Friends of Zimbabwe – Travel

A trip to a foreign land can be an exciting and memorable experience. However, before you pack your bags and head off to the international airport, there are critical matters that need to be addressed before you venture beyond the sanctuary of the friendly United States boarders.

Many of the privileges and securities you enjoy in the United States are immediately left behind once you leave the boarders of American soil. While in the United States, we sometimes take for granted the liberties, freedoms and protections we have as US citizens. When we venture to a third world country, or even an industrialized European nation, many matters we take for granted in the US change dramatically when we travel to this foreign land.

So before you head merrily off to your foreign country with your favorite travel hat and travel bag, you need to make sure you are aware of how to prepare for any unplanned medical, personal or legal emergencies. You need to understand how your medical insurance coverage will change or even disappear. You need to have a basic understanding of the laws of the country you are visiting and who to contact when matters arise that you did not foresee.

YOU MAY LOSE MEDICAL COVERAGE

If you go to a foreign country, the medical care will most likely be sub-standard to the US. If you have a serious condition subject to the need of immediate medical attention, find out about the location and the quality of the medical facilities available at the locale you will be visiting. Make sure you have with you sufficient prescription medication and refill prescriptions from your doctor. In addition, you will need a letter from your doctor summarizing your condition and the medications he has prescribed. And most important, carry your medication in the pharmacy labeled container.

Your group medical coverage may or may not cover unexpected medical needs or offer limited coverage. Most medical insurance policies will cover your medical cost while you are out of the country. However, few in any will cover the cost of transporting a medical patient back to the United States, and the actual cost would be well over ten thousand dollars. If you are depending on medicare or medicaid coverage, unfortunately, once you leave the United States your medical coverage will cease. If you are going to be without coverage, then the only alternative is to purchase supplemental travel insurance and the cost normally runs between five and ten percent of the cost of your trip. For a list of reliable supplemental insurance carriers check the state departments website at: http://travel.state.gov or check with an established medical insurance agent.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS WILL CHANGE

Also, remember, once in a foreign land you are subject to their laws, and can be prosecuted in that country, if their laws are deemed violated. A violation that may be considered a misdemeanor in the US may be a major crime in a foreign land. For example, consider certain drug possession offenses. Foreign due process rights are quite different than due process rights in the US. In many countries you have no guaranteed right to counsel and may be deemed guilty until you prove your innocence. The United States has embassies in almost all countries and it is best to have the phone number, address and email of the US embassy in any country you enter, and be sure to contact the local US embassy immediately, even if you suspect problems with the local authorities. See the state department website above to locate the various foreign embassies, and keep a copy of the contact details in your pocket at all times.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERMENT HELPS ITS CITIZENS ABROAD

Lastly, the United States wants to protect and insure the safety of US citizens abroad. Be sure to register the details of your trip with the US State Department at: https://travelregistration.state.gov, and note their toll free number accessible twenty-four hours a day at: 1-888-407-4747. If you register with the state department, then in the event of an emergency your relatives can call the above number and you will be contacted pursuant to your registration details. Also, there is a page on your passport to leave critical medical and contact information and takes just a minute to record.

The vast majority of foreign travelers rarely have significant problems abroad, however, it is more than wise to plan ahead in the event an unfortunate medical or legal emergency develops.And, hopefully, the most you will have to deal with on your next foreign trip is just a little sunburn.

By: David Burlison

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When planning your vacation to St. Thomas, you may want to consider whether or not travel insurance is a worthwhile investment. When making this decision, the most important aspect to consider is your personal level of risk. As part of a Caribbean vacation package, travel insurance would firstly protect your investment should any unforeseen events occur that prevent your travel, such as you or a family member are admitted to the hospital before your vacation, a car accident occurs en route to the airport, or a natural disaster takes place. However, there are several other aspects to take into account when considering travel insurance. Here are some travel tips to keep in mind when assembling your Caribbean vacation package.
As mentioned, trip cancellation / interruption (TCI) insurance can be very helpful if you have to cancel your vacation to St. Thomas. When you arrange your vacation package, you’ll be given a list of accepted reasons for canceling, usually including those mentioned above. Keep in mind that TCI insurance doesn’t allow you to alter your vacation plans because you changed your mind or have concerns about travel.

Travel insurance is probably a good idea if you are a senior or have a pre-existing medical condition, as special coverage options exist. Complicated itineraries, guided tours, multiple stops or cruises are also good candidates for insurance based on the possibility of missed connections or delays. Also, if you absolutely have to be in St. Thomas, insurance simply goes without question.

