Whenever I contemplate insurance, I conjure up an image of a gaunt fellow, tapping away at his Commodore 64 while repeatedly typing 55378008 into his calculator, then gleefully spinning it round before giggling profusely at the never ending novelty factor it presents.
This image didn’t really inspire me to delve into the 147m websites that Google volunteered, to rummage for that killer deal- the mythical policy that covers me for ailments ranging from broken fingernails to the inevitable bout of elephantiasis. Then there’s the obvious experience of having my camera pinched by a rogue yeti, before being kidnapped by a herd of Japanese schoolgirls. The difficulty I have in buying any kind of insurance, is that you can’t actually see it. When I’m spending circa £250 on something, I like to be able to show it off. I’m not sure “fancy coming back to mine to check out my latest policy. Grrrr” has that ability, even when coupled with lashings of English charm.
For those of you in search of that elusive killer deal, I implore you to stop. Right now. Halt. Stop right there, Sunny Jim. There’s hardly any point, in my humble opinion. In the world of insurance, if it seems too good to be true it almost definitely is as you generally get what you pay for. I got quotes from millions of different companies (ok, about 10). The key factors for me, were that I needed to insure my digital SLR camera and associated components for <£750 as well as needing a flexible policy to compliment my open-ended schedule. As if that wasn't enough, I also wanted to find a company that I was confident was still going to be around should I need to claim.
If you'd like to cut out all the mind numbing boredom of searching for that policy then here's my advice;
- First of all, grab a brew and read this thread on Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree
- Consider what you need to cover in real terms, check the insurers maximum cover for a single item. Gather all receipts and entrust them to someone before you go.
- Consider the length of your policy- some policies are void as soon as you hit home soil.
- Be completely honest with yourself and the insurance company, it probably won’t cost you anything short term but in the longterm it could save you time, money and stress.
- Stay positive, the policy is there to help. If you have a query, email the company, this also gives a good indication as to the level of service you’ll receive should you take a policy out with them.
- Never travel without it- seriously, this is the most stupid thing you can do! Sure, you can replace iPods and cameras but you can’t replace the £30,000 cost to air lift you home. It can happen.
Personally, I’m proud to announce that I’ve opted for World Nomads. They were able to accommodate me on every single level I needed. They answered every question I had of them with an attitude that I could relate to, while operating a confident and ambitious brand. I considered everything that was important to me, as mentioned the D-SLR and the slim chance that I’ll be kidnapped by those Japanese school girls (god forbid), and their policy suits me down to the ground.
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After World Nomads realised trailofants.com had the most sophisticated readers in the land, they sent me a golden fleece to warm the cockles of our hearts. If you have fully researched your own insurance needs, (or you just can’t be bothered and trust my advice) and are happily planning on utilising World Nomads, then treat yourself to a 6% discount by entering the promotion code “TRLANT” when you’re applying for your policy, or quote. Absolutely no strings attached, and the saving should buy you a few beers on me.
