Introduction to Protecting your Belongings - When we go on Holiday it is usual to take a number of items of value with us practically jewellery or perhaps photographic equipment. Whilst we may have insurance on these items, it is always better to save guard them rather that be forced to make a claim under an insurance policy.  Whilst Travel Insurance will normally cover Personal belongings, the sums insured are normally quite low and it is usual

to see if cover can be extended under a Home Insurance policy. Check with your Home Insurance provider, you may find that you have an automatic insurance extension of up to 30days. In the event of a claim it is usually for the Travel Insurance Company to request that the Home Insurance Company pay part of any claim. Be prepared for this, it is fairly standard procedure. If you report a claim to your Travel Insurance Company, they will usually ask for details of your Home Insurance as a matter of course.  When you arrive at your destination, it will become obvious very quickly that the majority of travelers have baggage of similar colours. Try to mark you bags with a colored pen or perhaps you could tie a piece of ribbon to the handles. This will help you identify them quickly. If the airline manages to lose your baggage in transit, remember to tell them immediately and request a baggage irregularity form to be completed. Without this it may not be possible to make a claim from your Travel Insurance policy.  If you are on the outward portion of your journey, your policy may provide you with an emergency clothing allowance, check with your policy wording.  If you lose any items or have any items stolen, remember to report the matter to the police and ask them for a reference number, you will need to produce this to your insurers in order to make a claim. It is always wise to carry valuable items such as jeweler and camcorders etc as Hand Luggage. Items such as money, credit cards, passports, spectacles or contact lenses, or any medications should also be carried with you. When you arrive at your destination, enquire about keeping your valuables in the Hotel Safe, sometimes a safe can be found in you hotel room and is worth the small cost.

Most Travel Insurance policies have exclusions for unattended baggage, this equally applies if you leaver your baggage unattended at an Airport or Railway Station or unattended at a Hotel.  Some insurance companies will exclude Theft cover if you leave your baggage in the custody of the Hotel, whilst you wait for your homeward bound flight etc. This can be quite a problem particularly if you have to check out in the morning and your flight is not until later on in the day. The golden rule is that baggage is your responsibility and if you leave it in the custody or control of a Third Party, you may have a claim refused by your insurance company.  It is a good idea to investigate the possibility of obtaining locks for your cases etc and making sure that these are used at all times. Remember to keep the keys on you though.

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