Travel Insurance

Why do I need travel insurance

We all know the excitement of travelling abroad - but the wiser of us are also aware of the risks and dangers. So much can go wrong whenever we step beyond our familiar homeland, and it pays to be prepared. You can't rely on the systems you've come to expect at home. Helpful police, access to English-speaking advice,a nd even the most basic of healthcare can be painfully hard to come by.

Not all travel insurance packages give you the same benefits. For peace of mind, you should make sure that you get a package as comprehensive as possible, and tailored to the uses you'll put it to. Look for an insurance provider who will fly you back home if you're injured abroad, who will immediately replace lost possessions, who will arrange hotel rooms if necessary, who will help you deal with the authorities wherever you are.

Remember that if you're a regular traveller, you might be able to get a better deal by arranging cover to last for a set period of time - six months or a year, for example. If you're only going to make one trip, by contrast, you might do better to just get a one-trip insurance package. But whatever you do, shop around and be sure to get the best deal.

Peace of Mind

But the biggest benefit of travel insurance isn't the money you'll save on medical costs. It's those three words that let you relax: "Peace of Mind". Quite likely, nothing will go wrong on your holiday. You'll be able to sun yourself on the beach, visit ancient monuments, and admire strange landscapes. But if you travel without insurance, you'll always be worrying about the dangers. Crowds will stop meaning exciting bustle, and will start to be just signs of pickpockets. Driving excursions will leave you nervous about crashing and ending up stranded in a foreign hospital, unable to communicate with your doctors. And, gradually, you'll find that your holiday is increasing your stress level more it's relaxing you.

And that , my friend, is why you need travel insurance. Insurance lets you be free of worry . And isn't that what holidays are supposed to be about: lifting from your shoulders the cares of everyday life, and plunging you into a different, softer world?

Theft

Ever tried to deal with the police in a foreign country, in a foreign language? I can tell you, it isn't something you want to do more than you can possibly get away with. But many comprehensive travel insurance packages will help you get through the bureaucratic minefield - just make sure you ask about this when you buy your insurance. It'll save you a lot of time in the long run.

A particular problem, and one which many travellers underestimate, is the danger of theft of your passport or your plane tickets stolen. Loss of these kinds of documents can cause all kinds of Kafkaesque administrative difficulties, which a good insurer will be able to help you solve.

Sporting holidays

We all know the stereotype: the fitness fanatic who ends up spending his time in hospital, injured by the activities he though would keep him fit. It's an unfair stereotype; even with the risk of injury, the more sport you play the healthier and longer you can expect your life to be. But there's that niggling kernel of truth in the stereotype.

But many of these sporting injuries can be treated very easily, if they are attended quickly by skilled doctors. Problem is, you can't rely on that happening in a foreign country, unless you take precautions to make sure it happens.

The fact is, the adventurous among us need serious insurance. And that's doubly true when we go abroad to get our fun. We know there's a risk when we go skiing, or hiking, or swimming, or any other activity. But we need to be insured, to stop it all going horribly wrong.

Travel insurance for business travellers

You might not realise just how much of value you are carrying with you when you travel on business. There are the obvious items, like your laptop and phone. But don't forget the value of the information on your laptop, and documents that you're carrying. Don't forget the loss of earnings if you're unable to work for days after you've been robbed in a strange land, or the deal-breaking embarrassment of turning up to a key meeting without your papers. And then there's the most valuable item of all: you. If you fall ill in another country, you need to get back on your feet as soon as possible: not just for yourself, but for the sake of your business. That's why you need the protection of full travel insurance.