Foreign Office research shows that a third of people do not take out travel insurance when they stay with family and friends overseas.

But Britons planning to visit relatives and friends abroad this year are being urged to take out full travel insurance to help them if things go wrong.

New research by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) shows that:

• a third of people did not take out travel insurance the last time they stayed with family and friends abroad
• young people are more likely to buy a present for their host than take out a travel insurance policy
• more than three-quarters of those who stated that they were visiting friends and family this year and were not intending to buy cover said that saving money was a key factor in this decision.

The FCO warns that not taking out comprehensive travel insurance can be a false economy as people can face serious financial difficulty if they need medical treatment or lose valuable possessions. An estimated 12 million British nationals are expected to visit friends and family abroad this year.

For a comprehensive travel insurance quote please check out the travel section of our website or call Heather Hirst on 0113 250 0377 for a quotation.