Attachment issues: Australians travelling with uninsured valuables worth more than the holiday itself 

7 April 2022
  • Following two years of constant changes and lockdowns, Australians have become more attached to their valuables than ever before (64 per cent) with nearly half (49 per cent) admitting they could not leave home without them.
  • New research from Allianz Australia reveals 68 per cent of Australians do not have insurance for the valuables they take with them on holiday and 2 in 5 (42 per cent) confess they didn’t know valuable items could be insured as an option under their Home Contents Insurance policy.
  • With the contents of Australians’ suitcases ($2,983) worth more than the holiday itself ($2,101), Allianz has partnered with small business owner and mum of three Lisa Wipfli to provide tips and tricks on how to plan and prepare for your next domestic holiday.

After two years of cancelled travel plans and staying indoors, new research from Allianz Australia reveals Australians (64 per cent) have become more attached to their valuables after having them at their fingertips since the start of the pandemic.

As thousands of Australians (44 per cent) plan to travel around Australia these school holidays, many are hitting the road or the runway with the contents of their suitcases sometimes being worth more than the holiday itself. While 2 in 5 (39 per cent) confess they do not feel comfortable leaving their valuables at home, the majority of Australians do not have a plan in place to insure their valuables when they take with them on holidays (68 per cent).

With 2 in 5 Australians (42 per cent) unaware of the option that their valuables could be insured as portable contents under their Home Contents Insurance policy, Allianz is encouraging Australians to check that their insurance policy meets their needs before departing, so they can holiday in confidence.

A common misconception is that Home Contents Insurance is only for the items that stay within the home, however there is optional cover available to insure your valuables under your home insurance policy when you travel. While Home Contents Insurance is designed to cover your belongings at your insured address, optional covers such as Portable Contents, which covers wallets, cameras and mobile phones, and Accidental Damage, which covers damage caused by sudden, unforeseen or unintended events, are designed to give you peace of mind while you’re away from your insured address.

To help Australians holiday with confidence knowing their most important valuables are insured, Allianz has partnered with small business owner and mum of three, Lisa Wipfli, to provide tips and tricks on how to plan and prepare for your next holiday.

Lisa says, “No matter how much preparation is done, there is always a little bit of madness ahead of going on holidays with a family. From the kids’ tablets, family bikes, multiple outfit options and even something fancy for a night out with the hubby, it always tends to be a scramble to get it all together and I tend to overpack in case I forgot something. It is one of the reasons why I think it’s important that you consider if you have adequate home and contents insurance before you go away so you can feel secure knowing your valuables are covered when you’re at home or on the road.”

According to Allianz’s research a third (33 per cent) of Australians tend to overpack, yet 69 per cent don’t end up using all the items they brought with them and often forget they packed them. Outside the obvious, being clothing and shoes (90 per cent) and home amenities such as pillows, bed linen, kitchen utensils, and washing liquid (25 per cent), this year Australians are packing the latest technology (76 per cent) and jewellery (25 per cent). Further to this, 2019 and 2021 Allianz Portable claims data shows the three most claimed Portable Contents items are jewellery, mobile phones and computers, accounting for almost 45 per cent of Portable Contents claims.

Clinical Psychologist Jaimie Bloch said, “Our valuables bring us a sense of comfort (30 per cent), they connect us to our identity, or they connect us to our memories and are an integral part of our daily routines (17 per cent), which is causing Australians to travel with more, whether this be on holiday or even popping out of the house for the day. Losing or misplacing special items can cause unnecessary anguish and significant emotional distress. Knowing that these items are safe when we’re out and about can help us feel safe and allow us to stress less."

Allianz research also revealed when on holiday a third (32 per cent) of people are worried their material items will get damaged, leaving Australians storing their most important valuables in their luggage (38 per cent), in a bedside table at their accommodation (21 per cent) or in the car (13 per cent). However, in the instance an item does get lost, stolen or damaged, 66 per cent did not make an insurance claim. Instead, the majority of Aussies blamed themselves (41 per cent), informed the holiday rental (35 per cent) or called the police (31 per cent).

Rachael Poole, Allianz Australia’s Head of Home said, “Having your items stolen, lost or damaged while on holiday is a stressful experience, yet our research shows Aussies may not be making a claim when this happens. As Australians are taking more valuable items with them than ever before, there’s a growing need to better insure valuables while we’re away from home. At Allianz, we’re encouraging Aussies to conduct a Policy Health Check before departing for their holiday. This is a simple call that can help build understanding around their Allianz Home Insurance policy and ensure those all-important valuable items are insured with optional covers such as Portable Contents or Accidental Damage cover.”

Visit our holiday ready campaign page for more information on getting prepared for your next holiday.

CAPTION: Preparing for your next holiday with Lisa Wipfli

Hi, I'm Lisa, and this is my daughter Francesca. We're getting ready to go away and after many years of cancelled plans, the thought of packing for a holiday is quite stressful, especially in a busy household like mine. So here's my tips for success when it comes to packing with ease.

