Posted 30 Mar 2009

Not enough backpackers and gap year travellers take out adequate insurance to cover the duration of their trips.

These are the findings of a new survey, undertaken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The poll discovered that 41 per cent of young travellers questioned had left the UK without taking out travel insurance.

Of these respondents, 35 per cent said they had encountered troubles, such as running out of money, while abroad.

HM Ambassador to Bolivia Nigel Baker commented that many of the Brits in distress he has encountered in the past were on their first trips abroad and simply ill-prepared.

He added: "I would advise students – and their parents – to be as prepared as possible by getting travel insurance, budgeting properly and seeking advice from trusted sources."

Last month, Sophie Butler of the Times newspaper advised gap year travellers to carefully shop around to ensure they have the best possible travel insurance deals to cover their trips.

Category: General Travel