Many travelers are protected for certain contingencies under their medical, auto or homeowner’s insurance policies or through the benefits offered by some credit card providers. However, some coverage may not extend outside the country and could include deductibles. Hence, you will need to check the fine print of your existing policies and benefits and compare the coverage with your overall travel risks.

Two important types of insurance to consider for a vacation to St. Thomas, regardless of existing coverage, include supplier default insurance – to offset problems you might experience with tour operators or accommodations in St. Thomas – and emergency medical care / medical evacuation coverage.

On the surface, many policies may sound great, but specific airlines, accommodations, cruise lines, car rental companies or tour operators may not be covered. In fact, several large domestic airlines companies were stricken from some travel insurance plans when bankruptcies were filed.

Always remember, it is very important to read the fine print when shopping for travel insurance. Never make any assumptions about what your policy covers. Also, ask the agent questions about any scenario that may affect you to see if the coverage is what you need. If you are looking for specific contingencies in a travel insurance plan, many providers can sell add-ons to meet your needs.

You should also try to avoid buying travel insurance through a tour operator or cruise line. In the event that the tour company goes out of business or bankrupt, your insurance and money may go with it. Instead, use a reputable insurance provider with offices located in St. Thomas and committed 24/7 customer service. If you can’t find a company, ask your travel agent for a recommendation.

Avoid purchasing unnecessary travel insurance package perks, in many cases, additional coverage for luggage and rental cars is superfluous. Chances are your credit card provider or existing auto insurance policy offer at least collision coverage for auto rentals. Additionally, most airline companies offer up to $2,500 of luggage liability per passenger for lost or damaged items.

As you will traveling outside of the United States, the necessity for some type of travel insurance is certainly more pressing than it may be for a domestic vacation. You will need to determine what your overall risk is when traveling to St. Thomas and weigh that risk against the cost of travel insurance. Generally speaking, more extensive insurance policies – protecting your airfare, accommodations, health and personal belongings – add about 5-10% onto the cost of your vacation. When abroad, 5-10% can be a small price to pay for security and piece of mind.

By: Justin Peterson

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There are a number of reasons why you would want to experience South Africa Travel

Renowned Water Activities – River Rafting in South Africa

Washing Machine, Thrombosis Gorge, Entrance Examination. If these rapids’ names don’t thrill you, the deafening thunder and boiling spray as you approach a torrential cascade certainly will. Or slow everything down and quietly paddle along deep pools where there is always the promise of sighting a fish eagle in search of its lunch. Welcome to rafting trails on South Africa’s Big 5 Rivers; where there is always an adrenaline pumping, white water power-rush or a tranquil paddle.

Visit Natural Attractions

Tsitsikamma: Place of Clear Water

Along the Garden Route is a wild and beautiful place of pounding ocean and cool forests. Tsitsikamma is a true paradise for nature lovers.

Entertainment LeisureThe Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

With views of Robben Island and Table Mountain, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is one of South Africa’s hottest tourist destinations, attracting over 20 million local and international visitors each year.

Cities

Pietermaritzburg, set in a lush, steamy valley, is known as Sleepy Hollow. But explore this seemingly somnolent city and you’ll find it’s waking fast.

South Africa Attractions :

South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world. Exotic combinations of landscapes, people, history and culture offer the traveller a unique and inspiring experience.

South Africa is a heady mix of third and first world cultures – along with the best and least crowded beaches in the world. Throw in wildlife parks such as the Kruger Park, Eight World Heritage Sites, beautiful natural scenery, a great infrastructure and a stable post-apartheid environment and you have a great destination waiting to happen.

World Heritage Sites

1. Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs

2. Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

3. Robben Island

4. Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape

5. UKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park

6. Cape Floral Region Protected Areas

7. Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park

8. Vredefort Dome

Visit South Africa and be excited, entertained, enlightened, uplifted, spoilt and revitalized. South African tourism offers unbeatable value, exceptional service, amazing people and out of this world products.

The locals want the world to visit South African because it affords them an opportunity to understand what makes this beautiful country at the bottom of Africa so special and inviting.

When visiting South Africa, you will find a sophisticated infrastructure, a booming economy and sky rise buildings in the city centres. One of the beauties of South Africa is just a short drive outside of these buzzing cities and you will find nature’s glories.

South African beaches offer clean waters, white shores and safety nets. South Africa is renown for its splendid wines, which must definitely be experienced at local South African wine farms.

