Warning as 2m Brits head abroad this weekend

Brits head abroad

Nearly 2 million Brits will head abroad this August Bank Holiday weekend – but many could face massive medical bills.

For travel association ABTA, which estimates 1.9 million are quitting the country between August 28-31, says one in five holidaymakers are still travelling overseas uninsured.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, said: “It is a real concern. Every year we come across tragic incidents of people having accidents or falling ill overseas without travel insurance and then having to pay bills which can quickly run into thousands of pounds.

“Often they are younger travellers and their families are left with the burden of having to pick up the bill. Whatever your financial circumstances may be, avoiding taking out travel insurance is a very false economy.”

So where are we all going this weekend? The Mediterranean is set to have temperatures of 30C with guaranteed sunshine. Spain has sold very well with the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and coastal resorts on the mainland leading the way.

Portugal and Turkey are popular too along with city breaks – in Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris and further afield, New York.

ABTA members are also reporting strong sales to domestic beach resorts and the Channel Islands.

UK city breaks are another top pick and lots of visitors will be heading to Edinburgh for the festival or enjoying events such as the Notting Hill Carnival in London.

Airports in the South East are expecting a very busy weekend with more than 550,000 passengers expected to depart from Heathrow, 270,000 from Gatwick, 145,000 from Stansted and 87,000 from Luton.

175,000 are due to depart from Manchester, 73,000 from Birmingham, 50,000 from Bristol and 150,000 will be leaving from Scottish airports.

Hundreds of thousands will also be leaving the country from other regional airports, ports and the Channel Tunnel. Eurostar will be extremely busy with 75,000 Brits set to enjoy a late summer break in France.

Mark Tanzer said: “This weekend is always one of the busiest of the year with hundreds of thousands taking advantage of the long bank holiday weekend to head overseas for some guaranteed sunshine, or to enjoy the UK’s beautiful countryside and vibrant cities.

“With the pound still high against the Euro many Brits will be taking advantage of cheaper prices in the Eurozone resorts.”