Explore travel insurance options ahead of your big trip
Monday, 19 December 2011
You've booked the flights, planned your itinerary and even thought about losing a few pounds to look good in your new holiday clothes. But before you jet off on your dream break, it's important to make sure that should the worst happen, you won't end up with a hefty bill that you may not even be able to cover.
Travel insurance is there to look after things that can go wrong while you're away: injury, lost luggage, even significant travel delays. While something going wrong is unlikely, if you do encounter problems then they can often end up being extremely costly.
But what type of insurance is right for you? It generally depends on the type of trip you'll be taking, but many insurers will also want to know information such as how old you are and what your health is like. As a rule, you should look at insurance that offers cover for loss of personal items, and at least £2 million for the medical side of things. Legal expenses are also something you may wish to think about during your trip, so look out for that when you get a quote.
Getting the right insurance is about more than just figures, though. Where you're going and what you'll be doing can also affect the quotes you receive; for example, some insurers will offer either European or worldwide travel insurance, so make sure you get the right cover for the region you'll be in.
You also need to think about where you'll be going and what you'll be doing; if you're travelling to a particularly dangerous area (the Middle East and parts of East Africa, for example), then insurance will be much costlier in order to cover the increased risk. Likewise, a holiday involving winter sports, adventure activities or physical labour will require enhanced medical insurance. Many companies will allow you to cover specific activities. For example, if you'll be skiing but not snowboarding, choose to have this specifically covered; just make sure that you don't end up doing something you're not actually insured for!
If you've already spent a lot of money on the trip itself, and are concerned about the expense of insuring, do plenty of research and shop around to keep costs low. Get a number of different travel insurance quotes and pick the best one for you, based on price and what it actually covers you for.
When you're away visiting family or enjoying that dream holiday, the prospect of something dreadful happening can seem a million miles away. While an accident or similar disaster is very unlikely, if one does occur the fees and bills that may accompany this can often be huge, meaning you'll have more than bruises or lost luggage to worry about. With the right travel insurance, you can ensure that any problems are covered and you can get on with the task in hand: having a fabulous time!
Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.
John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
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