Backpacker travel insurance

One of the teams student daughter is off to spend the summer break coaching at a North American summer camp. Like many concerned and probably over anxious parents she has used this as an exercise in researching backpacker travel insurance. Here are some of her findings:

My first concern is that she will have adequate medical expenses cover if she is taken ill or injured and I have established that this element of her backpacker travel insurance will need to be least £1,000,000. I will be writing down the details of the 24 hour medical emergency service in the UK and putting it in her purse and making sure she has it in her mobile phone as well, just in case there are any emergencies.

Then there is cover for her travel essentials, camera, MP3 player, clothes and more shoes than Imelda! Here the sums on backpacker travel insurance bear careful scrutiny as there are inner single item and valuables limits. I have discovered that often savings can be made if more expensive personal possessions are covered under the long suffering parents “new for old” house contents policy.

Backpacker travel insurance can be kept to a surprisingly reasonable premium by opting out of the frills such as travel delay cover and curtailment. My daughter will have a revalidateable ticket from a reputable airline so if she decides to cut her stay short no extra expense will be incurred here and hopefully she will be catered for in the event of delays en route. All that remains now is to apply for her visa, essential these days for travel to North America and to work out how to fit all those pairs of 4 inch heels into her shocking pink suitcase and stay within the 20 kilo weight limit !

If you are planning on a backpacking or longstay trip this year, dont forget to buy travel insurance. Holidaysafe.co.uk has specialist longstay and backpacker travel insurance from as little as 17pence a day.

What did you do Mum?

I was recently chatting with a friend about her daughters upcoming backpacking trip. She thought I might find the content of a conversation with her daughter interesting. I did and we think you might too…

Daughter to mother: Did you go backpacking Mum?
Mother to daughter: Oh yes, 1965, me and my friend , ‘A’ levels behind us, rucksacks and acoustic guitars strung across our backs.
Daughter to mother: A guitar? I didn’t know you could play the guitar!
Mother to daughter: Well we all did in the sixties, a few chords, Joan Baez and the Woodie Guthrie song book, we thought we could sing our way around Europe. Did you buy travel insurance yet?
Daughter to mother: No don’t worry I will , where did you go?
Mother to daughter: Well we set off on the ferry from Dover to Ostend, there was a summer storm, it was really rough, one guy broke his arm falling over on deck and that was the end of his holiday and everyone was sick. You will remember to buy travel insurance won’t you?
Daughter to mother: Yes Mum don’t nag ! I’ve not even finished packing yet
Mother to daughter: Then we hitched a life across Belgium in an enormous truck. I still remember the feeling when we climbed out, it was the main square in the centre of Brussels, dawn was breaking on a beautiful day – we sat on the kerb sipping espresso coffee from the station buffet, watching the sun come up while the market traders set up their stalls and unpacked their carts and vans. The sheer joy of being young and healthy and free – I wanted that moment to last forever.
Daughter to mother: hitch hiking! Mum! You would never let me hitchhike!
Mother to daughter: well it was different back then, safer somehow, people were more trusting. You do need to buy travel insurance you know.
Daughter to mother: Mum you’ve said that a thousand times now, I will OK? Did you have any, you know, adventures? Near misses?
Mother to daughter: well...... there was a randy farmer at the youth hostel near Zurich... I was rescued by this gorgeous Dutch guy, six foot two and blond.
Daughter to mother: Mum! Too much information
Mother to daughter: And then there was the time we got stuck behind the Iron Curtain with no visa’s, Daughter to mother: What’s an Iron Curtain?
Mother to daughter: oh and then there was the guy in a car that stopped to pick us up on the autobahn in the Black Forest – had no trousers on.
Daughter to mother: And you tell me to be careful!
Mother to daughter: Can I buy travel insurance for you?
Daughter to mother: Whatever mum, if it will make you happy

Mother: So there I was typing travel insurance into a search engine at midnight for my daughter, well, for me really. A lifeline for her so she too can go travelling and bring back memories to share with her daughter in years to come. Peace of mind for me that should something go wrong, I will know she is covered.

Holidaysafe.co.uk travel insurance offers specialist cover for people travelling on an extended stay which is ideal for students, backpackers and gap year travellers. We offer cover for travel up to 18 months with cover starting from just 17p a day!

You can get a quote and instant cover by going online to /travel-insurance/backpacker-travel-insurance.html

Prices are correct at time of going to press (April 2009) and are subject to change.

Happy Easter!

The team at holidaysafe.co.uk would like to wish you a very happy Easter.

If you are planning a trip this Easter or school half-term, dont forget to buy travel insurance.

Holidaysafe.co.uk has special last minute single trip travel insurance policy for Europe based on a family of four starting at a little under £14.00^. Very reasonable I am sure you agree.

To get a quote or to buy travel insurance, please click here.

^Includes Insurance Premium Tax is based on 2 adult aged under 35 and 2 children under 17 years taking out a ‘last minute’ single trip travel insurance policy for 7 days in Europe. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press (April 2009) and are subject to change.

The great travel adventure

Travelling, experiencing new cultures, meeting new people and experiencing new sites, sounds and smells will make up some of your longest standing and probably most cherished memories. As with anything however, a little planning can go a long way. The foreign and commonwealth office run a campaign called Know Before You Go (KBYG) which is packed with lots of useful information on travel. Recently, they have also published some literature called ‘World Wise’. The guide is packed with a lot of useful tips and travel information to help you plan to get the most from your trip.

The brochure is free and is available by clicking here.

You will notice that page 6 of the document is dedicated to the need for suitable travel insurance. Those of you that have read previous holidaysafe.co.uk blog posts, will of course remember previous information talking about how important it is for you to buy travel insurance. With that in mind as part of all your planning, don’t forget to buy travel insurance.

Holidaysafe.co.uk is able to offer two weeks european travel insurance cover from as little as £8.01^.
For a quote and to buy travel insurance please click here.


^Includes Insurance Premium Tax is based on 1 adult aged under 35 taking out a ‘last minute’ single trip travel insurance policy for 14 days in Europe. Cover details and prices are correct at time of going to press (April 2009) and are subject to change.