Frost and Found

- Winter holidaymakers lose £219* worth of valuables per year on the slopes
- 143 thousand** UK holiday makers lost something on the slopes last winter
- Glasses (32 per cent) are the most common item to be lost
- The worst thing about losing a belonging is the embarrassment (16 per cent)

Not only are the Sochi Winter Olympics slopes paved with gold, winter holiday resorts around the globe are also brimming with valuables as the average snow enthusiast loses as much as £219 worth of items.

According to the latest research by the Post Office Travel Insurance a total of 143 thousand UK holiday makers lost something on the slopes last winter. Skiers must be having trouble keeping their eyes on the piste with 32 per cent – the top answer - losing their glasses, closely followed by mobile phones (25 per cent) and money (15 per cent).

It seems that while many of us are gliding merrily down a run, one in ten (10 per cent) snow lovers admit to spending hours stuck on the chalet porch after losing their keys. A further seven per cent confess to braving the elements after leaving their ski jackets out on the slopes.

Worryingly, 12 per cent of holiday goers are at risk of suffering frost bite after declaring that they have lost their socks while traversing down the slopes.

The top ten items lost on the slopes are:

1. Glasses (32 per cent)

2. Phones (25 per cent)

3. Money (15 per cent)

4. Socks (12 per cent)

5. Cameras (10 per cent)

6. Keys (10 per cent)

7. Tablets (7 per cent)

8. Ski jacket (7 per cent)

9. Boots (7 per cent)

10. Watches (6 per cent)

Slopes are the biggest black hole for valuables with 43 per cent claiming their item was lost while hitting the runs. For nearly a fifth (18 per cent) après ski proved to be a slippery slope when trying to hold onto their belongings, while 17 per cent said they watched their valuables disappear from view while on a ski lift.

Many interviewed were red in the face, citing the worst thing about losing their belonging is the embarrassment (16 per cent). This was followed by not having the money to replace the item (16 per cent) or being forced to ditch the slopes all together (8 per cent). A further one in five (18 per cent) went as far as to say that the loss ruined their entire holiday.

Paul Havenhand, Head of Travel Insurance at the Post Office, said: “Taking a winter break can be costly and should be as worry free as possible. Losing valuable items on the slopes can be a stressful experience for many and as our research shows can spoil the holiday.

Having the right winter sports cover in place can ease the strain when it comes to replacing precious personal possessions.”

Ben Jones, owner of La Taverne in Meribel commented: “We get lots of people coming in upset about losing their belongings on the slopes. If customers lose anything in our bar we do our best to reunite them with it, but there isn’t much we can do if it’s gone missing out on the piste. A zip pocket is a must for anyone heading out in the powder.”

ENDS

The research was conducted by One Poll on 04.02.14. 500 people who have been on a winter sport holiday and lost a belonging in the last year were questioned.

*This was calculated using the average price of the items identified as being lost through the Post Office research.

**This was calculated using data from Crystal Ski’s Ski Industry Report that 899,750 UK residents went on a winter sports holiday in 2012 and coupled with Post Office research that 15.9 per cent of UK residents lost something on a skiing holiday last year.

Contact - Carmel McCarthy