A trip to South Africa is incomplete without partaking in the majestic mountain ranges.

South Africa offers fine dining, rated tops in the world. Amazing game and safari viewing with trips to suit your preference are available in all South African provinces. Get up close and personal with lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and a huge number of other species going about their lives naturally.

South African tourism is also open to entertainment options of all kinds. These are just a few of the amazing opportunities on offer.

Make your next trip, a trip to South Africa. Visit South Africa and experience the South African culture and tourism.

By: Bruce Gow

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Traditionally holiday or travel insurance for UK residents has been looked upon as a “luxury” or an “extra”. However many are now starting to realise that holiday cover for a foreign trip is an essential part of any travel booking. Accidents and illnesses can happen to anyone, anytime. Its bad enough if it happens in the UK with your friends and family around you and free healthcare available on the NHS, but what if it happens abroad? What about airport/airline strikes, breakdown on the way to the airport so you miss your flight? What if a relative becomes seriously ill and you find you cannot travel after booking a non refundable package? Holiday cover is now so cheap that it would be foolish not to be covered. This is especially important for senior travel.

There are many different types of travel insurance available, but the two main types are single and annual trip cover. Single trip insurance basically means you are covered for a specific period of travel i.e. two weeks for a specific holiday, whereas an annual travel cover will cover you for the entire year for any trips you may take. As you would expect, annual cover is more expensive, however if you normally have multiple breaks abroad (lucky you!) then it can work out cheaper for you.

In addition to this ther are different levels of cover available of both annual and single trip policies. For instance many policies will offer cover for winter sports such as skiing or even adventure sports such as climbing, there are also now policies which will cover older travellers such as those 65 and over, even with pre-existing medical conditions. Infact 65,70,75,80 or even 85 years old and over can now be covered simply and cheaply.

The actual coverage will vary from company to company, however a “standard” coverage would likely include: holiday cancellation due to emergency, medical costs due to sickness or injury, lost baggage, theft of personal effects including passport, credit cards etc. Some will cover losses due to natural disasters, however check the small print carefully as the author found to his cost during a trip to Florida a few years ago, hurricanes are not covered on some plans as they are “an act of god”! Other exclusions I noticed after the fact on this particular plan were any losses caused by terrorist activity, so be warned always check the small print.

By: David Rossy

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Despite plans being flawless and preparations made to the hilt, circumstances still can crop up out of nowhere. Many unpredictable things can happen when you are on safari. You can expect these ‘unpredictable things’ to force you to call off your vacation to return home, or to deal with the emergency immediately while on holiday.

Can anything be done to prepare for these instances? Yes! Purchasing Travel Insurance will ensure that most, if not all the costs for these unforeseen circumstances will be covered. Travel Insurance is purchasable prior to making any significant steps towards your planned African safari. It will definitely serve as a safety net for you and the people you will be traveling with. Getting an insurance cover is important when traveling to Africa; in fact it is a requirement for your own good.

Before you start searching for a company which can assist you with Africa travel insurance, there are things that you should keep in mind. You should ask the following

- What kind of insurance do you need?

- Do you travel around the world frequently?

- Are you planning to make trips to other locations besides Africa?

If you answered yes to most of the question, try considering an International Travel Insurance Plan. As the name implies, this insurance plan would ensure that you are given sufficient “International Coverage” wherever you go. The policies set in these plans should cover you well when you travel to Africa.

Here is another thing to keep in mind. Say that a situation arises during your stay in Africa, and as a result, you or someone with you needs emergency medical treatment. After the medical treatment, you have to shoulder the bill for the meantime. In this light, try to check the insurance policy that you are interested in, and make sure that your insurance plan covers reimbursement for medical expenses.

You should also make it a point to look over the said policy to see if it covers one of the many activities you may participate in when you get to Africa. Does your Insurance Policy cover any injuries you might get when you take part on a wild and unpredictable safari?

Would the company cover you when something happens during white water rafting, bungee jumping, quad biking, dune boarding, or camel riding? The policy should be able to answer your questions in detail. Take note that there are certain programs and activities in Africa that you may not be able to take part in if you do not have travel insurance in the first place.

Be prepared to shell out a few extra bucks for premium payments for addendum to your policy to cover those unique activities that you plan to do in Africa. A few extra costs and effort is quite inconvenient, but you will see how vital they can get if something ever happens.

Keep in mind that the insurance company should provide you with a comprehensive policy. You will need this document in case there are problems on your repatriation when returning to your home country. A comprehensive policy should contain specific details surrounding unexpected circumstance: medical expense coverage, treatment services, and trip interruption, to name a few. These details will help in determining the extent of coverage of your travel.

