Don't forget insurance on your luxury break

Many Britons may be all set to jet off to distant shores this summer, but a leading travel body has warned holidaymakers to not even think about doing so if they have not taken out the appropriate insurance.

Sean Tipton, press officer at the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), said that many people may be thinking about skimming over this vital detail in order to save money.

However, he warned, travelling without insurance is "incredibly irresponsible" as holidaymakers cannot be sure that an accident will not befall them.

"[If you didn't take out insurance] you would save £30 or £40 for an insurance policy, but you run the risk of having to sell your house to pay the bill. Travelling uninsured is just a very foolish thing to do to," he said.

Research from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has found that 14 per cent of 18 to 35-year-olds have spontaneously elected to go rock-climbing while on holiday.

Meanwhile, a separate survey by the Foreign Office discovered that many people take risks on holiday that they would not do at home.

Given that treating a broken leg can cost as much as £24,000 in America, perhaps those planning to travel this summer would do well to heed Mr Tipton's advice and shop for a policy before they go.