Family Travel Insurance

Travelling with children can be loads of fun, but there’s no denying that it can also be stressful. According to smartraveller.gov.au, travel insurance is essential for anyone heading overseas, and families are no exception.¹https://smartraveller.gov.au/guide/all-travellers/insurance/pages/choice-travel-insurance-cheat-sheet.aspx

Accidents happen, people get sick, natural disasters strike, flights get cancelled – all of these things can leave you stranded in another country and out of pocket financially.

What to look for in a family travel insurance policy?

To gain an understanding of what is covered and policy limitations you should review the Product Disclosure Statement. Travel insurance policies will usually cover:

• Medical expenses for injury or illness
• Cover for specified activities you might be doing on your trip, for example skiing or water sports
• Theft of some valuables
• Loss or damage to baggage
• Some cancellations and delays for flight and other travel plans (including connecting flights)
• Certain circumstances forcing the cancellation of your trip pre-departure

How to find suitable travel insurance for your family

All policies are different, however a family travel insurance policy usually covers one or two adults who live at the same address, plus at least one child aged 18 or under who permanently lives with you.

Some insurers may include dependents who aren’t in full-time work up to the age of 21 under a family travel insurance policy. Insurers vary on the number of children they will allow under a family travel policy, so for larger family groups – or if you’re travelling with another family – it can sometimes be worth investigating group travel insurance.

When looking for a family travel insurance policy, you should always review the Product Disclosure Statement. Here are some of the things you may wish to compare:

• Policy premiums and differences between basic and comprehensive cover
• Any payout limits
• Restrictions on the age and number of children included
• Amount of cover for lost or stolen belongings
• If pre-existing medical conditions are covered and which ones will be covered
• What activities are or aren’t included, and any additional costs for activities like skiing or watersports

Other tips for travelling with children

Showing your kids the world is one of the best gifts you can give them. And with a little bit of preparation, travelling with children can be fun for everyone. Here’s some tips to make your trip more calm than chaotic:

• Choose your accommodation wisely: Self-contained apartments or interconnecting hotel rooms can give everyone a little bit more space and facilities for cooking, watching tv etc.
• Pack light: Try to find a balance between bringing what you need and not having too many bags. When you need to be able to wrangle small children, fewer bags is always better.
• Hire equipment: Instead of lugging baby gear like strollers, cots and highchairs through airports and train stations, investigate what you can hire at your destination.
• Make time for everyone: Aim for a mix of adult-centric and child-centric activities, for example, art gallery in the morning then playground in the afternoon.
• Bring entertainment: A few toys, some colouring and activity books, something to read and, dare we say it, a tablet loaded with some favourite shows for when the going gets tough, can make a real difference to fractured moods during long journeys.
• Be prepared with snacks: well-fed kids are happy kids. A supply of familiar snacks can keep everyone content and might make them more likely to try new and different foods if they know there’s a safe fall back option.
• Pay attention to hygiene: Travellers’ diarrhea isn’t fun for anyone, least of all small children. Avoid risky foods, be careful with water and wash hands frequently.
• Stay healthy: Visit your doctor before you go to discuss travel vaccinations, and also check rules around any medications your child may take – for example, medication used to treat ADHD is restricted in some countries.

Compare travel quotes for your family with iSelect

Prior to making a decision on a travel insurance product, ensure you review the Product Disclosure Statement which explains features and limitations of the cover.

Looking for peace of mind before you travel? With iSelect you can easily compare travel insurance quotes online from our range of providers.