Travel Insurance for Solo Travellers

It’s possible to get travel insurance if you’ve already left the country, but your options could be limited. For instance, you might get stuck with a strict excess that you can’t change. Also, you may need to meet certain conditions, like only having been overseas for less than 14 days. Further, even once you’ve purchased the policy, you may have to get through a no-cover period, like 48 hours, before you can make any claims.

You might still have a cooling off period, even if you’ve purchased your travel insurance a little late. However, you could only be able to get money back if you haven’t made a claim using your cover.

While sometimes it can’t be avoided, in future you might find it less stressful to sort out your travel insurance before you step foot on the plane. Just after you’ve booked your flights or started paying any deposits can be a good time to sort this out.

As the saying goes, ‘Luck favours the prepared.’ And being prepared for your trip could mean you get to see and do more of what you’ve been looking forward to.

• Batten down that budget: Getting around on your own dime can mean it’s more important than ever to keep track of your spending and where you choose to put your dollars. Setting a figure early and assigning yourself a daily limit could help avoid overspending or finding yourself without any cash.
• Research your accommodation: Do your future self a favour and have a place to stay booked before you hop off the plane. If not that, at least have a shortlist of places you can pick from. Factoring in how you’ll get to your accommodation could also be a good move.
• Pack light: What you’ll need to bring can vary depending on your trip, but trying to keep your luggage to just the essentials could make it easier to keep track of your belongings plus leave plenty of room for souvenirs.
• Remember, safety first: It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday vibe, but being on your own in a different place could mean you aren’t as well-attuned to risks as you normally would be. You may even be viewed as an easier target and therefore a little more vulnerable.  Being a bit more cautious could help you stay out of trouble.

• Try different tables: From bringing a book to the table to joining a communal meal, there are lots of ways to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mixing up your mealtimes can help you discover new friends and places to explore, plus create lifelong fond memories.

If you’re going on a trip, you should seriously consider travel insurance. While you can cross your fingers and hope nothing goes wrong on your trip, there’s no guarantee. But travel insurance could help give you greater peace of mind than a few crossed digits (and be a lot more useful).

You might also find that your travel plans line up with certain kinds of travel insurance. For instance, if you’re all about ski slopes and snowboards, a winter sports package may be the kind of travel insurance you’re after. On the other hand, if it’s been your dream to travel Europe on the back of a motorbike, a motorcycle package may be more up your alley

For those who want to kick back on a cruise, there’s even special cruise travel insurance policies available.  

Your excess is the amount you’ll need to pay when making a claim. So, if you had an excess of $500 for medical expenses and a medical bill of $1,000, you’d need to pay $500 before your insurer would cover the rest. Of course, your insurer may have an upper limit as to what they cover, no matter what your excess is.

Your excess isn’t necessarily set in stone though. Depending on your policy, insurer, and when you purchase the policy, you could be able to change your excess. This might come with an additional fee, though. Alternatively, you could seek out policies that offer benefits with $0 excesses.