Essential Travel say nearly 80 per cent of backpackers and gap year travellers risk losing their savings by not buying insurance cover until a few weeks before travelling or even the last minute.
This means their flights, any pre-paid accommodation and even pre-trip expenses such as visas and immunisations will be unprotected if they need to cancel their trip.
Stuart Bensusan of Essential Travel said: “This is a trip of a lifetime and most travellers will be using their savings to fund flights and other expenses. It’s just common sense to look at ways to protect this investment.”
Essential Travel (www.essentialtravel.co.uk) offers a three-month European insurance for an 18-year-old from £55.97 and £89.61 for a worldwide policy.
