Travel Insurance Around Europe - The American's Guide To Getting Covered
If you've decided to spend the next few weeks seeing the history
and beauty that Europe has to offer, you're going to need travel
insurance. While this might seem like one more expense on an already
expensive trip, it is very important to get insured. While you
might not suffer anything more traumatic than getting your luggage
lost, it is still possible that you might end up hurt or sick in
a foreign country, and if you do, you'll be in much better shape
if you know exactly how you're going to pay for it!
The first thing to consider is what kind of trip you're going
to be taking. Are you going to be dining every night in the very
best restaurants that London has to offer, or do you prefer hiking
in the through the French countryside? Are you going to be sailing
or swimming? You may be surprised at the sheer variety of specific
insurance policies that are available, and this all works to serve
you better.
Once you have your plan picked out, try to decide if you want
a single policy purchased for a certain set of dates, or if you
want a multitrip travel policy. If you end up traveling out of
the country several times, a multitrip travel policy will serve
you better and more comprehensively than numerous other travel
policies will.
It is best to plan your insurance policy well in advance of the
trip, if possible. The earlier you decide what you want, the better
your rates will be. While it is possible to get insurance up to
the very moment you leave, it's not very wise, so be smart and
plan ahead.
If the worst happens and you end up having to file a claim, keep
all the paperwork that you are given. If you have been robbed,
make sure you have a copy of the police report and if you needed
medical attention, make sure you keep the documentation. Some travel
insurance providers will even let you file a claim online, so be
sure to do that as soon as possible. If you are in a non-English
speaking country, ask if they have a copy of the forms involved
in English, but don't surprised if they are not available. Remember
to keep these documents with you anyway, but be prepared to produce
a credit card receipt or something similar if your insurance company
asks for more documentation.
No matter what happens on your vacation, even if you get your
wallet stolen, or you fall and break your ankle, or your tour company
goes belly-up and you can't finish your tour, with travel insurance,
you will find that you can salvage something.