Many people think travel insurance is an extra cost they can avoid by not getting it at all, they’ve been away before, and nothing has happened, so what’s going to happen this time? This is the wrong way to look at travel insurance, yes, there might be occasions where you don’t need it, but the minimal cost of insurance is worth the reassurance and those occasions where you need to make a claim. We look at some reasons why you should always buy travel insurance.
Many people save up all year to be able to afford to go away in the summer months or a few times throughout the year. Travelling is expensive, and most people can’t afford to lose the money they’ve paid for their vacation if something unexpected happens. If you need to cancel your holiday at the last minute and can’t get any money back, that might mean you can’t go away that year or for several years if it's a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. Insurance can cover issues like this, if someone unexpectedly becomes very ill or gets injured, your insurance policy will refund you part or all of the cost of the holiday. This only applies to insurance with trip cancellation included, and the reason for the cancellation must be covered within the policy. You should always read what the policy covers and what will be reimbursed before buying.
If you become unwell or have an accident in another country, the costs to get medication, have an operation or stay in hospital can mount up into the hundreds of thousands of pounds. Most travellers won’t be able to afford expensive medical bills and could end up in serious amounts of debt. Illness or injury can’t be predicted; therefore, it's better to get yourself and all travellers covered using insurance. Your insurance will cover the medical bills so you can focus on getting better and recovering. It might ruin your holiday if you become seriously ill or have an accident, but if your insurance covers the cost, it is one less thing you need to worry about when you get back home.
Getting travel insurance is cheap, especially if you have no medical issues. You can usually pick up a policy for under £20 per trip or a yearly policy to cover you for multiple trips for a similar price. Some companies offer travel insurance, lounge access, and cheap parking at Stansted airport or the airport from which you are flying in a single bundle. This bundle can help you save money on all of these holiday extras. If you’re paying out several hundred or even thousands of pounds for your holiday, then it's worth paying a little extra to make sure you’re covered in case anything unexpected happens.
Losing your bags when you go on holiday can be very frustrating, especially if they contain expensive items of clothing or other belongings. This inconvenience isn’t as bad if you know your insurance will cover you for the loss of belongings. Not all insurance policies will cover you for loss of luggage, so you’ll need to check your individual policy wording before you travel if you want to ensure your bags are covered.
You may never need to use your insurance, but having it there in the case can reduce the stress and worry of going on holiday. You’ll be able to rest soundly knowing that if anything does happen that’s unexpected, your holiday insurance is in place to provide you with protection. If you choose not to get holiday insurance, you may end up in debt that takes you many years to pay off, and it could completely change your life and your future plans, especially if you get ill or injured and need expensive medical care.
If you’re planning a trip, always buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday. This will ensure you’re protected if you need to cancel your trip because of an unexpected circumstance. You should shop around for insurance and read the policy details carefully to ensure that it covers everything you need.