My Top 6 Travel Insurance Tips

A wise man (Peter Stevenson) once told me that the most expensive insurance policy you’ll ever buy is the one that doesn’t pay out. I’ve heard a lot of sound bites in my life but that one stuck with me - I think because of the absolute truth of it.

In my time as a Travel Consultant I’ve been amazed at some of the things I’ve heard my clients say regarding insurance, and also by my own ignorance when I first started out in this industry. Travel insurance is undoubtedly one of the most important purchases you can make and when and what you buy is equally important.

Here’s my top 6 pointers to think about when purchasing an insurance policy.

1.  “I’ll take out a policy nearer the time/the day before I go away"

This is the one that strikes fear in me more than anything else. You need to take out your policy ON THE SAME DAY YOU BOOK YOUR TRIP! Imagine this, it’s January and you book a lovely holiday for that summer, you’re not going away until the 10th August so you don’t bother buying a policy, what’s the point? You’ll buy one on the 8th or 9th August so you’re covered whilst you’re away. Then on the 1st August you break your leg, and you’re told you’re not able to fly, and there is nothing the travel agent, hotel or airline can/will do to change your holiday, and you are not eligible for a refund. Every penny you have spent is down the drain and your holiday is out the window. Please buy your policy at the same time you book your trip!

2.  “I’m covered through my bank”

This one catches a lot of people out. You might have cover but is it the cover you need? Does it cover the destination you are travelling to, the amount you have spent on the holiday, have you updated them with any medical issues, medication etc? If not there is a good chance it won’t pay out.

3. “I think I’m covered to travel there”

If you aren’t sure then please check! It is very common for some destinations such as the USA and Mexico to be excluded unless specifically added on to your policy.

4. “I just bought it because it was the cheapest”

This one is simple, like anything in life you will likely get what you pay for. The cheapest policy might only offer the most basic level of protection. Make sure you know what you are, and more importantly, are not getting. 

5. “I didn’t know I wasn’t covered for that”

There’s a whole host of popular holiday activities that are almost always not covered on a standard travel insurance policy - skiing is probably the first one that springs to mind but quad bikes, mopeds, jet skis, dune buggies (basically anything with an engine that isn’t a car) are almost always excluded, alongside activities such as zip lining, or abseiling. So before you hop on that cute little scooter and start zipping through the streets of Italy, or giving it your best Baywatch impression on a sexy jet ski, please consider if you’re covered should anything happen!

6. And lastly, please make sure you send your policy to someone at home before you travel. Whoever is most likely to be contacted in an emergency should have a copy of your policy. Nobody likes to think of the worst happening when you’re away enjoying your holiday, but if it does, the last thing the people trying to deal with it need is to be wondering if you have a policy, what it covers and where they might find a copy. Always make sure the adults travelling all have access to any and all policies and someone at home has a copy too.