Backpacker’s Travel Insurance Guide

When planning a backpacking adventure, the budget is extremely important. Travel Insurance may seem like an unnecessary precaution which you can live without, however without insurance you leave yourself vulnerable to potentially colossal bills if something goes wrong.

To make sure you get a good deal and the correct cover, here are our top tips for buying Backpacker’s Travel Insurance;

• Make sure the insurance will cover you for the entire duration of your trip. If you’re not sure when you will be returning to the UK, make sure that you can extend your policy whilst abroad.
• If your travels will take you to multiple destinations make sure your policy covers all of them.
• If you’re a student awaiting exam results, make sure the cover offers a trip home, so you can go home if you need to re-sit exams or if you become home sick, without voiding your policy.
• Does the policy actually meet your needs? For example, if you’re backpacking you probably won’t need thousands of pounds worth of baggage cover, so look for polices which offer cover to suit your travel plans.
• If you’re planning to work or volunteer at some point during your trip – does your insurance cover you?
• If you’re thinking about or planning to participate in activities such as bungee jumping or safari during your trip, make sure these are covered.

When you buy any travel insurance policy you should check that;

• The cancellation cover is enough to cover the pre-paid costs of your trip.
• The policy covers your baggage and personal possessions if they become lost, damaged or stolen.
• The policy covers the costs of emergency items of clothing if your bags are lost by the airline.
• The insurance includes at least two million pounds of emergency medical cover and repatriation (£5 million if travelling worldwide). This may seem extreme but medical treatment abroad can become extremely expensive.
• Make sure you have declared any pre-existing medical conditions, and make sure your policy covers them. If you have not declared your conditions you will not be covered for any subsequent bills.
• Once you’ve purchased your policy, you will usually be given 14 days to read it through and check that it covers your particular needs.

For more information, watch our Backpacker Travel Insurance video;