Seven holiday activities that could land you in trouble

Experts are warning Brits could be hit with bills over £80,000 for injuries caused by popular holiday activities that standard travel insurance will not likely cover. 

Travel insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk are urging holidaymakers to ensure they are correctly covered before jetting off to avoid potentially costly consequences. 

The warning comes following an increase in online searches for holiday activities – surging by 136% in the past month – as millions of Brits gear up for adventure abroad.*

Demand for active tourism is high, with a recent survey finding that 36% of Brits would rather go on an activity-filled holiday, with 35% saying they can’t relax when they are just sunbathing.**

It’s not just thrill-seekers at risk of voiding their insurance either – Britons’ newfound love for running has seen a rise in “mara-cations”, with searches for European races doubling in the last decade.***

Yet despite holidaymakers’ thirst for overseas activities, over a third of Brits go on holiday without the right cover, or worse, no travel insurance at all.****

Helen Rolph, travel insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “With the British summer patchy at best, holidaymakers are storming their laptops for last minute breaks to the sun.

“Our team of savings experts are warning those in a rush to buy, to make sure they don’t fall foul to some simple travel mistakes.

“Many Brits don’t realise that popular holiday activities like jet-skiing or quad biking could leave them thousands of pounds out of pocket if they’re not properly insured. 

“Even if coverage is in place, claims can still be rejected if local safety laws are broken, the holidaymakers don’t wear a helmet or are found to be under the influence of alcohol. 

“When heading abroad, people often think activities like scuba diving and go karting, popular with young travellers, stag and hen parties – are included as standard, but this is rarely the case and could leave thrill-seekers at risk.”

Seven popular holiday activities that could void your travel insurance:

1.Scuba diving

Standard travel insurance might include scuba diving, but this is often only limited to a certain depth, and you may need to provide proof of certification. Diving without a qualified instructor or diving alone could void your cover if you have an accident.

2.Jet-skiing

Most basic policies don’t include jet-skiing, so you’ll need to purchase a specialised insurance policy that does include it if you plan on trying it during your next holiday. Different countries have different laws regarding jet-skis too, so it’s important to abide by local water safety rules. 

3.Banana boats

Whilst most standard travel insurance policies do include banana boats under general water sports, it’s important to do so safely. Not wearing a life jacket, being under the influence of alcohol, or going on a boat that isn’t run by a licensed operator could all result in a rejected claim should you get injured.

4.Quad biking

Most standard insurance policies will not cover quad biking, so you will need to ensure you take out adequate cover. Failure to do so can be costly. For example, a quad bike accident in Greece, where you need surgery and medical evacuation/repatriation, could carry costs that exceed £80,000 if you aren’t correctly insured.*****

5.Hiring a scooter or motorbike

Very common in places like Thailand, Bali or Vietnam, but if you don’t have the right licence or aren’t wearing a helmet, any claims for an accident could be rejected. Many policies also won’t cover motorbikes over a certain engine size unless you have a full motorcycle licence. 

6.Go karting

Many travel insurance policies generally won’t cover go karting as standard, with many excluding high-risk activities like motorsports. If you do take part in go karting, always make sure you follow safety precautions such as wearing a helmet. Injury claims could be denied if not. 

7.Organised sport events

Competing in events overseas has surged in popularity of late, as younger generations ditch the party holidays for “fitness breaks”. But most standard travel insurance policies exclude claims arising from participation in organised sports events such as marathons, which are considered high-risk activities due to the physical strain and injury risk – participants will need to review their policy details and likely add on specialist cover.

Travellers are urged to check their policies carefully before taking part in any activities. Quotezone can help holidaymakers compare and find savings on all sorts of essential travel requirements such as travel disruption insurance, backpacker and European travel insurance.

References:

*Search data taken from Glimpse on 22/07/25
**https://www.neilson.co.uk/sites/default/files/2024-01/Neilson%20Beach%20Clubs%20-%20Trends%20Report.pdf 
***Search data taken from Glimpse 22/07/25
****https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-insurance/guides/travelling-without-insurance 
*****https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance