Confused.com tips for Man U supporters going to Rome

Manchester United supporters will have high expectations as they head to Rome to watch their team play Barcelona, in order to retain their title as champions of Europe for the second year running.

Yet, supporting a successful football team comes at a high price, and so making sure that the trip is insured from start to finish is an integral part of ensuring a hassle-free holiday.

The cost of success

Based on return flights from Manchester to Rome - flying out on May 25 and returning on May 28 - and a three night stay in a three star Rome hotel, the trip would cost football fans in excess of £662 per person, minus spending money.

Paying for accommodation on a credit card is a good idea, when booking directly with the service provider, as it means that travelling fans should be covered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, 1974.* On amounts of between £100 and £30,000, full reimbursement should be provided if problems occur with the booking - a perk which paying by debit cards does not carry.

Tickets for the Champions League Final are on sale from £950 to £2750, although tickets can be bought for in excess of £3,000.

Although many travelling fans will fly to Italy and back within a few days, it is likely that this trip will cost far more than a typical city break and so it is important to make sure that travellers have taken out travel insurance to protect themselves against all eventualities.

* If holidaymakers do not book directly with the service provider - in this case, the hotel or tour operator - then section 75 doesn't apply.

As flights to Rome, and even to nearby Italian cities, quickly sell out, many more supporters will decide to make their way to Italy by car. It is, therefore, worth bearing in mind the fact that Italian driving laws differ from those in the UK:

Italian driving laws and tips

All car passengers must wear seatbelts, if fitted.

All drivers must carry a reflective safety vest and warning triangle. It is important to remember to wear the vest if the driver stops on a main road and gets out of the car; the penalty for failing to do this could be a fine.

Dipped headlights must be used on all main roads; full-beam lights can only be used outside cities and towns.

Outside urban areas, Italians use their horns to signal their intention to overtake.

In cities, drivers must park in the direction of the traffic, and tuck their wing-mirrors in.

Drivers must dial 112 for emergencies and 116 for breakdowns.

Children under the age of three, or measuring less than 1.5m high, are not allowed in a car unless they are travelling in an approved child seat/ restraint system. Children over the age of three should travel in the back of the car, although they may travel in the front if they are taller than 1.5m. If using a rear-facing child seat in the front, the passenger side airbags must be deactivated.

Steve Williams, head of travel insurance at Confused.com, says: "Travel insurance is a must for any Manchester United fans travelling to Rome for the Champions League Final. It will enable football fans to enjoy their time in Italy without having to worry about theft, for example. Following football teams around Europe can be a very costly past-time, and so it makes sense to take out the appropriate levels of cover.

"However, as drunken accidents do not tend to be covered by insurance policies, fans should think twice about having that last Peroni, as it could end up costing them far more than a round of beers for their mates.

"Before heading to Italy, it is a good idea to shop around for the right insurance policy at the right price, as they can vary widely. In addition, it is important to read the small-print, as level of cover should be taken into consideration when buying any kind of insurance."