Why you need travel insurance

Do you see travel insurance as an added pain to your trip? Many of us may feel it is just another added expense, but it is actually an essential when travelling. 

Your transport, possessions, luggage and health are all important factors for a successful trip; it only makes sense to purchase insurance in case something was to go wrong. Depending on the type of trip you are taking, the type of travel insurance you will need varies. For example if you are planning on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro it is wise to get an extensive insurance policy as there are high risk factors involved. Nevertheless, any type of trip you are planning requires some form of travel insurance as it is always better to be safe than sorry.

The reasons why you need travel insurance:

1. Flight cancellations:

The amount of flights that are severely delayed or cancelled doesn’t come as a surprise. If you are booking your flight months in advance, who’s to say what could happen in that period of time. For example the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud in 2010 caused days of disruptions and cancellations.

2. A medical emergency in a foreign country:

This is particularly important for those who suffer from an illness, although if you are travelling to somewhere such as Malaysia, the risk of mosquito bites can be high so it is highly recommended to insure yourself for any given situation.

3. Falling ill before your trip:

If you fall ill before your trip you may have to cancel due to not being fit for travel.

4. Your passport and purse have been stolen and you need emergency cash to buy a new passport:

This is something that every traveller dreads, but these things can happen so it’s best to be covered.

5. Natural disasters:

Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and the list could go on. Be prepared for the unexpected.

6. Loss of baggage:

This is a dreaded situation, being on holiday with only the clothes and possessions you have on you; this is a time when you will be extremely grateful for insurance.

7. Terrorist incident:

If there happens to be a terrorist incident within a country that you have booked a holiday for, it is highly likely you will want to cancel that holiday.

8. Your bag has been stolen that contains medication and you need cash to buy a replacement prescription. This could be a crucial situation where insurance would be a saviour!

Some of the above may be a little extreme but these things can happen! As long as you’re not going sailing in the Malacca Strait, which was declared a ‘war zone’ by Lloyds of London in 2005, you should be fine. This narrow stretch of water that connects the Pacific Ocean to the east unexpectedly took a hit from Indonesian pirates demanding million pounds worth of ransom. If anyone has seen the film ‘Captain Philips’ then they will understand the danger of this extreme situation! It’s surely better to be safe than sorry, as it’s not only money that you can save by taking out a travel insurance policy. Make sure you don’t let the unexpected happen to you; insure yourself against risk before you take your travels.