Before leaving on a trip, there are several steps to take: buy plane tickets, book accommodation, pack your bag, take care of any visas and check that your passport is still valid. But what about travel insurance? For many travellers, this approach appears optional and often not necessary. Yes, when you go out to discover new lands, you feel like you're growing wings! However, an accident, falling ill, losing your luggage or having to cancel your trip at the last minute does not only happen to others. So to avoid all these inconveniences, which can quickly turn your escape dreams into a bad memory, taking out travel insurance seems like the best way to protect yourself
The different reasons to subscribe to a travel insurance
While it is true that before going on a trip, we are far from thinking about the possible disaster scenarios that could occur, this does not mean that we are 100% protected. It can be a problem that you encounter before leaving, and for which you have to cancel your trip at the last minute, or postpone it. During the journey, luggage may be damaged, destroyed or lost. Once there, it is not out of the question to get sick and have to go to the doctor or hospital, especially when it comes to diseases that can be contracted in some tropical countries. When you are on vacation, you often participate in many sports activities, and you are sometimes willing to take risks and go out of your comfort zone for new experiences. Rafting, skiing, hiking in areas frequented by animals not always nice. To travel the roads of the country in which you are, you can rent a car, scooter or bicycle. An accident can then occur, both as a victim and as a cause, which also means hurting others. Medical costs in some countries are simply exorbitant. If in France, we have a system that is constantly being rented all over the world, this is far from being the case everywhere. In countries such as the United States, Thailand, Brazil and Hong Kong, tariffs can reach amounts that make you dizzy. In these areas, the amount of a simple consultation with a doctor can quickly exceed 100 euros! So, there's no need to imagine what happens if you have to stay in hospital for several days or be repatriated. If all this may seem pessimistic, we would prefer to talk about prevention, to put everything in place to leave with peace of mind. And that's why you shouldn't hesitate when you ask yourself whether or not to take out travel insurance
It is also worth recalling that for some destinations, travel insurance is compulsory, the countries concerned being: Cuba, Algeria, Mongolia, Russia and China
Which travel insurance to choose?
It should be noted that many organizations offer travel insurance. Some companies are specialized in this field. But there are also banks, travel agencies, and perhaps those we should think of first, the traditional insurance agencies, with whom we subscribe contracts for housing or even for cars. Most insurance companies offer different packages, which adapt to the type of stay you make (short stay of less than three months, long stay), as well as to your budget. Depending on the destination and the activities planned on site, it is important to consider the options that you want to see on the travel insurance policy: cancellation or delay, baggage insurance, medical coverage, personal liability abroad, repatriation and assistance to the traveller at any time. The best thing to do before leaving is to make an appointment with a counsellor and think about asking all the questions, as well as discussing all the possible situations. The professional knows how to advise on the formula that best suits each request. Quotations can also be easily made online. With all these elements, there is no longer any need to hesitate, everyone can leave for the unknown, certainly, but towards the unknown by being protected.
