Blog: Do I need travel insurance?

Do I need Travel Insurance?

It’s easy to be swept up in the excitement of going on holiday. There’s a lot to think about, what’s the weather going to be like? Have I got enough outfits? What’s the nightlife like? What’s the food like? All the exciting parts about planning a holiday tend to be what we focus on. We don’t spend a lot of time wondering about what would happen if something went wrong.

But sometimes things do go wrong and that is why it is vital to have travel insurance.

We’ve compiled a list of the top reasons having travel insurance is so important.

Your holiday is cancelled.

It is a good idea to book travel insurance early, that way you are covered if you have to cancel your holiday due to illness or a bereavement. It will also cover you if you are made redundant or you find out that your travel company has gone out of business. You should also be covered if you have cut your holiday short for reasons beyond your control. It can be expensive to cancel or alter your travel plans without insurance, so it makes sense to have it covered in your policy.

You are delayed.

Being delayed can happen for all kinds of reasons, a storm could delay you before you even make it to the airport. Travel insurance will usually cover you for delayed flights, missed connections, mechanical failure and industrial action. This can all have a big impact on your holiday (and stress levels). Always check the Travel Insurance policy to make sure you are covered in case any of these things happen.

You fall ill or have an accident abroad.

Nobody ever likes to imagine that their holiday will end in illness or an accident, however it does happen. In the UK, we don’t think about having to pay for any emergency treatment, but the situation is not the same abroad, especially if you travel to America. Having Travel Insurance that covers medical expenses abroad is possibly the most valuable feature of your policy. Overseas medical treatment can be eye-wateringly expensive. Even in Europe, where you may have access to state-provided healthcare, without travel insurance you could still be left with a large bill if you need private healthcare or emergency flights back home. Having a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a valid European Health Insurance card (EHIC) will provide some level of cover while you are abroad but it should not be considered as a replacement for travel insurance. It will not cover you for being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation) private healthcare or things like mountain rescue.

If you are going to take part in any activities that could be deemed as risky, check that your travel insurance will cover you, you may to take out extra cover if you are skiing or taking part in any extreme sports.

Pre-existing conditions

Having a pre-existing medical condition may make your travel insurance more expensive, but not declaring it or lying about it could be disastrous!  If you have to make a claim while on holiday for something that you failed to declare you claim could be rejected. It is always better to be completely honest when declaring your conditions, you can then relax and enjoy your holiday safe in the knowledge that you are covered in any eventuality.

Your belongings are lost or stolen.

Arriving at your destination and your baggage being lost, or having your cash, cards, your phone or travel documents stolen while you are away, can have a terrible impact on your holiday. Having travel insurance means that you will be insured against these losses and can replace items knowing that you will be reimbursed. It is always worth noting that if you have left your belongings unattended when they go missing you may not be insured, so don’t go for a swim and leave valuables lying around with nobody watching them. Always check your policy to make sure that you covered for this before you go, and if you are taking equipment such as golf clubs or skis away, check if you need to declare them and pay a little more to make sure they are covered.

Legal advice

In the unlikely evet you find yourself in legal trouble while you are abroad, your travel insurance can cover the cost of legal advice. Check your policy to see if you have been covered.

Do I need Travel Insurance?

The short answer is yes! The consequences of not having it could be financially devastating for you if you do not. The vast majority of holidays happen with no problems at all, but having travel insurance will give you peace of mind when you are travelling, that should anything happen, you’re covered.

Policies don’t cost a lot of money, there are plenty of comparison sites to shop around on to make sure that you get the coverage that you need. You can see the government guideline about travel insurance here.

For more peace of mind

For added peace of mind, book your airport transfers with R Travel. That way you know that you will picked up and taken to the airport in comfort and style. Take the stress away with R Travel, all we ask is at least 24 hours’ notice to make sure that we have the right car for your journey. Visit our booking page to make sure you arrive in style at the start of your holiday.