Backpacking Travel Insurance – What to look for in a policy
If your idea of a great trip abroad is to go backpacking in Europe, then it is vitally important that you get insurance that is specifically for people that are backpacking (backpacking travel insurance).
There are dangers with backpacking that aren’t so prevalent with other holidays and therefore coverage elements are included with backpacking travel insurance that simply aren’t included in a normal travel insurance package. Having been backpacking around Europe and even further afield on numerous occasions, here’s a list of coverage elements that you should ensure are included:
Theft of money – as a backpacker you will often stay in hostels or campsites, and unfortunately this types of accommodation are also used by thieves due to the lack of security when compared to a hotel or similar. Ensuring money theft is included in you package should give you ral peace of mind.
Urgent medical treatment – Often there is a heightened risk of injuring yourself whilst backpacking so it important to be covered.
Lost or stolen items – all of your baggage and belongings needs to be protected. You will also be covered for the cost of having any documentation such as passports or driving licenses replaced. If you have any items of high value such as a iPod, it is often wise to make the insurance company aware of this prior to your journey.
Delays whilst travelling – Delays can lead to missed connections or missing hotel reservations which can cost thousands of pounds.
Cancellations – In the event of cancelling your travel insurance this will make sure that you get fully refunded.
Personal Liability – Accidents do happen, and it would be terrible if you had to foot someone else’s medical bill. Ensure any damage you do to others is covered.
Emergency services – The type of terrain (hills/mountains) that a backpacker tends to navigate is more likely to lead to rescue by the emergency services. Having this type of cover can mean the difference between life and death.
Lastly, you may be planning on going to several different countries over a long period of time, in which case you will need to investigate getting a combination multi-trip backpackers travel insurance policy so that your cover is full and continuous.
It is relatively easy to get a good deal on European backpacking travel insurance by using a comparison website you can give yourself access to all the big savings. As backpacking insurance can be brought for as little as £100 for a year, covering the whole of Europe, the real question is, can you afford to get backpacking insurance
October 12th, 2009 at 2:21 am
When travelling it is not enough merely to take precautions when it comes to medical care, it is essential to be prepared so you can avoid expensive and inferior treatment and it is also often a requirement for entry into certain parts of the world that you have adequate insurance.