Nobody wants to get sick or have an accident while travelling. And especially not when you feel fit and healthy before your trip. But it’s not just sickness that can ruin your well-deserved holiday.
It’s always better to be on the safe side and get yourself covered in advance. Travelling with valid travel insurance is not only recommended but also necessary to enjoy a relaxing holiday. Several factors play an important role in choosing the right travel insurance.
Here are 7 things you should definitely check before choosing your insurance.
1. Traveling alone or with family?
If you travel alone, you will most probably choose an Individual Plan for yourself.
But if you’re travelling with your family, things are a bit different. Special Family Plans are covering the whole family and are usually cheaper than Individual Plans. Compare the options you have and find the right one for you and your family.
Even when travelling as a couple, you can enjoy some great benefits. Some insurance companies offer Couple Multi-trip Travel Plans that also can be used when travelling separately.
How great is that?!
2. How long will I be covered?
When you’re looking for the right travel insurance, you should always pay attention to the number of days the insurance will cover you. Usually, it’s limited to a few days per year and doesn’t cover multiple vacation trips.
So if you’re travelling for a longer period of time, you have to make sure the insurance will cover you. Special long-term travel insurances provide protection over a longer period of time than usual insurance would do.
If you’re planning to travel several times within a year, you should think about choosing a Multi-Trip Plan. As the name suggests, Multi-Trip Plans will cover you for various trips per year without having to think about new travel insurance again.
3. Which amount is covered?
Whatever insurance you choose, make sure you know the maximum costs they cover. In the unlucky event of a medical procedure or surgery, the costs can be immense. Make sure to be covered for any amount you are not able to cover yourself.
The same applies to the excess on your insurance policy. Usually, every insurance requires you to pay a certain amount of the total costs yourself. The cheaper the insurance, the higher the excess.
4. Are my activities covered?
Are you an adventurer and love extraordinary sports? Or do you like to push your limits and always try out new things?
Whatever it is – you should make sure these activities are covered by your insurance.
Many simple insurance companies, for example, exclude diving in their policies, although it’s one of the safest sports activities. Pay attention to which sports are included in your insurance plan to make sure you can continue your hobby while on vacation.
Adventure activities can be anything like diving, skiing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, sky diving, surfing, hiking and more.
5. What about my valuables and my travel gear?
Expensive camera equipment, work computer or your brand new phone?
Even if we try to have everything under control, some things can get lost (or stolen) while travelling. Often we have to hand over our luggage or are simply distracted.
Such an incident can ruin your holiday – but at least if you know your valuables are insured up to a certain amount, you’ll still be able to enjoy your holiday!
The same applies to lost or stolen credit cards and passports. Make sure that in such a case the insurance of your choice will be able to assist you immediately.
6. What about emergencies?
Emergency situations are scary enough even in your home country. But what if they happen far away or overseas?
Make sure you’re covered for all incidents that can occur during your holiday. In the worst case, a return flight to your home country has to be organized and if medical supervision is necessary, this can get expensive. And who doesn’t want to be back home in such a case?
Unfortunately, nowadays you also have to consider incidents like natural disasters, terrorist attacks or pandemics like the COVID-19 pandemic that affect everyone.
Good travel insurance should cover you in any case, even in the unlikely event of death. A return to your home country must be guaranteed.
Are you looking for a great vacation destination post-COVID-19?
Read Ecotourism – Definition, Criteria, and Benefits and find out how to choose the right one!
7. And if I have to cancel my trip?
Nobody likes last-minute cancellations, especially when it’s about a well-deserved holiday trip after hard work.
But sometimes things happen unexpectedly and a holiday is the last thing you want to think about.
Whether you become ill, your travel buddy or one of your close relatives, flight tickets and pre-booked hotels still have to be paid for or can’t be cancelled free of charge.
Depending on your travel insurance policy your expenses will be covered in case of a last-minute cancellation or a holiday interruption.
Conclusion
There isn’t ONE perfect travel insurance that suits everyone. There are many things to consider before choosing the right one for your trip. Depending on your home country, your medical history, your holiday destination, your activities and the time you’ll spend travelling, you will find different offers. It’s important to take some time for your research and read the policies of various different travel insurance.
So you can concentrate on what really matters: enjoying your holidays without worrying!
Have you ever been in a situation where you needed travel insurance?
Photo by Rana Sawalha on Unsplash