Travel Insurance

[Sanook]

Hi,

I need to renew my UK travel insurance, and I'd really appreciate some advice from BMs here.

For my last trip I got an extension to my annual cover, with Direct Travel. This covered me for 2 months. For my next trip to Thailand though, my annual cover has finished, so I'm going to have to get a full package.

I'll be needing something that covers me for 4 months. I've had a look at some sites and noticed the 'backpacker' option. Curious to know whether you have to be a student, or a certain age to qualify for this. It seems to cost much less than other options.

Cheers.

[dawsey]

I'd advise you to ask Direct Travel what their term, backpacker exactly means. If you buy cover classed as a backpacker, and don't fall into that category, your insurance would be void should you make a claim.

Better to be clear with their wording before you buy it, and don't rely on BMs opinions although given in good faith.

[seafox]

Originally Posted by dawsey

I'd advise you to ask Direct Travel what their term, backpacker exactly means. If you buy cover classed as a backpacker, and don't fall into that category, your insurance would be void should you make a claim.

Better to be clear with their wording before you buy it, and don't rely on BMs opinions although given in good faith.

and get it all in writing. Don't take their word for it. I am not familiar with European travel insurance but here in the US you have to be very careful of what they do and do not cover. Just had a friend who had to cancel a trip, expected to be covered because it was a medical problem that forced her to cancel, and then they did not reimburse her, claiming that her medical problem was a pre existing condition.

[n cee]

Originally Posted by seafox

and get it all in writing. Don't take their word for it. I am not familiar with European travel insurance but here in the US you have to be very careful of what they do and do not cover. Just had a friend who had to cancel a trip, expected to be covered because it was a medical problem that forced her to cancel, and then they did not reimburse her, claiming that her medical problem was a pre existing condition.

Think you need to be careful in Europe too,probably everywhere with insurance companies.Gangsters in suits!I just bought insurance today and had a look through the small print.If I have an accident on a motorbike over 50cc I'm not covered.Motorbike Taxis???

[ThaiLearner]

You need to declare as much information to the insurance company or brokers eg medical conditions and what activities you are doing while you are on holiday eg white water rafting . This is how they advise what price you should be paying if you are unsure then asked as that company may not want to cover you at all.

The other year a person went to USA did take travel insurance out but did not declare the condition so he was taken ill from it and was not covered and ending up having to sell there home to pay the bills.

Also if you travel in Europe even though we have the E111 still take out insurance as the E111 does not get you back home.

Cheap flights & hotels | car hire | package holidays - TravelSupermarket UK could help you out.

[ThaiLearner]

Originally Posted by Sanook

Hi,

I need to renew my UK travel insurance, and I'd really appreciate some advice from BMs here.

For my last trip I got an extension to my annual cover, with Direct Travel. This covered me for 2 months. For my next trip to Thailand though, my annual cover has finished, so I'm going to have to get a full package.

I'll be needing something that covers me for 4 months. I've had a look at some sites and noticed the 'backpacker' option. Curious to know whether you have to be a student, or a certain age to qualify for this. It seems to cost much less than other options.

Cheers.

Also age can affect with back packer www.insureand go.com

[t0rn]

Probably more expensive than your looking for but the insurance that comes with the Amex Platinum charge card covers you for single trips up to 240 days with very good cover and no excesses. The downside - the card costs £300/year - but it's possible to cover up to 6 families for the one payment (you just have to trust them enough to give them a card linked to your account.

[LivinLOS]

I have a VISA card thats an invite only kinda thing.. Also provides medical cover and travel insurance as well as access to airline VIP lounges and lots of other goodies..

Only problem is it (medical cover) doesnt work in your home country as its for trips away and I have now moved its address to Thailand.

[Pussy Whipped]

Check that what cover you get is the kind where you don't have to part with the cash and claim it back, rather it is settled between the hospital and the insurance company. This will vary between hospitals, but all the cover I have had has used Mondial Assist as their agent (it is their name and number on my insurance card) and it has always been sorted without me having to put my hand in my pocket- so far. What ever you get, I suggest you get really decent cover, always money well spent IMO.

[Sanook]

Thanks for the replies.

I've just checked the small print from Direct Travel regarding one of their packages. Towards the end it says you will not be covered, if you travel to a country the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advise not entering.

I've checked www. fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo and Thailand is on the list of countries they advise not travelling to 'parts of'. With the recent bombings in Bangkok I'm worried I'll not be covered, as that's where I'll be staying.

I'm going to make some calls tomorrow and get some clarification.

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by Sanook

Thanks for the replies.

I've just checked the small print from Direct Travel regarding one of their packages. Towards the end it says you will not be covered, if you travel to a country the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advise not entering.

I've checked www. fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo and Thailand is on the list of countries they advise not travelling to 'parts of'. With the recent bombings in Bangkok I'm worried I'll not be covered, as that's where I'll be staying.

I'm going to make some calls tomorrow and get some clarification.

Probably referring to the Thai/Malaysian border in the south where all the trouble seems to be. But wise move to check with the company, and get it in writing if you take their cover, that Bangkok is on their "safe" list.

