A Guide to Organising Travel Insurance

When planning your next trip, there are a few important things that you should consider. What to pack, what the weather is like, how much money to bring, and the important documentation you need, are just a few. However, one vital thing to remember is travel insurance when venturing to a new destination. 

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, an international adventure or a business trip, having the right travel insurance is essential for any type of break. You can never fully plan for accidents or unforeseen circumstances, which is why this is something all travellers should bear in mind. 

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about organising your travel insurance. From explaining what it is to why it is important, what a policy includes, the different types and much more. Keep reading so that you can embark on your next voyage with complete peace of mind.

Before we dive into the different aspects of travel insurance, let us first determine what it is. This type of insurance provides travellers with a safety designed to protect against unforeseen events during their adventures. 

Getting travel insurance before your trip will help to assist in dealing with a range of situations. You can also tailor the types of cover you need with each policy. Whether you’re looking for a policy for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, or stolen items, there are insurances available for a range of situations. 

Getting travel insurance before your trip allows visitors to avoid unexpected costs during their break and provides protection against any accidents or troubles.

Why is Travel Insurance Important?

If you’re wondering if travel insurance is worth it, we will next discuss the reasons why it is important for those planning their next trip. It allows visitors to cover themselves in cases of unexpected emergencies, accidents or situations that may occur during their travels. This is vital for several reasons including financial safety, peace of mind and more. 

We can’t predict what is going to happen which is why taking out a travel insurance policy is so important. From trip cancellations to medical problems, stolen items, lost luggage and more, having insurance allows you to enjoy your trip without having to worry about things going wrong. 

As we travel to new places, it can be difficult to learn or understand a new language, which is something that might be vital in an emergency. However, you will also find that some travel insurance policies will help you navigate these scenarios.

What Does a Standard Travel Insurance Policy Include?

Now you know a bit more about what travel insurance is and why it is important, let’s move on to looking into what a standard policy includes. These policies often offer different options of coverage but in general, you should look out for the following: 

  • Medical expenses
  • Cover for accidents and injuries that you did not cause
  • Emergency services and assistance
  • Personal injury or accidents that you have caused
  • Delayed or lost luggage
  • Lost or stolen items 
  • Trip cancellations or delayed departures 

There are a few things to consider before choosing your policy and this will be different for a variety of travellers. Where you are going, who you are travelling with, your age, your current medical situation and what you plan to do during your trip will all help determine the type of cover you need. We will explore more on this below.

What Does a Standard Travel Insurance Policy Exclude?

When taking out your travel insurance, it is important to also know what is excluded from your policy. Each company will be different, so we recommend checking your exclusions before you determine the organisation you’re going to use. Some of the common things that are excluded from these policies include: 

  • Natural disasters including volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, thunderstorms and more
  • Extreme activities such as adventure sports
  • Acts of terrorism
  • Accidents that are caused by drink or drugs
  • High-end or expensive items such as designer clothing, electronics, jewellery etc
  • Trips to countries that aren’t seen as safe by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 

As mentioned above, what is excluded from your policy will depend on the type of cover you get. However, often, if an item exceeds the cost of your insurance, it might not be covered by the organisation.

How to Get Travel Insurance

After you have considered what the different travel insurance policies do and don’t include, you’re likely wondering how to take out this insurance for your next trip. Luckily enough, this process is super easy, but we will help walk you through it so that you know the steps before your break. 

Travel insurance companies will calculate the cost of your policy based on the information that you submit to them. Things like where you are going, how long you are travelling for, who you are going with, your age, health and planned activities will all be taken into consideration. These will all present a difference in the price of your policy, however, it is important to be honest when providing this information. If you give inaccurate details of yourself or your trip, this could result in your cover being rejected if you need to use your insurance. 

There are plenty of great websites that will help you weigh up the prices of different travel insurance companies. We recommend using sites like Go Compare or Compare the Market where you can input your information and then compare several quotes at once.

The Different Types of Travel Insurance

There are many different types of travel insurance when considering the best policy for you. From winter sports adventures to cruising holidays, business trips, multi-trip excursions and more, it’s best that you find a cover that suits your next getaway. 

Below you will find more information on the different types of travel insurance so that you know the various types of cover you may need. 

Winter Sports Travel Insurance

If you’re planning on embarking on a winter sports adventure, you will want to consider travel insurance that covers extreme activities. This will help ensure that you are protected should an accident occur during your break. 

