Travellers must pay more attention to their policies

Some worrying travel habits have been revealed by a new survey from American Express travel insurance.

According to the survey a third of people do not read the terms and conditions of their travel insurance policies before going away.

Meanwhile nearly 40 per cent take more than £250 cash with them, a greater amount than the maximum sum covered by most policies.

In spite of the greater security of carrying cards or travellers' cheques more than 20 per cent of those surveyed take more than £500 cash with them. Of those, 6 per cent take over £1,000.

Marketing manager at American Express Insurance Services, Joanne Field, commented: "Whilst terms and conditions from insurance policies vary, most insurers only offer to cover the loss of cash up to £250.

"Holidaymakers will have better protection from credit cards, travellers cheques or travellers cheque prepaid cards rather than take large sums of cash that are simply not covered by insurance in the event of loss or theft."

Other more light hearted findings showed that tea bags, chocolate and marmite were the most popular pieces of England that people take abroad with them.

As far as travel companions go Michael Parkinson, Sean Connery and Matthew Pinsent topped the ladies' list, while surprisingly Kelly Holmes, Paula Radcliffe and Fern Britton beat Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie and The Williams Sisters as men's top travelling companions.