Smartraveller.gov.au – the Federal Government’s online resource for safe travel – highly recommends you take out travel insurance before you go on a trip.
We go one step above this by encouraging you to take out the right travel insurance. While there’s no doubt it’s an integral purchase for your travels, you should make sure the policy you take out is appropriate to your needs, budget and travels.
To get extra value from your travel insurance, it’s a good idea to purchase your cover as soon as you book your flights or pay any deposits, as most higher coverage travel insurance policies offer cancellation cover that commences on the purchase date. By purchasing travel insurance as soon as possible, you can be covered in case you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen events.
When shopping around, consider looking for a policy that covers who you are and what you’re doing on your trip. As such, we’ve detailed some examples below:
When travelling with your family, you have more belongings to insure, more bodies that could fall ill and more unforeseen situations you can’t pre-empt. Travel insurance for families can cover your whole brood under one policy.
You may think that your pregnancy limits your eligibility for travel insurance, but that’s not entirely true. You can get cover depending on how far along you are and whether you’ve had any complications. See how travel insurance can cover you when travelling while pregnant.
When travelling as a senior citizen, there may be additional hoops you need to jump through prior to departure to get coverage for your journey. Don’t let your age stop you from globetrotting and check out travel insurance for seniors.
Feel the call of the open ocean? Domestic and international cruises can be covered by travel insurance, though typically you have to purchase additional cover. See how you can be financially protected at sea and beyond with travel insurance for holidays.
Travelling in a group? Everyone can be covered for the same activities and events, both before and after you depart, with travel insurance for groups.
Younger travellers are always keen to explore and experience new things. They needn’t worry about cost because travel insurance for students is designed for budget-conscious #wanderers.
If the wild calls to you, then you should at least make sure you’re aware of what you will and won’t be covered for on your epic adventure. See how travel insurance for backpackers can financially protect you, so you can focus on the fun.
If you’re hitting the slopes on your holiday, you should consider snow sports or ski insurance. This optional extra on your travel insurance can cover things like winter sports, piste closures, ski equipment hire and medical treatment.
Medical only travel insurance provides cover for emergency medical treatment while overseas, without the other components typically included in a travel insurance policy. Read more about reciprocal healthcare agreements and travel insurance for medical only.
If you’re overseas and zooming through foreign roads on a motorcycle, scooter, moped or Vespa, you should consider getting covered with travel insurance for motorcycles.
This type of insurance can financially protect you or your group if you cause damages, injury or loss to someone or their property while overseas. See how you can be covered overseas with personal liability cover in travel insurance.
Did you know you can purchase insurance specific to surfing trips? Out in the deep blue things can go wrong, but you can financially protect yourself with travel insurance for surfers before you hang ten.
When unforeseen circumstances hit, it can leave your travel arrangements in a state of disarray. Something that can cushion the blow financially is travel insurance for travel delays and cancellations.
A working holiday is a great way to pay for an exciting new adventure. However, unexpected medical bills could compromise or cut your trip short. Travel insurance for working holidays can cover you and keep you exploring.