The Insurance policy document is apparently as important as your passport in many cases. Before leaving for Africa, make sure to leave it at home and/or with somebody that the company can contact in case of emergency. While traveling or in certain situations, have a copy of the Travel Insurance Policy for the crew you are with, state clearly who to call when emergency happens.

Checking the coverage limits of your travel insurance is very important to find out how you are covered in case something happens. One other factor that you should not overlook in the same policy would be the rules regarding reimbursement in case something happens. Getting money back means more to spend on other vacations in the future.

Whenever you plan on an African Safari for business or pleasure, do not forget to consider purchasing travel insurance. It isn’t just for you, it is also for what you have with you. It’s bound to give you the peace of mind that each and every traveler deserves.

By: Ivan A Cuxeva

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If you are an occasional traveler you’ll probably buy your insurance from the travel agent. But if you travel more than twice a year, it is much more cost effective to have one insurance lasting all year round, than buying one every time you travel.

Think ahead, plan ahead. Annual travel insurance easily pays for itself with just a couple of trips. But not all insurances are worth the same and as always cheapest is not necessarily the best. More on this later.

Annual travel insurance is not compulsory but it gives you the peace of mind case of illness and loss or damage to property and many other events. Where is the best place to buy annual travel insurance?

1. Your bank is probably the first place you’ll try. Banks have in recent times become highly competitive and in order to retain your business, may offer better rates. For example my bank has upgraded my checking account to a premium account and for that I pay $20 per month.

As a result I get several privileges including free, worldwide, comprehensive travel insurance. But here is the best part … I get all this free travel insurance not just for myself but also for any member of my family traveling with me including my parents and siblings.

I said free because I am already getting other benefits which are worth a lot more than $20 per month if I were to buy them individually. I also save a lot of time as I never have to look around for insurance. So don’t ignore your bank.

2. Credit card companies also offer similar insurances, with some added advantages. In case of theft or loss of your credit card, they will supply you with an emergency one, often within a few hours.

In addition to travel insurance offers, there is another advantage in checking your credit card company’s terms. If you book your travel using your credit card, pretty much all card companies give excellent cover against many of the things that can go wrong.

Some credit card companies also have specialist travel departments which not only give you travel discounts but also give you even better protection, i.e. better travel insurance and at a much lower cost. But note that all insurance offers exclude you making a claims, for the same item, to multiple sources even if you do have multiple insurance cover.

For example, let’s say you have bought travel insurance separately and you have bought your travel ticket using your credit card. If your luggage is lost, you can almost certainly make a claim to either of the two sources but not to both at the same time.

The reason is that the insurance companies have suffered massive fraud in recent years. Allowing multiple claims simply encourages fraudsters to have multiple insurances and make multiple false claims.

For example, they can take an already damaged suitcase on a long journey knowing that it will fall apart. They can then claim damage and loss of property from multiple insurers.

3. Insurance companies are a popular and obvious source for annual travel insurance. If you drive a car or have home insurance get a quote from your insurance company. Remember, because you are already a customer, your car insurance often entitles you to a very good discount.

Here’s a tip: if they don’t give you a competitive insurance, tell them that you will be looking else where for a good package. Let them know you will be looking for a package that includes great home insurance, excellent travel insurance and also good car insurance.

Listen, fear of loss WILL make them bend over backwards for you and if they don’t? Here’s another tip: When you talk to any other source to get your competitive travel insurance, make sure you mention your other assets that you could be insuring with them, such as your car, home, home contents, etc.

This won’t work with travel companies but works absolutely beautifully with most insurance companies. I have done it many times and saved myself thousands of dollars, yes thousands, over the last few years.

The insurance industry is massively competitive. For once, this works in favor of the “little guy” (you and me), so let’s use it.

4. Certain types of home insurance may also give annual travel cover. Do look into pretty much any insurance cover you have. Some home insurance policies include some forms of travel cover including loss or damage to your property while away from home.

Tip: even if you live with your parents, ask them to check their policy for you. You will be amazed to see that even “your” property is covered while away from home.

Just one word of caution: do not assume what is covered or the level cover. If you are not sure just ask the insurer. If the cover they describe seems even better than what you expected based on the policy document, then do ask them to put their clarification in writing.

Why? When any major loss occurs, the insurer will send a local expert to assess the damage. These guys are called loss adjustors. Their job is to save money for the insurance company. And I tell you from bitter personal experience, they take no prisoners.

