A holiday abroad is a time of great enjoyment and it seems a shame to think about the things that can go wrong, but just because you are in another country there is no reason to suppose that you are less likely to do something wrong. dangers of everyday life. Theft, loss and medical emergencies are at least as likely to affect you as you are on vacation, and the experience will be even more traumatic if you are not covered and have to bear the full brunt of financial losses. Rather than view travel insurance as an unwanted expense, remember that what you are paying for is the peace of mind that will allow you to relax and enjoy your vacation, without worrying about how you will manage if something goes wrong. Travel insurance is a vital part of any vacation abroad, whether you’re a fit young backpacker, an older traveler joining a group tour, or a young family on vacation at a resort.
If you’re still not convinced, take a look at these reasons why you might need travel insurance.
1) Medical
Australian government statistics tell us that each year Australian consulates deal with 900 deaths and 1,200 cases of hospitalized foreign travelers. Hospitals in Southeast Asia can cost up to $1000 per day and if the traveler does not have insurance coverage, they are likely to be fully responsible for the cost. The same government statistics point to approximately 50 medical evacuations per year. When you consider that you might have to pay $100,000 to be evacuated from the US, you can see how important it is to be insured.
2) Loss
Things get lost when you’re traveling. Luggage gets lost in airports and wallets are stolen when you’re sightseeing in unfamiliar cities where you’re not as savvy as you would be at home. However, as long as you have insurance coverage, there is no need to be paranoid. Losing your property is always frustrating, but having insurance is the difference between a temporary inconvenience and a costly disaster that could ruin your entire vacation.
3) Flight cancellation
Flight cancellations are quite common and extremely stressful. At the very least, you can find yourself hanging around an airport for hours. If you have connecting flights or transfers, the knock-on effect can be much worse and very expensive. Even if you don’t, you may suddenly need to arrange additional accommodation at the last minute, or you may miss out on one or more prepaid nights of accommodation at your destination. Take out basic travel insurance and you’ll be covered for every one of these issues.
4) Acts of Nature
If you are stranded abroad as a result of an act of nature, such as a hurricane or typhoon, you may be covered by your insurance. If you are going to an area with a high risk of this type of phenomenon, it is a good idea to prioritize it when choosing your policy, since it is not always covered.
5) Personal circumstances
Unforeseen circumstances in your personal life may mean that you have to cut your trip short, or even postpone it altogether. You never know when you are going to get sick or suffer a family bereavement. Travel insurance will allow you to recover part of the costs of your postponed or restricted vacation.
Far from being a necessary evil, travel insurance is a safety net to ensure you don’t needlessly run out of money as a result of your vacation abroad. It doesn’t have to be expensive either. There are plenty of cheap travel insurance deals available, so there’s no reason to leave home without one.
