When you are travelling, you increase the risk of losing baggage or your valuable possessions, or having them stolen or damaged.

To be prepared for loss, theft or damage, you must take out travel insurance before you leave your own country. Travel insurance covers other things, such as illness or accident, disruption to holiday plans and emergency repatriation, but one very important aspect of travel insurance is to cover for loss or theft of your valuables.

As you travel to and from your destination, especially if you are travelling by air, you entrust your baggage to the airline carrier. Every year, thousands of air travellers lose part of their luggage, or find it has been sent to the wrong destination, or find their luggage has been tampered with or damaged en route. You can reduce the risk of loss by making sure that you carry any valuables, your passport and your money on your person, or pack them in your hand luggage. Never pack these things in your check-in baggage. However, to be adequately compensated for baggage loss or mishandling, you must take out appropriate travel insurance.

After you reach your destination, you are still at risk that your possessions could be stolen from your hotel room or that you could be mugged in the street. Although hotels do their best to protect access to your room and carefully vet all employees, you must not assume that it is safe to leave your valuable possessions lying around in your hotel room. Hotels usually have a safe at reception where you can deposit your valuables. In many cases, a safe can be found in your own room. Tourists are also targets for muggers and, as you do your sightseeing or relax on the beach, you would be wise to keep your cash and valuables in a money belt.

In the event that you need to make a claim for loss, theft or damage, make sure that you obtain a police report. Insurance companies will require original documents in order to settle your claim. Remember to keep photocopies of all documents for your own records.

If you have the right insurance, you can be confident that, should you have your possessions lost, stolen or damaged while on holiday, you'll be able to claim compensation.

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