Greater London, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/27/2010 -- As thousands of British students set off on their post A-level, pre-university gap years, leading travel essentials provider, http://www.essentialtravel.co.uk, is urging young backpackers to get the right insurance before they leave and to stay safe as they travel the world.

Recent analysis of claims from customers who have purchased the insurance specialist’s “Backpacker Travel Insurance” policy revealed that, year on year, the number of claims has risen by a staggering 64.1 per cent.

Medical expenses generated the most claims followed by personal effects, which includes personal property taken or purchased on the trip which is accidentally lost, stolen or damaged.

The average value per claim also rose dramatically in the space of a year, from £77 per claim to almost £600 per claim and in the same period there was a 33 per cent increase in claims for personal effects.

“It’s logical that medical expenses would account for a high proportion of claims from backpackers when you consider the growth in popularity of adventure sports activities among gappers, such as bungee jumping, sky diving, skiing and white-water rafting. Backpackers are also becoming flashier and we attribute the spike the number of claims for personal effects and the hike in the average value per claim to the fact that they are travelling with substantially higher value items nowadays, for example laptops, iPods and smart phones,” says Stuart Bensusan, http://www.essentialtravel.co.uk.

“It is unnerving, particularly for parents, to hear that claims from backpackers encountering mishaps abroad are on the rise but it goes to show how important it is for them to take out adequate insurance before they leave.

“Preparing for a gap year abroad is arguably the most exciting time in a young person’s life and nobody wants to think about the potential pitfalls. However, it’s crucial that backpackers spend time making sure that they have the right travel insurance for the type of work and leisure activities they plan to undertake in their year out. As long gappers do their homework and are vigilant when they travel, their trip of a lifetime will be exactly that.”

EssentialTravel.co.uk’s Backpacker Travel Insurance starts from £108.58 per person and is, on average, 34 per cent cheaper than the company’s competitors.

For further information visit http://www.essentialtravel.co.uk or call 0845 803 5434