Sure, I’ll ensure I insure

by Ant Stone on May 9, 2007

in Insurance,Pre-Trip Planning

It’s taken me a long time to realise this, but I think we’re at the stage where I can trust you not to go telling the world my secret;

My name is Anthony Stone, I’m 24 and I am a travel addict.

I spent nearly 2 hours yesterday reading a 2.5 year old thread on travel insurance. To save you the hassle I can summarise, use World Nomads or STA Travel. I know this contradicts yesterdays post about STA being overtly expensive (£795p/a!), but being a never-stay-down kind of guy, I rang them back and made a fresh enquiry. I spoke to the splendidly flirtatious Vicky about the pro’s and con’s (explaining my camera quandary) of the different packages she had experienced and she then proceeded to provocatively depress the buttons on her pink calculator before flicking her hair back (in slow motion) and relaying the price as a much more attractive, £274 (12mths exc USA).

This flummoxed me, I must admit so I hastily explained my burning desires to her; I had to shop around, it’s in my nature. So I knocked on the www’s and found my way to World Nomads who quoted me £254.55. Cheap(er). But here’s the catch, the camera’s worth nearly £600 and Nomads only cover you up to £400 while STA cover up to £500. As I’ve written this I’ve had a brainwave, the beauty of an SLR is that it’s TWO different components; a body and a lens. So if it did get stolen (touch wood), I could claim for them both separately and be covered for the full cost? I’ll let you know how that one pans out. Maybe I’ll ask the forum? In fact I will, then I’ll stare at it for the next two hours in the vain hope that someone out there might reply and then I’ll hug the screen and call the lovely Vicky and share my fantasies with her, about the forum.

If you are reading this post hoping to get an insight into travel insurance, weighing up whether or not to buy it (as I was) then trust me; it is

probably the most important waste of money you’ll ever fork out.

Just read through that thread for countless stories of people who have saved five figure $’s on hospital fee’s. It can happen to anyone and is worth that extra bit of saving.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Craig May 10, 2007 at 7:54 am

In the event of a claim, most insurers would argue that the body and lens count as a single item. Swines.

You might get away with it, but don’t count on it.

Here’s another idea… Essential Travel offer an annual backpackers policy @ £169.99, which covers items upto just £250 for a single item. Then take out specialist cover for the camera with E&L (www.eandl.co.uk), around £35 for 12 months worldwide, £750 cover.

Craig May 10, 2007 at 8:11 am

Oh… i’ve just found a cheaper travel cover option with http://www.247travelinsurance.co.uk – £123.32 for their premier cover. Seems to offer a suitable level of cover. (But you still need that additional camera policy)

Thats around £160 combined.

I’m a thrifty little fucker, eh?

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