Comparison of Travel Insurance

If you're new to the world of travel insurance, then here are a few helpful hints to get you started. It may be your first trip overseas, and the first time you've even had to think about travel insurance. On the other hand you may be a frequent traveller, and one who either thinks that travel insurance is a waste of money, or who goes for the insurance package offered by your travel agent without even questioning it. If you think you fit into one of these categories then read on.

Buying travel insurance is one of the best decisions you can make when planning for any overseas trip. Unless you have a sixth sense then you have no way of knowing exactly what may or may not happen to you, and when. This is a fact of life, and is the reason why we purchase any insurance at all, whether it's health, life, home or car insurance. You wouldn't go without any of these at home, so why would you consider leaving yourself unprotected when you're in a completely foreign country?

If you have an accident overseas without travel insurance, whether it is with your health, your luggage, your flights or your money, you could find yourself stuck in a foreign place with your pockets emptying and no one to help you out. This is why travel insurance is so crucial, as it covers you for all of the things that would normally be covered at home, and more.

So why would you need to compare travel insurance? Why not simply purchase the package deal offered by your travel agent? This may seem easy at the time, but travel agents charge up to 50% commission when you buy their travel insurance policies. When you buy direct from the insurer, like with iTrek, you are not paying any extra commission, which means you are paying up to half the price. Furthermore, by providing internet-based insurance iTrek saves money on overheads, meaning we can sell our policies for even less.

When you compare travel insurance policies, the first thing you should look for is health and medical coverage, which all of iTrek's policies cover to an unlimited amount. One of the most difficult experiences is having a medical accident overseas, because you will not only be dealing with a painful and frustrating situation, but with a foreign language and currency and some pretty hefty bills for medical fees and emergency assistance. This will not only completely ruin your holiday, but can leave you struggling with debt even months after you have returned home.

When deciding between the other levels of cover, the best thing to do is take a moment to consider the type of traveller you are, the amount of money invested into your trip, your destination and the belongings you are taking with you. By doing this you should realize whether you need additional cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits, or for your luggage and personal effects, and can make a more informed decision on the level of cover that is best for you. It's easy to compare travel insurance, and can end up saving you hundreds, so next time your travel agent offers you insurance just say no!