Suitcases 'worth more than our holidays'

A new survey has highlighted the need for holidaymakers to purchase travel insurance after revealing the true value of what Brits take on holiday in their suitcases.

The survey, carried out by Holiday Inn, found that the contents of the average suitcase is worth around £1,571.

Bags packed specifically for holidays abroad were found to be worth £618.41; however, it was also found that £142.80 worth of clothes will not be worn for the duration of the break.

Some 76 per cent of people admitted to packing things that they would never use, with items taken on holiday including electric shavers, curling tongs and multiple pairs of shoes.

Chris Hale, a spokesperson for Holiday Inn, said: "The findings of this poll are incredible. It's also a very British thing to be prepared for anything - maybe it's our unpredictable weather, or something to do with growing up with the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides!"

The average person in the UK takes around four city breaks every year, he added.

Earlier this year, a survey by holiday-rentals.co.uk found that 60 per cent of mums find planning a holiday a stressful experience, with some reporting that they become so anxious that they are tempted not to go away at all.