Accidents can happen to anyone, including on holiday. But what happens when you slip or fall during your vacation?
We explain how to stay safe on holiday and what to do if you do take a tumble while away from home.
Common holiday accidents
Unfortunately, there are lots of ways you could get injured on holiday – including if you take part in any adventurous sports or while swimming in the sea, for instance.
But, the most common holiday injuries are actually slips, trips and falls.
Our data, taken between July 2024 and March 2025, shows that almost a quarter (96 out of 397) of our highest value medical assistance claims were caused by slips or trips.
You can fall or trip anywhere on holiday, so it’s important to keep yourself safe to avoid these accidents where you can.
How to protect yourself from slips, trips and falls
Follow our tips below to keep yourself safe from slips and trips while on holiday.
Stay alert and avoid distractions
The most important thing is to stay alert.
You’re likely in new surroundings, so it’s a good idea to be aware of where you’re walking and any possible hazards, such as:
- uneven ground
- puddles or slippery areas
- bad weather
- debris on the floor (like stones, litter, etc.)
Try to keep yourself free of unnecessary distractions too.
For instance, wearing headphones and looking at your phone while walking could mean you’re not aware of any hazards coming up.
Wear the right shoes
Your go-to shoes may not always be the best choice, depending on where you’re walking.
For wet areas like swimming pools and spas, choose a shoe that has a good grip on the sole – just a small puddle of water can cause a fall.
If you’re walking on rocky or uneven ground, flip flops and sandals can easily cause trips. Go for a pair of walking boots or sturdy trainers instead.
No matter where you’re going, make sure you’re wearing shoes that suit the surroundings.
Listen to safety advice
If you’re visiting a landmark or doing an activity, you may be given certain health and safety rules.
For example, a tour guide could tell you to stay away from the edge of a slope, or a castle could have a sign telling you to use the handrails.
Advice like this is there for a reason – do your best to listen to it.
If you’re unsure of something or feel like the safety advice wasn’t thorough enough, don’t be afraid to ask the tour guide. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Avoid activities when under the influence
If you’ve drank alcohol, you should steer clear of doing any physical activities like water sports, cycling, hiking and so on.
Alcohol can affect your awareness and reaction times, making a fall or other accident much more likely.
And remember, if you make a claim on your travel insurance for something that happened while you were under the influence of alcohol, you won’t be covered.
Use handrails
Handrails are there to keep you safe and supported on uneven, sloped or dangerous surfaces.
Make sure you use handrails when they’re there to lower the risk of a fall.
If you’re worried about them being dirty, bring a small bottle of sanitizer or wipes for your hands to use afterwards.
Keep your accommodation safe
When we’re spending a week or so at our holiday accommodation, it’s easy to let things get a little messy.
But a cluttered room can quickly lead to a slip or trip, especially when it’s dark or you’re in a rush.
Try to keep things neat and tidy in your holiday accommodation to avoid injuring yourself.
Just spending five minutes in the morning or evening de-cluttering can make all the difference!
Protect yourself with travel insurance
Even if you try to follow travel safety advice on holiday, slips, trips and falls are sometimes unavoidable.
If you end up getting injured on your trip and need to go to the hospital, the medical bills can rack up quickly.
Travel insurance is there to protect you in that situation. It can also help to bring you home if you need to come back to the UK early due to your injury.
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions that could increase your chance of falling on holiday, make sure you tell us about this when you buy travel insurance.
Check out our travel insurance page to learn more about what we offer and any exclusions that may apply.
If you’re going to take part in any riskier activities, such as hand gliding or sea canoeing, consider adventurous sports cover to keep yourself protected.
Head to our adventurous sports page to see what we offer and any limits or exclusions.
Claiming for a slip, trip or fall
If you want to claim for this kind of injury on your travel insurance, head to our make a claim page.
If you have any questions about claims, head to our travel FAQs page or get in touch with us.
