You know that old saying if you can’t afford travel insurance you can’t afford to travel?
It’s a cliché, we know and while it may not strictly be true, there are plenty of reasons why you should heed the advice contained in those words.
But there are just so many policies out there, so many options, inclusions and exclusion, it gets confusing.
Or perhaps you’re going somewhere you’ve been before and figure nothing happened last time, maybe you don’t really need travel insurance this time.
Trust us when we say, you do.
The likelihood of something going wrong may be low, but it’s a very real possibility.
Lost luggage, motorbike accidents, missed flights, medical emergency…
The list of things that can happen when you travel is endless and while we all hope nothing will go wrong, sometimes, it does.
Good travel insurance can cover you for medical expenses, cancelled flights, emergency accommodation, car accidents, stolen or lost items.
The Australian Government’s website tell stories of a 62 year old man admitted to hospital in Ho Chi Minh, in Vietnam with septicaemia, when his insurer refused to honour the policy, he was left with a $6000 bill, a 69 year old on a cruise in Noumea became ill from complications with her medications and had to be evacuated, the bill cost $60,000.
We’ve heard tales of medical evacuations from the US costing up to $95,000, and costs for staying in hospital in south-east Asia running to $800 a day.
We recommend you get your travel insurance as soon as you book your tour, that way, if something happens before you leave home that prevents you from going, you’re travel insurance will cover it.
We’ve heard of people who have had accidents or illnesses or family emergencies that have left them unable to embark on that trip of a lifetime.
And while many credit cards these days come with travel insurance, be sure you know what coverage the insurance often provides and whether it’s enough for you. Often it’s not. You need to know what you’re getting.
Credit card travel insurance may only cover you for aspects of your travel paid for with your credit card, also check whether you need to activate your travel insurance before you leave the country, don’t just assume you are covered. Also be aware that you may need to spend a certain amount before you’re covered.
When you book a tour with us, we’ll generally recommend you go with a specific travel insurance provider or we’ll include it in our costs.
We know our itineraries inside and out, we know what activities you’ll likely be doing and what the risks are. In short, we know what inclusions you need in your travel insurance and what is the best policy to suit your tour.
It also means it’s easier for us to help you if something does go wrong and you need to make a claim. We’ll have all your policy details to streamline the process.
Regardless of what travel insurance you choose, always make sure you read the policy carefully. Know what you’re covered for and what you’re not, but also know what proof you need to be able to make a claim.
Do you need receipts? A police report? A letter from the tour guide? In many instances you’ll need to get this in the country the incident occurred. Knowing what you need to provide in advance can help streamline the process in the unlikely event something goes wrong.
And while it’s unlikely anything will go wrong, at the very least, having adequate travel insurance will give you peace of mind to simply relax and enjoy your holiday.
