The Importance of Travel Insurance
The following article was contributed by David Collins of Travelsupermarket.com.
Many historical destinations are a big draw for tourists – including the pyramids of Giza, Egypt and the mysterious Maoi statues of Easter Island – with thousands flocking to take in the sights of ancient architecture and historical landmarks.
When planning a holiday to see such sites, it's important to consider purchasing some travel insurance as part of your trip, particularly if you're visiting a new and unfamiliar country.
When it comes to your holidays, travel insurance is one of the most important things you should pack. Having cover can help put your mind at ease during the trip, and with many different levels of cover available there will be a policy to suit you and your holiday plans. Comparison services such as Moneysupermarket (for UK travelers) can help you in the search for an affordable policy by searching a wide range of travel insurance quotes for you.
When considering purchasing a policy, it's best to take the following aspects into account before you select a policy:
- Which countries are you looking to visit during your stay? If you're looking to travel to many destinations during your visit (including backpacking trips and conservation excursions) be sure to let your insurer know in order to ensure you're covered before, during and after your travel.
- What activities are you looking to participate in? If you are looking to include some form of extreme sport as part of your visit, such as skiing, skydiving or scuba-diving, you need to make sure you're covered in the event of an accident. Such cover can cost a little extra, but can be worth having if not for the peace of mind it'll bring.
- How much cover do you need? Depending on the length of your trip, it can be worth looking into annual travel insurance if you're making regular trips abroad. Single trip policies are useful if you're taking just one holiday a year, but for backpackers and regular travellers an annual policy would be more cost-effective.
Maxine Baker, travel expert at Travelsupermarket advises: "Single trip travel insurance is much cheaper than an annual policy. However, the key is to assess how long you'll be away for and how many trips you're likely to make during the course of the year to work out if an annual policy could offer better value."
When selecting a policy, depending on what you want to do on holiday – such as extreme sports – there are additional levels of cover available to suit all sorts of holidaymakers. Be sure to check if you have the right type of cover for each part of your journey. From when you arrive at the airport, and the possibility of cancelled/delayed flights, to when you are on holiday, it is important to ensure that you are covered throughout your trip.
If you are travelling from the UK to another country in the EU, it can also be worth picking up an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) from your local post office. This entitles yourself and your family to medical treatment within the countries you are visiting. Be aware that, although it might not be the same level of service that you are used to in the UK, having an EHIC could help to lower the cost of any treatment you require whilst on holiday.
Article by David Collins of Travelsupermarket.com.
