Simple Strategies for Travel Insurance
- By: Mike Strom

Data can prove that there is no correlation between traveling locally or internationally, there are certain risks and uncertainties you have to contend with along the way. Traveling near or outside one's country cannot prevent thoughts of uncertainty, most trips always have fears attached with them.Assumptions of safety based upon traveling within one's country may be wrong, there are always risks and uncertainties to be faced along the way. Guard these thoughts in your mind that there are bound to be suspicions and risks with traveling outside or even within your country of residence. That's why purchasing travel insurance for any of such trips is highly recommended. The good thing about travel insurance is that it will cover you in almost all areas until you get back to your home.

Always have it at the back of your mind that something unpleasant can happen while you are away on any journey. Also, since you will be far away from home on such journeys, it's critical to prepare financially. All such travel related circumstances are covered by travel insurance. Travel insurance is readily obtainable from lots of banks and most especially, the insurance companies. Most people get per-trip travel insurance which has the tendency to effectively cover all issues that might occur from the point of departure to the point or re-entry into one's country of residence. There are certain travel insurance that you can buy which are specifically for risky countries you might want to travel to, or risky behavior you might want to engage in while you are away on such travels.

Travel insurance for holidays at home – worth considering?
by: Keith McGregor

Most cheap travel insurance bought in the UK is aimed at people resident in the UK and indeed, will require customers to indicate that they have lived in the UK for a period of six months. It is also a fact that most people buy travel insurance for trips and holidays abroad but insurers do offer policies for travel just within the UK. It is not uncommon to find that Ireland will be included in this definition. The big advantage of UK only cover is that the premiums can be ridiculously low - well below £5 for a 3 day break is very common place. But is it worth taking out in the first place? The answer really depends on the type of holiday planned, the length of stay and whether you want to accept the risk of not being covered if something does go wrong. It is also worth remembering that UK travel insurance cover is generally included if you take out the more expensive Europe of Worldwide cover, though do check the small print rather than assuming that this is always the case. A Europe or Worldwide annual multi-trip travel insurance policy will be more expensive as an initial payment up front but will cover you for an unlimited number of trips abroad, and in the UK, throughout the year, provided the length of stay of each trip does not exceed the policy limit, normally around 31 days away per trip.

So is a UK travel insurance policy worth considering? Probably yes if only one or two short breaks a year are planned and it will be very inexpensive to purchase for the cover provided. This can be very useful should you subsequently cancel a trip, say for illness, as your holiday costs will be reimbursed subject to any excesses to pay. Your personal effects will probably be covered too which is an important point to consider as theft and loss is not just confined to holidays on the ‘Costas’ – these things happen at home too. What you will almost certainly not be covered for will be for medical emergencies and expenses as insurers argue that the NHS is available for such instances and will point out that travel insurance is not a substitute for private medical insurance. The lack of medical cover in UK only travel insurance policies is the main reason why insurers can offer these policies for the very low prices on offer.

On balance, travel insurance for UK holidays and short breaks is probably a good buy for those holidaymakers who tend to stay at home for their breaks away and there is an increasing number of people who are doing this. One final word of warning though is do check the small print as many, if not most, insurers do require you to have proof of booked accommodation for a minimum stay of normally 2 nights away for the policy to be in force so the Sunday ‘trip out’ is definitely outside this definition!