Jetting off on a holiday is an incredibly exciting time. However while there is a lot to look forward to, you also need to make sure you’re protected should anything go wrong. The answer is travel insurance and is something that should be at the top of any nomad’s priority list. That said, it’s important to choose the right policy to suit your individual needs. To help you out, we’ve put together a handy list of the most common things to look out for when taking out travel insurance, from injuries to airline issues and everything in-between.
Trip duration limits
The first thing to look at is whether or not your policy covers you for the entire duration of your trip. The limit on consecutive days spent abroad varies from policy to policy and you don’t want to be forced to renew your insurance while overseas as this can be expensive!
Pre-existing conditions
If you suffer from any pre-existing conditions it’s important to discuss them with your insurance company before you take out a policy. In some cases, they may affect your eligibility to claim and render your policy useless. Reading the small print is also strongly advised!
Claims limits
While you may think you’re getting an amazing deal, is £500 really enough to cover all your electrical gadgets in a worst case scenario? Different policies will offer different caps and it pays to choose one that best suits your needs!
Extreme sports cover
If you’re heading off on a ski holiday or plan to partake in other ‘extreme sports’ such as sky diving, bungee jumping or white water rafting, you need to make sure you choose an insurance policy that covers such activities.
Cancellations
While some people choose to book their travel insurance at the last minute, if you want cancelation coverage, you’ll need to get organised in advance! From illness and family emergencies to redundancy and other personal circumstances, there are a range of different coverage levels varying in price and pay out.
Airline liquidation
It doesn’t happen often but when it does, the results can be disastrous for individual travellers with pre-booked tickets. It’s always advisable to check whether or not you’re covered, especially if you’re flying with a small airline.
Loss of important documents
Losing a passport is one of the most costly disasters that can happen whilst on holiday and if it happens to you, you’ll want to be insured! Be sure to check if your policy covers lost documents and if so, how much you’ll receive.
Lost baggage
Lost baggage can be more frustrating than bank account crippling however it can still sting if you’re forced to replace all your possessions whilst overseas. Depending on how much value you place on your belongings, you may want to choose a more expensive policy that offers complete baggage loss coverage.
Natural disasters
Unfortunately, natural disasters are something that even the most expensive of travel insurance policies will sometimes refuse to cover. Such things are simply out of one’s hands which mean that you may have to pay a hefty premium in order to receive full coverage.
Alcohol and drugs consumption
It can be tempting to let your hair down while on holidays however your insurance providers will expect you to be sensible. Most policies do not offer coverage for incidents resulting from alcohol and drugs so at the end of the day, it pays to be responsible!
