurance

Steve Williams, Head of Travel Insurance at Confused.com: "Over the coming days major travel operators will release 2010 summer deals. As a way of encouraging families to book early, free child places are expected to be up for grabs. As many families plan their 2010 fun in the sun, Confused.com reminds consumers that purchasing insurance with the tour operator is not obligatory. Shopping around for travel insurance is the best for budgets.

Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and Datamonitor, claims 40% of all travel insurance policies were sold by travel agents last year. However, when purchasing insurance from the travel agent (rather than shopping around) could mean holidaymakers are paying almost 500% more for insurance than necessary.

As many consumers purchase holidays through travel agents, they should not feel they need to protect the holiday with the same provider. While holiday insurance is a must-have, it makes little sense to pay through the nose for it, especially when shopping around for a better deal is likely to save money. Price comparison sites enable consumers to trawl the market for the most suitable travel insurance policies on offer.

Not only is the service we provide quick, easy and comprehensive, but it also enables consumers to directly compare levels of cover. For example, a family of frequent globe-trotters heading off on a three-week safari in South Africa would require a very different policy to a family who goes caravanning in France once a year. Price comparison sites are designed to empower the user and enable them to make educated decisions about the best policies for them, in turn saving them money.

Additionally to this, it's also important consumers check the small print. Many insurance providers will protect children under a certain age for free. Know these ages as they differ from provider to provider, to ensure over insurance does not happen."