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Gap year travellers ‘skimp on essentials’
A quarter of gap year students do not plan to take out travel insurance.
Yet one in three who do have insurance make a claim, new research shows.
Volunteer travel specialist and training organisation i-to-i found that many young travellers skimp on essentials to make room for ‘must have’ items. The average gap year trips costs between £2,000-£5,000, according to the company.
Company founder Deidre Bounds said: “Considering that one in three gappers who do have insurance make a claim, this could be a hugely expensive ommission. For instance, an air ambulance could set someone back £100,000 or a simple sunstroke can cost £8,000 in medical bills.
“So if insurance is not arranged properly then students are putting themselves and their families at serious financial risk, just for the matter of a few hundred pounds.”
Two thirds of returning gap travellers either did not have contigency funds for their travels or their emergency fund was too small.
Research by the company discovered that the estmated 100,000 UK student travellers this year will spend more than £500 million – but not every penny is being spent wisely.
Nine in 10 of them fall foul of the “impulse buy” trap, 78% say they have been victims of overcharging overseas, particularly for transport; 31% have been caught out by unexpected travel charges such as airport tax and 53% admit to overspending during their trip.
The company estimates gap year travellers need to set aside £10-£20 a day for daily living costs, £250 for insurance, £70 for immunisation, £10-£30 for visas and £300 for backpacks and travel essentials.
Bounds said: “Travelling the world is an amazing, enriching experience, and with careful planning, one which need not include money worries. By doing your research and speaking to those who have already travelled, you can set yourself a realistic budget before you step on the plane.”
Report by Phil Davies
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