In spite of the credit crunch people in the UK are as prepared as ever to go on vacation. Many are planning on heading off abroad. Yet taking out travel insurance is still not gaining as much currency.

While the importance of having the cover is not in question, for some strange reasons travellers do not consider it a priority as much as they consider making the trip itself or having all the holiday fun they could afford to pay for.

Not too long ago the Foreign and Commonwealth Office voiced its concerns over this and advised British holidaymakers to always ensure taking out adequate cover before setting off.

This is very essential as people who find themselves in an unpleasant situation, in terms of health or otherwise, while abroad could face a number of major problems. Apart from having to foot their own bills in case of hospital treatments or being left hundreds of pounds out of money, they could pose consular problems for the embassy where they require repatriation. Recently, a young woman who lost her life while on holiday abroad could only have her remains repatriated after her aged parents managed to raise the required funds.

People who have faced similar experiences have recounted their heart-rending tales and, notwithstanding, many have yet to learn any lesson, if the recent survey by Sainsbury’s Finance is anything to go by.

In a poll that featured 1,000 participants, it was found that one-in-four Brits does not plan travelling abroad on holiday with valid travel insurance. A third of respondents dismissed the cover by the wave of their hand, saying they do not it, while a fifth invoked the credit crunch dilemma to argue that they were unable to pay for a travel cover.

While this may painfully be the fact, the irony is that the same person who said the credit crunch has made him too poor to afford travel insurance is sufficiently able to pay for a foreign holiday that runs into hundreds of pounds. Meanwhile, there are lots of scenic holiday sites in the country that people could conveniently visit at a much lower cost.

Among those most likely to skip travel insurance are the elderly travellers, aged between 55 and 64. Yet their behaviour while on holiday was a major cause of concern to the FCO and insurance companies earlier in the year.

“It’s a false economy to do without travel insurance and it should be regarded as a holiday essential,” commented head of insurance at Sainsbury’s Finance, Steve Johnson. Even as he added that it was as important as packing one’s travel documents, many of those whose minds are made on not taking out the cover could still think otherwise.

But there is the experience of Heathrow Terminal 5 to serve as a lesson. People need to know that there are unforeseen events like flight disruptions or cancellations that could leave them seriously at risk. They could also have their luggage misplaced, lost or damaged and need some form of cover to be able to make claims.

A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers, Erfan Hussain explained that: “While such events are always stressful, travelling with insurance gives some peace of mind to holidaymakers that they will not be left stranded abroad without cash or facing potentially large hospital bills if they fall ill or are injured.”

As much as this is the fact the reality is that people are failing to take warning. Heeding wise counsels is very essential since no one wants to be left stranded abroad, not even one’s remains.