Adventure Travel Insurance - Do You Need Specialty Travel Insurance for an Adventure or Extreme Sports Holiday?
Just as everyone looks forward to their vacation and having a
break from the daily merry go round of work and home, so some people
look forward to adventure during their holiday period. You can
go pony trekking, wind surfing, gliding, mountain climbing, skiing
and snowboarding and scuba diving. These are all active and sometimes
dangerous sports and if you engage in them in a country other than
your own and you have an accident then this could prove incredibly
expensive.
It is always advisable when you go abroad to have travel insurance,
you should also check just exactly what eventualities the policy
covers, and you should keep the policy with you while you are away.
Adventure holidays however, may require a certain type of travel
insurance as most policies do not cover accidents that are the
result of extreme sports. Some companies also have exclusion clauses
for accident and third person liability that happen as a result
of driving in a foreign country. The majority of insurance policies
do not cover existing conditions, particularly if you have suffered
from them in the six months or so before your trip. Many companies
also have age limitations on their policies. So check with your
travel agent and your insurers but you should also make sure that
you always read the small print on any insurance documents.
Mountain and rock climbing can be
quite hazardous and so can pony trekking in certain types of
terrain. Just like skiing and snowboarding, if you have an accident
then you might need rescue services and an air ambulance. These
things can be prohibitively expensive if you don’t have
fully comprehensive cover. Adventure holidays can be great fun,
but besides the usual cover for lost or stolen luggage and currency,
primary medical care and dental pain relief you may also need
the following:
• Cover for rescue services
• Air ambulance cover
• Water rescue services
• Riding, driving cover
• Third party cover
• Insurance against claims for civil or criminal damage
unwittingly caused by you
• Insurance against site closure
• Equipment and classes
Some extreme sports such as wind surfing, scuba diving and skiing/snowboarding
may also need further cover for a company specializing in that
particular area. Water sports in particular often require specialist
companies because they understand what might be involved. You may
also want to consider insurance in case you have to cancel your
trip as a result of a death or something happening to your home.
You may also want cover for an economy ticket back if you have
to stop your holiday early.
Insurance for adventure holidays is best dealt with by companies
which specialize in these type of policies as they will be able
to help you with insurance that is tailored to your individual
needs. It is worth having a look at companies dealing with activity
holiday insurance. If you put that in as a search time then you
will find numbers of companies working in this area and you can
compare what is on offer.