The prospect of staying at a new hotel in Bangkok can easily make travel planning exciting and something to look forward to. But you know what else will make your holiday even more exciting? Travel Insurance. Sure, many tourists may consider it an added expense but think of it as your first line of defence for any surprises during your trip.
Trip Cancellation
You planned your holiday for so long, but an unexpected event happened, and you now have to cancel your trip. Does this mean losing everything you paid for upfront?
- If you bought travel insurance with a trip cancellation coverage, you may not have to lose everything.
- Depending on the coverage, you may recover travel costs fully or partially, which is better than zero.
- The policy may also be in effect for situations where you need to cut your trip short or what is known as a trip interruption. For instance, you may have to return home halfway through your trip because a family member is sick.
Sickness or Injury
- If you or a travel companion becomes sick or injured while travelling, the right travel insurance can provide reimbursement for prepaid and non-refundable travel costs. The same can be applied if you have to return home because of a family emergency back home.
- Travel insurance may also cover medical expenses or any other costs incurred if you are injured during the trip. This is something health insurance plans don’t usually cover if the injury happens internationally.
- If you have to cut your trip short because of your injury, you can expect to be reimbursed for the portion of your holiday that you missed.
Travel Delays and Natural Disasters
Even with the best strategies to attract world tourists, popular tourist destinations like Thailand can’t protect visitors from everything. Flight delays and adverse weather conditions or natural disasters are beyond anyone’s control. Which is why the best course of action is to prepare for them with appropriate insurance.
- Check that insurance protects you against flight cancellations and travel delays due to natural disasters or unexpected events.
- Depending on the policy, the same insurance can protect you against traffic accidents, lost or stolen passports and similar events.
Baggage Concerns
You can’t wait to go on a 1-day canoe and kayak tour package in Phuket only to find out that your baggage is lost, delayed, or, worse, stolen.
- Travel insurance can pay for the necessary items while waiting for your luggage to arrive.
- You may receive full or partial compensation if your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen.
Timing Is Everything
From maximum and optimum benefits, it’s important that you get travel insurance at the right time.
- Buy insurance as soon as you’ve made all the arrangements and prepaid some of the costs. This way, you know that the policy can cover the full costs of your trip, should you need to claim later.
- Don’t wait until the last minute or before the date of your trip to get insurance as this may be too late. If you planned your holiday a year ahead, put off buying insurance until a week before, but you have to cancel six months later, you won’t get compensation.
With the benefits you can enjoy from buying travel insurance, make it a point to buy one every time you go on a trip. The goal is to travel with peace of mind and fully enjoy your stay at the Valia, knowing that you’re covered for any eventuality.
