A change of scenery, fresh air, long and winding roads, friendly people, new cultures to be explored – these are the things you’re sure to enjoy when you decide to pack your bags and go backpacking all over your country, Europe, Asia, or anywhere else in the world.
There are so many things to see and so little time to do so that you might just want to start your tour of the planet right now. But, before you head off to that grand adventure, there’s one thing you shouldn’t fail to include in your luggage: backpackers travel insurance.
You can get backpackers travel insurance from travel insurance companies, travel agents, or travel suppliers, although the latter one seldom provides extensive coverage. Different providers set different policies, from which you have to choose carefully if you want to get your money’s worth.
Buying travel insurance is a sound investment. It is a failsafe way of backing you up – and your expenses – when emergencies or accidents arise. And let’s face it, with a backpacking trip, emergencies or accidents are at high-risk of occurring. You could get robbed or held-up, lose your baggage in an unknown territory, run out of cash. It’s best to arm yourself with protection, whether or not you think you need it. Whoever said that life is full of surprises seriously knew what he was talking about, and you’ll do well by buying backpackers travel insurance.
While exact coverage varies from one provider to the next most backpackers travel insurance still cover common risks. They include delayed departure, cancellation, curtailment, medical expenses, emergency evacuation in the event of war, a natural disaster, act of terrorism, loss, theft, damage of baggage, delayed baggage and necessary replacement of essential items.
Those items include medication, accidental death, disablement, or injury benefits, overseas funeral expenses, legal assistance in case of run-in with foreign or international law, and rental car damages. Situations that are normally excluded from coverage no matter what kind of travel insurance are accidents or injuries caused by drug or alcohol use, expenses related to pregnancy, and some medical conditions.
Backpackers travel insurance is mostly offered for people aged 36 years old and above. The plan is also referred to as the adventure travel insurance. You can have and extended trip coverage if you want. Policies under this kind of insurance usually include coverage available from 31 days to 18 months, a wide range of adventure or high-risk sports that are covered (including skiing, scuba-diving, white water rafting, and bungee jumping, among others), coverage for medical emergencies, baggage or personal belongings, personal accidents, and other personal liabilities. When you add on excess waiver for a small amount of additional coverage, also called as premium, you can enjoy greater protection.
A 24-hour worldwide emergency helpline is an advantage when you choose to go on a backpacking adventure. There are a number of things that can go wrong, and you’ll want to be assisted any time, wherever you may be. Make sure that the travel insurance company, travel agent, or travel supplier of your choice includes this kind of assistance in your backpackers travel insurance policy.