Do you take out Travel Insurance when you go on holidays?

boardsie08

Ok, so how many people really take out Travel Insurance when they go on holidays?

Travel Agents make it seem like it's a neccessity and that you're doomed without it, but is that really the case?

How many of you wouldn't dream of going away without making sure you're adequately insured for all eventualities prior to travelling, or conversely how many of you think it's an un-neccessary added expense on your holiday total, a cheap, gimmicky way for insurance companies and travel agents to make a quick buck?

Also, if you have never taken out travel insurance did you ever happen apon an incidence whereby you wished you had taken out travel insurance?

If you do regularly take out travel insurance, did an incidence ever arise whereby you were glad you had the foresight to take it out? If you made a claim, how did you get on? Would you reccommend the insurance company in question?

Also, leave praise/criticism for any travel insurance companies you've previously dealt with.

Thanks!

shiibata

do annual family insurance as travel frequently, wife was very sick 4 years ago with tonsilitis, bills all came to €500+:eek: just sent all receipts offf to claim it back, got money back in no time at all, few other things since as well and get money back no problem... well worth it

boardsie08

That's great to hear Shiibata (not your wifes illness that is! lol) but that you got your claims dealt with so efficiently and problem free - alas I've been reading mostly horror stories about peoples claims being rejected, too many loop holes and get out clauses for the insurer etc..

Care to mention which company this was that has served you so well in the past? this thread hopefully may become a good reference for people when choosing travel insurance companies

SuperStarHoney

Myself and my husband normally always get travel insurance now to be on the safe side, however when I was younger I did a few holidays without any.

We normally purchase an annual multi trip policy, never had need to claim yet, thank god.

shiibata

boardsie08 wrote: »

Care to mention which company this was that has served you so well in the past? this thread hopefully may become a good reference for people when choosing travel insurance companies

Nearly 99% sure its bank of ireland insurance, the missus is away to bulgaria yesterday with all the documentation..

scargill

boardsie08 wrote: »

Travel Agents make it seem like it's a neccessity and that you're doomed without it, but is that really the case?

The insurance sold by travel agents for one trip is going to be expensive. you are better off buying annual travel insurance from the likes of insure.ie or 123.ie

how much did your travel agent quote you ?

Fanfan

Budget travel wouldnt give me my tickets untill i proved that i had travel insurance is this allowed?!

boardsie08

scargill wrote: »

The insurance sold by travel agents for one trip is going to be expensive. you are better off buying annual travel insurance from the likes of insure.ie or 123.ie

how much did your travel agent quote you ?

For the last holiday I was booking the Travel Agent was pushing for insurance which was E100 Per person for the 14 nights. Needless to say I declined.

I have to admit in the past I never bothered with Travel Insurance, however last year I had an accident whilst I was holiday which resulted with me being in hospital for the duration and undergoing multiple operations. Luckily though it was in Europe and I had my European Health Card with me, so I was covered, I dread to think what the bill would have been otherwise..

GeturGun

I used never bother with Travel Insurance until one year my folks were on holidays and some fella had a brain haemorrhage and no insurance. It was going to cost him an absolute fortune. That story stuck with me and I will always get travel insurance now.

I always get an annual policy too, cos I like to do a fair few short trips during the year, and don't have to think about whether I'm insured. This year I went with Quinn.
Will probably go with them for a 2 week trip to the US later in the year.
Although after I took out the policy I discovered that it's actually cheaper - as a single person anyway - to get one annual worldwide policy than one annual Europe + one single worldwide. D'oh!!!
Can't say what Quinn are like tho cos I've never claimed from them.

On the travel agents thing, I know at least one that used to insist that you took their insurance and used to make you pay for it whether you wanted it or not - "it was included in the price" I dunno if they are allowed to do this anymore. [If u take out a mortgage, the bank is not allowed to make u take their mortgage protection or their home insurance] So if this practice hasn't been outlawed with travel agents, it should be. I worked with a guy years ago who was spending thousands on a honeymoon and the agent was trying to get him to take the insurance. So he cancelled! They gave up a huge bit of business by not backing down. :rolleyes:

skibum

We have a family multi trip policy that covers us and the car while abroad. Very good value with all the normal coverage etc for €108 per year.

I personally wouldn't go with out cover.

lord lucan

i've an annual policy too for me and the missus. wouldn't travel without it. we were on our way to miami via chicago for a caribbean cruise a couple of years ago and got stuck in o'hare(chicago) due to a massive thunderstorm. they cancelled all flights to miami and we had to stay overnight at a motel and ultimately couldn't get a flight the next morning and missed the cruise. our luggage went AWOL for 3 days as we decided to head to new york for the week so we had to buy some new clothes.

when we got home we claimed for the missed cruise and clothes(kept the receipts). we got sorted out for that by our travel insurance. i chanced my arm with claiming for the hotel in NY but they were having none of it!!!

i'd never go travelling without adequate insurance.

penexpers

Fanfan wrote: »

Budget travel wouldnt give me my tickets untill i proved that i had travel insurance is this allowed?!

Yes this is allowed. I booked with Brittany Ferries and the story was the same. But the important thing is that you don't have to take their travel insurance.