Lonely Planet's travel insurance essentials, It’s the final countdown to your next big adventure. You’ve got your passport and tickets, every pair of socks you own, and enough mosquito repellent to cover an elephant. But aren’t you forgetting something? Don’t forget to buy travel insurance, a safety net against crippling costs if things go wrong – it should be right at the top of your list.
Travelling wouldn’t be fun without surprises, but sometimes the unexpected leaves you whimpering in a hospital bed when you should be swinging through the jungle. Injuries, illnesses, bankrupt airline carriers and the occasional spewing volcano can tear up your perfect itinerary. And that’s where travel insurance rides in to save you from distress – or at least from the costs.
Reading through your policy won’t exactly get your pulse racing, but it’s essential to check how you’re covered before you set out – whether you bought annual travel insurance or cover for a short trip. Let’s face it, you won’t be in the mood to read through travel insurance exclusions if you’re shivering with dengue fever in Borneo, or nursing a broken hip (turns out you can’t ski backwards). And we know it’s ‘fine print’ but you really don’t need that magnifying glass. So let’s dive in to the holiday insurance essentials:
Medical insurance. The guidebook told you there would be piranhas, but would you listen? If you get injured abroad, you need to know your expenses are covered (particularly in pricey USA) and that they’ll fly you home if needed.
Sporting injuries. We wouldn’t dream of doubting your mountaineering skills. But don’t hike up Table Mountain in South Africa or base jump in New Zealand before checking if you’ll be helicoptered to hospital if you break a leg.
Contents insurance. If you don’t like having thumbprints on the lens of that fancy camera, imagine how you’ll feel if it gets snatched out of your hands on your tour of Australia. Check whether your travel insurance policy covers the total cost of all your gadgets.
Delay and cancellation. If the departures board is awash with cancellations, at least you can spend your extended holiday in the airport with some of your expenses covered by your travel insurance.
Make sure you compare quotes to get that perfect policy, whether you’re a carefree student, trekking across Canada with your family, or relaxing on a cruise. And think about how often you travel: do you need annual multi trip insurance for your mini-break addiction or single trip insurance for a one-off jaunt? If you’ve finally taken the plunge for a gap year or career break, look out for backpacker and long-stay trip travel insurance.
At Lonely Planet, we want you to travel far and wide with the knowledge that someone will catch you if you fall. So why not get a quote for worldwide travel insurance through our partner World Nomads?
Travelling wouldn’t be fun without surprises, but sometimes the unexpected leaves you whimpering in a hospital bed when you should be swinging through the jungle. Injuries, illnesses, bankrupt airline carriers and the occasional spewing volcano can tear up your perfect itinerary. And that’s where travel insurance rides in to save you from distress – or at least from the costs.
Reading through your policy won’t exactly get your pulse racing, but it’s essential to check how you’re covered before you set out – whether you bought annual travel insurance or cover for a short trip. Let’s face it, you won’t be in the mood to read through travel insurance exclusions if you’re shivering with dengue fever in Borneo, or nursing a broken hip (turns out you can’t ski backwards). And we know it’s ‘fine print’ but you really don’t need that magnifying glass. So let’s dive in to the holiday insurance essentials:
Medical insurance. The guidebook told you there would be piranhas, but would you listen? If you get injured abroad, you need to know your expenses are covered (particularly in pricey USA) and that they’ll fly you home if needed.
Sporting injuries. We wouldn’t dream of doubting your mountaineering skills. But don’t hike up Table Mountain in South Africa or base jump in New Zealand before checking if you’ll be helicoptered to hospital if you break a leg.
Contents insurance. If you don’t like having thumbprints on the lens of that fancy camera, imagine how you’ll feel if it gets snatched out of your hands on your tour of Australia. Check whether your travel insurance policy covers the total cost of all your gadgets.
Delay and cancellation. If the departures board is awash with cancellations, at least you can spend your extended holiday in the airport with some of your expenses covered by your travel insurance.
Make sure you compare quotes to get that perfect policy, whether you’re a carefree student, trekking across Canada with your family, or relaxing on a cruise. And think about how often you travel: do you need annual multi trip insurance for your mini-break addiction or single trip insurance for a one-off jaunt? If you’ve finally taken the plunge for a gap year or career break, look out for backpacker and long-stay trip travel insurance.
At Lonely Planet, we want you to travel far and wide with the knowledge that someone will catch you if you fall. So why not get a quote for worldwide travel insurance through our partner World Nomads?