[briofoz]

Info for those living in Aussie, this site is useful to compare. Don't get your insurance from the travel agents. They cop a big commission..... Compare Travel Insurance, travellers insurance comparison, compare insurance travel, cheapest, budget, insure, companies, Australia (au)

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by t0rn

Probably more expensive than your looking for but the insurance that comes with the Amex Platinum charge card covers you for single trips up to 240 days with very good cover and no excesses. The downside - the card costs £300/year - but it's possible to cover up to 6 families for the one payment (you just have to trust them enough to give them a card linked to your account.

I echo that and have mentioned it before. The vast amounts of coverage and benefits you get with that card is significant. The Medical Evacuation alone has coverage up to $100K. Automobile rental insurance is also covered (Once they took care of a $4200 accident for me), double warranty on many purchases, etc. Expensive on the face, but cheap once you add it all up (and have a us for it).

[LivinLOS]

Amex Black (Centurion) or Visa Infinite.. Loads of free goodies..

Dont thgink my plat gives me much.. Tho they have waived the annual fee every year since I got it so you get what you pay for..

[mega45]

Amex Black (Centurion) .. Loads of free goodies

should have lots of goodies... at £650 annual fee.. very top end card... available for those who have forgot thier wallet when they nip out to buy thier new Lear Jet ! ...LOL

[LivinLOS]

Actually the fees are put there IMO to put off people who are bargain shopping.. In reality the annual fee is also waived..

I dont have an amex black (or any amex) but have been called by my account handler and offered a Visa infinite (dont have it yet but done the forms and they called me so I assume its on its way) as I have been having problems with renewing my regular cards because they dont want a customer based in Thailand.. My bank handler assured me annual fees would be waived.

Access to all the airport VIP lounges for free is a nice perk, as is the insurances etc.. Quite an appealing package (especially for a traveller) that I would even consider paying for if I had to.. Never really looked at what perks a card had in the past, just had whatever they gave me, was surprised to see there was so much.

[t0rn]

Amex Cent in many areas isn't as good as the Platinum card, though some benefits are country specific.
The car insurance is a major benefit when hiring in countries like Thailand when there's usually some doubt as to how good the insurance is (you have insurance number 1 mister, velly good!).
Lounge access makes any trip a little more pleasant - flew UK domestic today on a £30 ticket, flashed my Amex at the lounge and they pretty much lost their profit
The travel insurance is often better than you can, easily, buy - £300 to spend after bags lost for 4 hours, no excess on anything.
Now all I need to do is to try to get them to waive the fee

[LivinLOS]

Never had an amex.. Really I just always took what I was given by the bank without thinking, for the last 5 years or so it was a Visa Plat and I had never looked at what benefits came with it.. For me it was simply a payment method for online or the occasional items.

Only recently as my cards need renewal I found out they wont renew my UK visa cards now based on me residing in Thailand and asia.. Apparently we are to high risk.. Hence I jumped onto my bank and they are sorting this new one as an upgrade.. The thing that grabbed me was the lounge access, but now having read the info theres lots I could use that I had never realized.

[t0rn]

That's the hardest part - keeping track of what you're 'entitled' to - I'm sure I could get more out of it , discovering new stuff all the time - todays one is:
if I get a Brtitish Airways Amex as well and spend £10K in a year then i get a 2 for 1 voucher to spend miles on, need to look into it but really does look like something for nothing.

Main thing for me is good insurance, happy to pay to have a hassle free life

[nelsonone]

my amex platinum (I don't pay fees) gets me access to airport lounges if I use Amex to book my trips but I pretty much always travel business or better.....unless it is a short trip ie less than 3-4 hours.....so lounge use comes with that)........also gets me a two for one deal on business class.....but prices are inflated so it works out at about 1.5 for 1 rather than 2....I get free travel insurance as well but I have worldwide cover for me and all of my employees via our corporate insurance which also covers fleet....so basically all this adds up to a hill of beans

it is good for airpoints though as it accumulates at 2x the rate of any other card........and if used in conjunction with an FF scheme you get some reasonable flights each year with just a couple of return trips to europe from Aus/NZ and some spending in restaurants, bills etc........I think that I get a free trip return to LOS almost every year with my card.......and it is done on value rather than seat availability so I can redeem it any time I want....just tell Amex the dates and they give me a couple of options.............

I've found though that there are hardly any places in LOS where you can use one....and if you do you are likely to get it cloned.....as I have had......twice

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by nelsonone

my amex platinum (I don't pay fees) gets me access to airport lounges if I use Amex to book my trips but I pretty much always travel business or better.....

I am a shocking cheapskate in some things.. I always think biz class for double the money of cattle + a 10 baht xanex..

I've found though that there are hardly any places in LOS where you can use one....and if you do you are likely to get it cloned.....as I have had......twice

Thats what I wondered about AMEX.. Its not as big in Europe either is it ?? VISA seems like the most accepted.

[Captain]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Thats what I wondered about AMEX.. Its not as big in Europe either is it ?? VISA seems like the most accepted.

If you use a card to pay, restaurant/shop has to pay a percentage to the card company. For Visa it seems 3%, Amex 5%, so shopowners prefer Visa as they "lose" 2% less. That is why you see Visa more than Amex.
Also some shops ask an extra 3-5 % if you pay with card.
I know Rock Hard Patong had a sign saying pay the bill with card and it is 3% extra for Visa, 5% extra for Amex. Now it may be 5 and 7%.

[LivinLOS]

That is however against VISA's TOS and the merchant can lose thier VISA account for it..