Travel Insurance To Protect Against Festival Disasters

As the summer music festival season kicks in, experts are warning that failure to check cover could leave people in a stickier situation than the mud in front of main stage.

A leading online comparison firm has pointed out that 90 per cent of incidents at festivals concern thefts from tents.

While most people will regard a mobile phone as essential and an Mp3 player as an added bonus, carrying big-ticket items while you are out on a rampage is not necessarily a great idea.

"If you're camping at the festival itself and taking valuables with you, such as mobile phones, MP3 players and digital cameras, then insuring these personal possessions against loss, damage or theft should be top of your list," said a representative of the firm.

The right travel insurance can also protect against the disappointment of cancellation. It does not happen often but occasionally festivals can be cancelled. Reasons include bad weather restricting artists from getting to the venue, loss of financial backing and problems with licensing.

And if the festival is abroad, then travel insurance becomes even more of a must. More and more people are mixing their love of live music with cheap continental travel to attend big European gatherings like Benicassim in Spain and Roskilde in Denmark.

Top tips for a festival to remember (fondly):

•    Keep your most valuable possessions with you at all times, and stick together in groups – you are less likely to be a target of mugging or theft. But do not keep all your money in one pocket.
•    Do not take expensive clothing or jewellery – consider taking a disposable camera, to cut down on risk of damage, loss or theft.
•    Do not make your pitch at the bottom of a hill, since rainwater (and much worse) could end up streaming its way into your tent.
•    Look at whether your credit card offers you any form of protection for accommodation or travel cancellation.

Freewheeling types can find the best travel insurance cover online.

If you would like to know more about travel insurance why not ask AnswerBank Insurance.