CAPTION: Tip 1 - Make a list

First things first, we make our lists on what we're taking away and the kids help by making their own list too. This helps to make sure I haven't forgotten anything and also stops me from overpacking. It can be tempting to throw in the odd extra item but be tough on sticking to your list.

CAPTION: Tip 2 - Organise your items

When you're packing for a family of five, good organisation really helps. For me, I like to keep similar items all together in the one spot so that they're easy to find once we're at our destination.

Technology items are what cause me the biggest headaches. We have so many chargers and cords for various devices we own as a family. So I have a trusty technology case set aside for them, and everything goes in here.

CAPTION: Tip 3 - Supplies for the road

It's inevitable that we'll take breaks whilst on the road, so I always like to make sure that we're well stocked with supplies. Everyone has their own water bottle and my trick is popping them in the freezer the night before so that it stays cold throughout the trip.

We're typically early risers and like to get on the road as soon as possible to make the most of the day, meaning picnic breakfast for the kids to enjoy. I'll pack their snack boxes the night before with fresh fruit, yoghurt pouches and anything that's easy to eat without cutlery or plates. The best part about this, there's no extra mess made in the morning, or need to worry about final washing up. I just pack everything in the Esky and we're off.

CAPTION: Tip 4 - Safely store your precious items

We've all got those special little sentimental items we're used to keeping close to us, and for me that's jewellery. These pieces are really meaningful to me and I feel a bit strange without them. So, they come with us on holiday and need to be stored safely on the go. For me, less fragile items go into to larger jewellery boxes and the smaller more delicate items go back in the box as I bought them in. Simple tip, for even more padding and to save on space, I tuck these smaller boxes into shoes and they don't get lost amongst everything else.

CAPTION: Tip 5 - Take the stress out of returning

To avoid the stresses of returning home, I designate one suitcase for laundry, and during our trip we move all dirty items into it. I'll always take a few spare waterproof bags for anything that comes home wet after any final swims or beach trips. When at home this all goes straight into the wash and means less sorting.

CAPTION: Tip 6 - Air your suitcases

Lastly, air those suitcases before storing away for your next trip. Nothing special, I give them a quick wipe down, tip out any sand or dirt that's made it back with us, and air them outside for a couple of hours. Helps keep everything fresh for the next trip.

And that's us set. 

For more tips on how to get ready for your next trip, visit Allianz.com.au/HolidayReady

Lisa Wipfli’s tips on how to plan and prepare for a holiday:

  • Organise and separate your items: When it comes to travelling with high-value portables, pack them in separate compartments so you know where they are in your luggage. For example, pack all technology (kids’ tablets, video games) in one spot and keep your medical kits and supplements together in another part., This makes your valuables easy to find.
  • Do an insurance policy health check: Before you head out, it’s a good idea to check your insurance policy to make sure your valuables are insured when you are at home or on the road.
  • Make a list – and stick to it: Packing lists are a great way to ensure you haven’t forgotten anything and that you’re not overpacking. While it can be tempting to throw in the odd item, make sure you stick to your list to avoid bringing more than you actually need on holiday.
  • Pack all dirty items in one suitcase: While on holiday, collate all the dirty items into one suitcase. When you return home, it makes it so much simpler to unpack and not have to rummage through multiple bags to locate your valuables over the dirty items.

Rachael Poole’s tips on how to feel at ease leaving your valuables at home when on holiday:

  • Reflect on what you're packing: Try to limit the number of items taken on a holiday. Give yourself time to reflect on your packing list and decide if an item is absolutely essential. For example, if you’re going on a relaxing weekend away, consider leaving your tech gadgets (such as your work computer) at home.
  • Cover your valuables: If you are travelling with high-value items ensure you have adequate insurance cover for these items while your away on holidays. It’s as easy as contacting us to find out what is covered under your current Allianz Home Insurance policy and consider if you might need optional covers such as Portable Contents cover or Accidental Damage cover.
  • Keep your valuables in a safe place on holiday: If you are travelling with your valuables, find a safe spot within your holiday room or rental to store them when you’re not taking them out with you.
  • Keep your valuables in a safe place at home: If you’re planning to be away from home, consider placing your high-value items in a safe place.
Lisa Wipfli is a mother of three and co-owner of The Nourishing Group. She grew up in Queensland and spent time in London working in media. Returning to Sydney from London, she met her husband Michael “Wippa” Wipfli. Since becoming a mother, Lisa has become hugely passionate in the children’s sector, co-owning a baby food brand.
Jaimie Bloch is a Sydney based Clinical Psychologist, behavioural expert, author, speaker, program developer and the founder of MindMovers Psychology. Jaimie specialises in developing programs, e-books and workshops that incorporate both psychology and research that can be understood and easily digested and implemented.
The research was commissioned by Allianz and conducted by Pureprofile, in accordance with ISO 20252. The survey is a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Australians and was carried out carried out between 25 February and 1 March 2022.
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