There are plenty of policies out there that include ski travel insurance, great for those hitting the slopes during their next voyage. Standard policies don’t usually cover you for these types of trips, so for the adventure seekers among us, be sure to check that you have a specialist policy in place before your getaway! 

Cruise Travel Insurance

Those looking to book a cruising holiday will need to consider travel insurance for cruises. These policies help to ensure you’re covered for aspects of your break that are included on a cruise getaway. 

Medical expenses can be very expensive when on a ship, which is why this type of travel insurance is vital. Plus, as you venture between different destinations, you can also get cover for missed ports, extra baggage and more. 

This type of travel is different from a standard break, so we recommend checking out what is included before booking your trip. 

Business Travel Insurance

Similar to the other types of travel, business trips are also considered to be different from a standard holiday. With this in mind, those who are travelling for work will need to take out a specialist insurance policy. This will help cover you for more expensive items, such as electronics, alongside insurance that other standard policies offer. 

There are also options for expatriate travel insurance if this is something you’re looking into. Whether you’re going to work long term in another country from the UK, or have taken a new position, this type of policy is something you should explore for your trip. 

Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

Multi-trip travel insurance is perfect for those who embark on several adventures throughout the year whether that be on their own or with the whole family. It provides an easy and cost-effective way for travellers who visit other countries regularly. 

Family Travel Insurance

One way to make taking out travel insurance super easy for more than one person is to consider a policy that covers the whole family. These policies allow you to add more than one person, making it great for families looking to book their next holiday. 

It is important to ensure that all of the individual details are accurate to confirm that everyone is fully covered during your trip.

Backpacker Travel Insurance

If you’re planning a longer trip or backpacking excursion, it is unlikely that a standard insurance policy will cover you for your trip. However, a great alternative is to find backpacker travel insurance, meaning you can travel with peace of mind. 

These policies often cover backpackers for adventure sports, alongside the usual cover that a standard travel insurance policy offers. You can also opt for solo travellers, couples or families when looking at insurance for a backpacking trip. 

Senior Travel Insurance

Senior travel insurance or policies for over-60s are great for those looking to jet off on their next holiday. You will find that this type of insurance won’t cover things such as extreme sports, allowing you to take any unnecessary costs off your policy. 

They are also great for travellers looking for travel insurance with medical conditions as they often cover existing concerns. You must notify the insurance company of any pre-existing requirements before your trip and make sure that your policy covers you for this. 

Long Stay Travel Insurance

Long-stay travel insurance often includes any trip that is over a month’s stay and usually covers you for up to 18 months. Those looking to take a gap year, backpacking trip or work abroad programme often take out this type of policy. It is a cheaper and easier alternative, allowing travellers to explore with ease without having to worry about renewing their insurance during their trip. 

Short Stay Travel Insurance

If you’re planning to embark on a shorter break, typically anything under a month’s visit, short-stay travel insurance is a great option. 

These policies are often used by those who are on business trips, family holidays, weekend breaks and more. We recommend checking how long this type of insurance covers you to ensure you are protected for the entirety of your getaway. 

Do I Need Pregnancy Travel Insurance?

Those looking to take a trip whilst pregnant are likely wondering if additional travel insurance is needed. Luckily enough, for many travellers, a standard policy should also cover you if you are pregnant. However, we recommend checking this with your insurance provider before going on your trip. 

You may need to take out additional or specialist travel insurance if you are having complications during your pregnancy. Those who are at a higher risk or have other medical conditions should let the insurance company know about this so that the appropriate cover can be offered. 

It is also worth checking with the travel insurance company what is included in their cover for pregnant travellers. For example, some policies may only cover you up to a certain term. Asking for this information in advance will help you travel with peace of mind when pregnant.

Summary 

It is clear to see that there are plenty of things to take into consideration when looking to take out your next travel insurance policy. However, we hope that after reading this article you now have the information that you need to make an informed decision on what type of cover is best for you. 

We recommend referring back to the content above when planning your next trip as this will help you with taking out the right insurance policy, allowing you to travel the world with ease. 

If you’re an avid adventurer and looking for your next voyage, Backpacker Boy has an array of travel guides across the world. These resources are packed with information so that you can explore these destinations with everything you need to know in mind.

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About the Author

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Ella Whitehead

Marketing Executive for SEO Travel, travel writer for Backpacker Boy, passion for content creation and adventure!