They will screw you down to the ground, if you don’t get things in clear black and white writing. Just do it. It takes minutes to request clarification in writing but can save you thousands of dollars when you have one of these mean loss adjustors arguing with you over the policy.

5. You can also buy last minute travel insurance from travel agents and airlines at the airport. Expect to be taken advantage of, heavily! Needless to say, this is one of your most expensive options. Just avoid ending up with this option, see to your insurance long before you need to travel.

Now here’s the thing. Travel insurance policies are not all identical. As well as considering price, you absolutely must read the terms and conditions carefully. For example, the upper age limit of some insurance companies may vary.

Some companies may limit the number of annual trips, whilst others may have no limit at all. Look, most travel insurance policies cover a range of events and claims. But as they say, the devil is in the detail.

The problem you will definitely face with some really cheap policies from unknown and possibly disreputable companies is what they put in the fine print. You know what I’m talking about? … all those tiny little statements they put on the back of the form? Or if you are buying insurance online (and you should), notice all those pages of really small text they ask you to agree to?

Well, that’s where they bury lots of little conditions and limitations. Most people don’t read all the terms. Do yourself a huge favor and on this occasion, do read it all. If the insurance policy terms are full of “weasel words” or complex language, just move on and do not buy.

All insurance companies are quick to point out how many millions you can claim in “total”, in case of a serious accident. But they all limit the amount per item within your claim. So claims for loss of cash will be capped and so will claims for electronic devices, clothes, etc.

This means that with the cheaper policies you will have a really low limit. For example, if you claim for a mobile phone and an MP3 player, you may find that the limit on personal electronics is not enough to even pay for “one” of those devices, let alone both. Don’t wait for an unfortunate event to show you the flaws in a dirt cheap policy. That is the worst time to find out and it is a time when you need the most help.

What must all policies cover?

1. Loss or damage to property and cash

2. Flight delays or cancellation

3. Accidents

4. Sickness

5. Your expenses when an event ocurs

6. Your potential liability to other people

7. Legal services

In comparison to your total costs, annual travel insurance is only a very small item. If you are covered for any eventuality, you’ll have less to worry about, which will translate to more relaxation and enjoyment.

By: Sami Fab

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If you have recently booked a holiday or need to go abroad for business purposes you are probably excited and have not really thought about your travel insurance.

Before taking any sort of trip it is extremely important to have travel insurance and to understand and know what cover you have. You may find that depending on where your proposed holiday is you may need to upgrade or purchase additional protection.

Understanding what your travel insurance cover will insure you for will mean that should you find your self needing to make a claim once abroad a lot easier and give you the peace of mind that you are covered for events that you may be worried about.

Travel insurance does not cover you for everything, all travel insurance policies will have a list of unforeseen circumstances for which you will be covered. It is important to read through the list and make sure that this applies to you your family and your circumstances of travel.

If something should occur whilst away and it is not on the travel insurance policy list you will not be covered. Some policies will state what is excluded but generally speaking if they have not included it you must assume you will not be able to make a claim if found in that situation.

Standard travel insurance policies will cover you for events such as the following.

Your tour operator goes broke

Your cruise line goes broke

If you or you family needs emergency medical treatment or in the case of a death

Your trip is cancelled due to bad weather

Your trip is cancelled due to flight cancellation

If you have lost your job after at least 3 years of employment

Lost or damaged luggage

Stolen luggage

Although most travel insurance companies cover you for medical treatment whilst on holiday you may not be covered should you need to have medical treatment before you go and have to cancel the holiday due to a pre existing medical condition. Although you may feel you will never need to use your travel insurance it is surprising how many people actually do, the cost of travel insurance will vary depending on the company and the type policy they are selling.

Always check with your travel insurance company if you are entitled to a refund should you decide to cancel the policy soon after purchasing it. Some companies offer a ‘cooling off’ period a certain amount of time from receipt of your policy where by you can cancel and receive a full refund.

Most people travel abroad for holidays so having travel insurance can mean the difference to a stress free holiday or one of worry. This type of insurance could possibly be the most important insurance policy you will ever have.

By: Vicki Churchill

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Your idea of a holiday destination is usually that of an urbanized place, serene environment, a luxury hotel, shopping, eating and a lot of relaxation. Africa has it all in its excellent Western style cities. Amazingly, Africa has some parts, which do not serve all this but still are a major attraction for people around the world.

