As the winter months close in on the UK, many of us are planning just how to escape the chill and the dampness that frosts over our tiny little island. Fed up with scraping the ice off our cars and having to wear three layers of woolly clothing, the idea of a last minute holiday seems heavenly.
Millions of Brits all over the country are spending their free time searching the internet for a fantastic holiday deal and with so many places to choose from, it can be a difficult deciding which holiday is best for you. Some top choices might include treating yourself to a week away skiing on the French Alps, visiting Table Mountain in South Africa or even a New Year break in Australia?
It's easy to get carried away with the excitement of it all, which is why it's vital to ensure that you have one of the most important parts of your winter holiday arranged and that, of course, is your travel insurance. Nobody likes to think about the possibility of having a holiday accident but the risk is certainly there.
Arranging your travel insurance
According to new research carried out by Post Office Travel Services (www.postoffice.co.uk), nearly a third of all travel insurance claims account for people who have suffered serious personal injuries in a skiing accident.
Kevin McAdam, head of travel and leisure at the Post Office, said, "Although a winter sports holiday is great fun, it does carry more risk than a regular beach holiday and accidents are more likely to happen."
This research is supported by another study by moneysupermarket.com (www.moneysupermarket.com), which states that every fourth skier to hit the slopes will not have valid insurance to cover a holiday accident. The price comparison website revealed that only half of skiers are positive that they have insured themselves against a personal injury or accident, and one in four people would not have cover for winter sports.
Peter Gerrard, researcher at moneysupermarket.com, said, "Planning your winter wonderland getaway is always exciting, but if you're hoping to try your hand at any winter sports, such as skiing off-piste, snow-boarding or even snow-tubing, take out adequate insurance and make sure you check your policy carefully."
Mr Gerrard also reminded holidaymakers that there is a possibility they might not be covered against a holiday injury if the accident occurred whilst being under the influence of alcohol.
"It's a little known fact, but virtually every travel insurance policy on the market includes a clause that says if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time an incident occurred, you may not be able to make a claim as your policy may be rendered invalid."
Holidays in the sunshine
If you don't fancy risking a skiing accident and would prefer to spend a couple of weeks in a hotter climate then maybe South Africa would be the place for you? South Africa has so much to offer anybody visiting this beautiful country and so it makes sense to hire a car and explore its many sites, including Table Mountain and Robben Island.
Travelling by car will give you an advantage when visiting South Africa but like any country, you could be at risk from suffering serious personal injuries in a possible vehicle accident. According a recent poll by easyCar.com (www.easycar.com), tourists have voted the African country as the worst place in the world to drive a vehicle. The study carried out on 2,000 motorists revealed that 50 per cent of British tourists thought that South African drivers were rude and had bad roadside manners.
This compares considerably to countries such as the Netherlands and Ireland where up to 58 per cent of British drivers found them to be polite and considerate.
Stelios Hadji-loannou, easyGroup chairman, said, "I was personally surprised to see to many disparities between countries.
"It seems that holidaymakers don't enjoy cruising around South Africa and Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy.
"The USA scores well across many of the league tables but every country has something special to offer."
However, not all holidaymakers want to drive a car abroad and many will choose to simply lie on the beach, soak up the sun and read a good book. Australia is a great country to escape to for a relaxing holiday and, with its excellent beaches and idyllic landscapes, it's an even better place to spend a few days celebrating New Year.
As with many New Year celebrations there will always be the risk of people drinking too much alcohol and suffering a personal injury. For this reason, one beach in Australia is planning to have a temporary drinking ban on New Year's Eve to reduce the possibility of tourists making compensation claims after stepping on broken glass.
Volunteers at the Waimarama Surf Life Saving Club have witnessed a number of holiday accidents over the years and believe a ban on drinking from 6pm on New Year's Eve until midnight on New Years Day will prevent future possible injury claims from being made.
A spokesperson for the club commented on the danger of broken glass and said, "Obviously we cannot collect it all as some is covered by sand and cuts to feet are common in the days following New Year."
Councillor Clive Ward added, "We have to find somewhere for these people to go where they can enjoy themselves but not cause a problem for others."
Such holiday accidents shouldn't put you off from spending time abroad but make sure you arrange adequate travel insurance before jetting off into the sun.
Whether you plan to visit Australia, South Africa or even somewhere in the UK, the most important thing to remember is to relax and enjoy yourself.
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