With all the different things to think about when going on holiday, getting travel insurance is often at the bottom of the to-do list. With the wide range of companies and policies to choose from, it can sometimes be easier to simply forget travel insurance altogether and just hope for the best. But for the rare occasion when something does go wrong, travel insurance can be a lifesaver. So, if you are asking yourself why should you get travel insurance, read our short guide to find out why travel insurance is so important.

Being organised and having a plan as well as insurance is key!

1. Cancellation/curtailment

If for any reason you need to cancel your trip, or cut it short due to unforeseen circumstances, you may be left out of pocket if there are aspects of your holiday which are non-refundable. Cancellation coverage can be helpful in refunding the costs or in organising an earlier flight home.

2. Personal belongings

Whether the airline loses your baggage or you get pickpocketed, finding yourself without your essential personal belongings can ruin your holiday. Your travel insurance provider can help with replacing lost or stolen possessions, whether that be money, medicine or passports.

3. Financial protection

The volatility of the world economy means that companies can unexpectedly go bankrupt and leave you in the lurch. Getting travel insurance with financial default cover means you will be able to recoup the cost of the trip. Choose a reputable tour operator such as us(!), Macs Adventure, and you will be financially protected for your tour package. However, for other elements of your trip, if for example connecting flight operator were to go bankrupt causing you to be unable to travel, it makes good sense to ensure you are protected for your full trip.

4. Medical expenses

If you require medical attention whilst on holiday, the expenses can be extortionate. Although EU citizens are entitled to some treatments with an EHIC card, there are some costs, such as mountain rescue, which are not covered with this card. Particularly with adventure holidays, it is important to get cover for all the activities you intend to undertake in you get injured and incur huge medical bills. For some of our more adventurous trips in countries such as Nepal, you may want to check that your insurance covers trekking at the relevant altitudes, as well as emergency evacuation. Another point for our American customers to take into consideration is that US health insurance may not cover medical expenses abroad – it is worth checking this point with your provider.

5. Single-trip/multi-trip/annual cover

The type of cover that is best for you depends on your holidaying habits. If you generally just take one trip a year, then single-trip insurance will be the best option for you. However, if you are a serial adventurer, insurers also provide multi-trip or annual cover which often offers good value for money.

Travel insurance can cover a variety of other unlikely but potentially very problematic circumstances, such as repatriation, or even personal liability – in the unlikely event you end up injuring someone else! There are many comparison websites which offer a huge range of policies. For customers in the UK, we suggest trying Campbell Irvine for comprehensive and reliable cover.  

** This post was originally published in June 2015 **