However, before getting your Africa flights you have to take some precautionary measurements to get the maximum fun out of your holidays. Some of the basic precautionary measurements are given below.

First Aid and Medical facilities:

However, most of the parts of Africa that describe the real Africa are not much developed and this fact cannot be ignored. This is what makes it important to take safety and precautionary measures before and even during trip to Africa. In the first place, all vaccinations must be complete as there are bit chances of disease specially; aids, malaria, cholera and hepatitis. Unlike the usual first aid kit, the kit to Africa needs to have some things in addition. Among these things, contraceptives, and anti-biotic course, sterilizers and sanitizers are a must keep. Although limited, medical facilities are available throughout Africa, especially those in South Africa and Zimbabwe are excellent.

Tourist Guides:

Tourist guidance is not only widely available but at times also very important. At the safaris for instance, one is compelled to take a guide along but care must be taken. A survey must be done before a guide is booked. Very cheap deals are equally ridiculous in quality and very high priced deals are usually run to get a good amount of money from the tourists, as they are considered rich.

Theft and Security:

Due to poverty, theft is a common practice in Africa especially big cities and tourists are a big target. In order to avoid losing the belongings; money belts, neck purses and leg safes are advised. All precious belongings are to be kept along at all times especially during traveling and even during sleeping as accommodations in Africa are rarely locked. Walking alone in a city during night and hitching alone is not preferred. Getting oneself registered to home embassy can be very helpful in times of trouble.

Taking Care of You:

Last but not the least, travel insurance is highly suggested especially if one has to go for adventures as they can help a great deal in times of problem during adventures. In Africa, one gets to travel a lot and has to keep many things along already so light packing is suggested. A good sun block cream is suggested to be protected from African Sunshine.

Once all the precautionary measurements are taken, the trip to Africa makes up for an unforgettable experience. There, travelers find cultures and life styles affected by ignorance and poverty, but it should not to be taken negatively, that is the beauty of Africa. The customs of tribes inspired by animals, religious rituals that are totally jungle oriented, desert all around, hitchhiking and above all, the animals, is what makes Africa a land of beauty far beyond imagination. As tourists travel in Africa, the more they get attracted to it and the more curious they become about everything in it and eventually more they end up traveling.

By: Michael Siddle

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You’ve got your suitcase packed, someone to look after the dog and feed the fish, you’ve dug your passport out from the back of the cutlery drawer. In other words, you are ready to go on that holiday of a lifetime!

Or are you?

Too many people find their holidays ruined because they overlook one small detail – insurance. It’s not just your skin you need to cover while holidaying in the sun! Things can sometimes go wrong during a holiday, so it is worth insuring against as many of them as possible.

Even not going on holiday at all can be expensive if you aren’t covered. Here, we are talking about insuring in case you need to cancel for reasons such as a death in the family, jury duty, even things like a fire at your home or place of work. Having insurance will safeguard against losing all your money – you should be able to reclaim a large percentage of what you have paid for the holiday.

Illness is the main reason most people take out travel insurance. Simply avoiding the water may not be enough to ensure a healthy holiday! Health insurance should pay for treatment at a private clinic, including the cost of any medication, and most policies will also cover you in case you need to cut your holiday short because of ill health.

Another popular reason for holiday insurance is theft or loss of personal belongings. As long as the theft or loss is not because of your own negligence – leaving a purse sticking out of your unattended bag while you go for a quick dip may well be defined as being negligent – you can claim back the value of any goods lost while on holiday.

Likewise, you can be insured against your luggage going missing en route to your destination. This will normally take the form of covering the cost of having to buy replacement things.

Most policies are taken on an ad-hoc basis; just covering the time you’re actually on holiday. But if you’re one of the lucky ones that can take several holidays per year, it’s worth considering annual travel insurance. Paying a one-off yearly fee can work out a lot cheaper than paying for individual premiums every time you go away. This type of insurance is also recommended for people who travel a lot on business.

For a standard holiday it shouldn’t be too hard to find cheap travel insurance with all the cover you require. But bear in mind, certain types of holiday may require extra cover, possibly from a specialist company. Winter sports holidays, for example, tend to be high-risk and some companies will not insure for them. They can also cost up to twice as much as a normal policy because of added medical expenses, and personal liability cover is usually included in case you cause injury to others.

It’s also worth making sure you have up-to-date house insurance, especially if you’re going away for an extended holiday abroad, but check your policy if your holiday is longer than 30 days – a claim may be invalid if you do not inform your insurer of a stay longer than this.

By: Jay Tillotson

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