Thursday, February 15, 2024
Mystery vacations are gaining popularity, evidenced by a significant increase in Google searches during the first fortnight of January, surpassing 125,000 searches for such trips last year.
However, before embarking on a mystery holiday, what should travelers consider? Travel insurance experts at Confused.com outline essential information for those contemplating a mystery vacation this year.
What do mystery holidays entail?
The contents of a mystery holiday package can vary by provider.
A leading provider of mystery holiday packages in the UK is Wowcher, which saw Google searches for ‘Wowcher mystery holiday’ reach 239,500 and an additional 43,200 for ‘Wowcher £99 mystery holiday’ in 2023. The package has also gained significant attention on TikTok, with the hashtag #wowchermysteryholiday amassing over 56.9 million views on the platform.
Wowcher’s offers typically include round-trip airfare and accommodations in a hotel rated 3* or higher. The package ensures direct flights to short-haul destinations from the UK, departing from London airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, and Southend. While it’s possible to customize flight times, doing so may incur additional costs.
Please note that the package price includes only hand luggage. Travelers are responsible for securing visas if required.
Another aspect not covered by the initial cost is travel insurance. While not mandatory in many destinations, purchasing a policy is advisable for coverage against medical issues, emergencies, and travel disruptions.
Mystery holiday packages can be canceled, but typically only before a specific deadline. For instance, with companies like Wowcher, cancellation is possible only before the assigned destination is revealed. If you cancel prior to this, you are eligible for a refund. However, once the destination is disclosed, any requests for refunds are bound by the terms and conditions of the holiday provider. Dissatisfaction with the allocated destination does not warrant a refund. While the provider might offer an alternative location, availability for such changes is not guaranteed.
In exceptional circumstances, if the Foreign Office advises against travel to a particular location, you are provided with an alternative destination. This ensures that you won’t have to cancel your trip and face the loss of a refund in these situations.
Matthew Harwood, Confused.com travel insurance expert, said:
“You should consider buying travel insurance as soon as your trip is booked. With Wowcher, this might not be possible until you know your destination. Typically, you find out where you’re jetting off to within five to 10 days of redeeming your voucher. You could consider buying travel insurance as soon as your destination is revealed to you. However, you can buy it up to one day before you travel to still be covered on the trip.
The cost of travel insurance can vary depending on the following:
“As standard, travel insurance policies usually include some form of cancellation cover. This means costs are covered if your flight or accommodation is cancelled. You’re also usually covered if you have to cancel your trip due to things that are out of your control. Check your policy terms and conditions to ensure you know exactly what you are covered for.
This includes, but isn’t limited to:
“These reasons are only accepted by your insurer if your policy was bought before the event.
“If you need to make a claim on your travel insurance, you should contact your provider as soon as possible. To file your claim, you’re typically either sent a form or asked questions over the phone. You may be asked to provide receipts, photographs, correspondence, or a crime reference number if the police have been involved.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
