Cancellation Insurance

It happens – you have an accident, you get sick – the friend or partner you’re travelling with has an accident or gets sick, or… and that $2,000 per person cruise is sailing without you. If you haven’t taken out cancellation insurance it might be the last you see of that two thousand.

Naturally, we’re not just talking cruises. It could be airfares to China and an inland trek – or airfares to Greece and two-weeks accommodation – it could be fares back to the Canada for your mother’s birthday. Doesn’t really matter. Bottom-line is you have lost money you didn’t need to lose and which could be fully recoverable if you had taken out trip cancellation insurance.

If you’re booking your holiday through a cruise company or travel agency, invariably they’ll offer to sell you a travel insurance cancellation policy at time of booking. That’s a great time to make pricing comparisons for purchasing direct through the travel insurer. The agents are of course the middle man in the process and do add their commission. By buying direct you can save anything up to 66% on the agents quoted price.

When you’re making your own bookings or arrangements, naturally you’ll be getting quotes and taking out your own cover. Particularly if you are after student or backpacker travel insurance you may have an eye for price over almost anything else. Be aware that with the basic (i.e. medical only) options for travel insurance, trip cancellation is not included.

iTrek provide really cheap travel insurance at a variety of levels. For a cancellation option our Silver level includes up to $10,000 cover for cancellation of pre-paid fees and lost pre-paid deposits, plus the absolutely must haves of unlimited hospital, medical and emergency plus dental, repatriation and emergency cash. If your travel plans require higher cancellation cover, our Gold level covers you to $15,000 and Platinum level provides Unlimited Cancellation Fees and Lost Deposits plus a mass of extras.

Naturally, this cover also kicks in after you’ve started your holiday – say you’ve flown into Nairobi but haven’t started your safari yet or…

As nice as it would be if life fitted in with us and our plans, sometimes it just doesn’t. At those times you don’t have to feel totally devastated at the prospect of having to find the money all over again, having cancellation insurance provides you with the option of re-booking straight away and taking off ASAP.

• Going to be cruising through the Panama? Fifty of the 350 primitive San Blas Islands are inhabited by the Cuna Indians. Key sources of income are the exquisitely stitched Mola Panels and being snapped by tourists at $1 a pop. Each person in the photo is paid $1 so think before you take a crowd shot.
• Think twice before taking photos in temples where people are praying. It can be regarded as highly offensive and you may end up the centre of some very undesirable attention. Ask permission and be prepared to pay a fee if required.