Adventure travel insurance can save you thousands when things don’t go to plan.
Whether you twist a knee and need to be helicoptered out, or have a canceled flight.
Here’s what to look for when choosing adventure travel insurance
Choosing the right travel insurance coverage can be confusing. That’s why we’ve created a Free Adventure Travel Insurance finder, created especially for hiking and adventure trips.
These types of trips often require additional insurance and we have experience with them being fair – not trying to come up with reasons to deny your claim as some other insurance companies.
So whether you’re hiking the Wicklow Way in Ireland, skiing in Colorado, hot air ballooning or hiking the epic Tour du Mont Blanc, you’ll have peace of mind in case the worst happens.
Your Adventure Travel Insurance Checklist
Whether you’re into extreme activities or doing a leisurely coastal hike in Croatia, make sure that your travel insurance policy covers these essentials:
✔ Medical coverage
You can’t always avoid getting sick or injured when traveling. Even a simple case of “the runs” can turn into something far more serious in a short time. The last thing that you want is to be stuck in a bad hospital or unable to cover the medical expense. That’s why you should always opt for good medical coverage on your travel insurance.
Look for one that includes 24/7 hour medical assistance, 365 days a year, since accidents can happen at anytime across different time zones.
✔ Emergency medical evacuation
If you love getting out into the mountains or other remote destinations, good medical evacuation coverage is a must. There are plenty of horror stories about hikers having to spend thousands of dollars to be airlifted out. An injury like a sprained knee can end up being a nightmare. Good adventure travel insurance avoids the stress of wondering ‘what if’ while you enjoy your adventure.
✔ Baggage Loss
Your travel insurance plan should cover lost or stolen baggage and gear. Some policies cover specific gear like cameras, GPS devices and sports equipment. Also, look for a package that includes 24-hour travel assistance. Incidents like lost passports or stolen money can happen at any time – including outside of office hours.
✔ Last-minute trip cancellation insurance
Even the best-laid plans for a vacation can be spoilt by circumstances outside of your control. By ensuring you have coverage for trip cancellation you’ll be able to recoup most if not all the costs of your trip. Note: read the travel policy carefully to ensure that your reason for covering the trip is a valid one for your insurance.
✔ Coverage for emergencies at home means you have to end your vacation sooner than planned
We all dread these phone calls and hope that we never receive them. But in addition to having to deal with a death in the family or family emergency, you don’t want to also have to pay thousands extra to change your flight, so ensure that you’re covered.
✔ International coverage for pandemics
A pandemic can wreak havoc with your travel plans. Ensure that your travel policy covers this – many don’t.
✔ 24/7 Emergency assistance in case of an accident
Recommended Reading: The Best Books to Read Before You Travel.
Related Reading: Group Travel: How to Cope When You Don’t Fit In.