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Hiking insurance

  • 20-06-2019 4:59am
    #1
    kvnt
    Registered Users Posts: 26 ✭


    I'm heading to Italy to the val Grande region for a weeks hike. I'd like to get hiking insurance incase I get hurt. Would like to hear any recommendations from other hikers and what ye use.


Comments

  • #2
    tphase
    Registered Users Posts: 1,043 ✭✭✭tphase


    try the Austrian alpine club, membership includes insurance

    https://aacuk.org.uk/p-membership-2019


  • #3
    SOPHIE THE DOG
    Registered Users Posts: 155 ✭✭SOPHIE THE DOG


    kvnt wrote: »
    I'm heading to Italy to the val Grande region for a weeks hike. I'd like to get hiking insurance incase I get hurt. Would like to hear any recommendations from other hikers and what ye use.

    Try the AA in the UK - covers fell walking up to 2500m - we got it a few years back for a walking holiday in Spain and it was good value - screenshot of a page of the policy wording is attached


  • #4
    SOPHIE THE DOG
    Registered Users Posts: 155 ✭✭SOPHIE THE DOG


    SOPHIE THE DOG wrote: »
    Try the AA in the UK - covers fell walking up to 2500m - we got it a few years back for a walking holiday in Spain and it was good value - screenshot of a page of the policy wording is attached

    I found the attached booklet (follow link below) on the Irish AA website - covers trekking up to 4000m - it's with talking to them
    https://www.theaa.ie/aa/about-us/policy-booklets.aspx


  • #5
    hmmm
    Registered Users Posts: 11,205 ✭✭✭✭hmmm


    I doubt ordinary travel insurance covers rescues, which is why most people buy insurance? You're charged for rescue in many parts of Italy & helicopter rescues are expensive.

    BMC & Austrian would be the usual choices. Austrian covers you for multiple trips, and last time I looked was more expensive as a consequence.


  • #6
    tphase
    Registered Users Posts: 1,043 ✭✭✭tphase


    hmmm wrote: »
    BMC & Austrian would be the usual choices. Austrian covers you for multiple trips, and last time I looked was more expensive as a consequence.
    It's a long time since I used AAC but back then, insurance was included in membership which cost about €45. BMC membership was in or around the same but insurance was extra and was maybe €300-400 for similar cover to that in the AAC policy. As far as I remember it was for a full year and didn't have a restriction on the number of trips


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  • #7
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,418 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    BMC do single trip insurance, you don't have to become a member.


  • #8
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    With the Austrian Alpine Club, you often get discounts in huts for accommodation with your membership card, as well as a nice newsletter every quarter.


  • #9
    kvnt
    Registered Users Posts: 26 ✭kvnt


    Thanks for all the replies, in the end I went for the Austrian alpine club (uk) as I think this is perfect for my trip. I think if i was travelling out side Europe i would definitely get BMC


  • #10
    CelticRambler
    Registered Users Posts: 6,695 ✭✭✭CelticRambler


    SOPHIE THE DOG wrote: »
    Try the AA in the UK - covers fell walking up to 2500m

    For the sake of others who come upon this thread, be careful of that altitude limit when taking out an Irish or GB issued policy - it's really easy to get above 2500m in the Alps. There's a place in Italy I've been to a few times where the starting point for a whole series of circuits is at 2000m and you'd see families with children there out for their Sunday stroll up to 3000-3500m and not give it a second thought.


  • #11
    Mjedl
    Registered Users Posts: 54 ✭✭Mjedl


    campbell-irvine in the UK
    https://www.campbellirvinedirect.com/CIDirect/
    got it recently for my wife going to Peru , has the height covered and helicopter extraction if you want it


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  • #12
    bwalsh1983
    Registered Users Posts: 254 ✭✭bwalsh1983


    Same questions here - handy tips in the above.

    I was looking at the Club Alpino Italiano in term of joining in case of rescue requirements but it seems impenetrable!

    BMC the recommendation for a single trip which will include above 2500m then?


  • #13
    kvnt
    Registered Users Posts: 26 ✭kvnt


    Try the Austrian alpine club uk

    I had insurance for.my.trip last week, but where I was hiking had no phone coverage. If I had got hurt it would have taken hours for rescue


    bwalsh1983 wrote: »
    Same questions here - handy tips in the above.

    I was looking at the Club Alpino Italiano in term of joining in case of rescue requirements but it seems impenetrable!

    BMC the recommendation for a single trip which will include above 2500m then?


  • #14
    bwalsh1983
    Registered Users Posts: 254 ✭✭bwalsh1983


    kvnt wrote: »
    Try the Austrian alpine club uk

    I had insurance for.my.trip last week, but where I was hiking had no phone coverage. If I had got hurt it would have taken hours for rescue

    will do - thanks for the tip


  • #15
    bwalsh1983
    Registered Users Posts: 254 ✭✭bwalsh1983


    Trying to put this to bed and book our cover here - the Austrian Alpine Club seems to cover helicopter evac. if that arose. It is unlikely but lets say a broken ankle or the likes when far from a populated spot then it makes sense. However it states it is not travel insurance. It would really just be for he search and rescue/emergency issue.

    The AA travel insurance covers trekking up to 4000m so covers us also. It does however explicitly state it excludes search and rescue.

    Is it a case of getting both?


  • #16
    kvnt
    Registered Users Posts: 26 ✭kvnt


    bwalsh1983 wrote: »
    Trying to put this to bed and book our cover here - the Austrian Alpine Club seems to cover helicopter evac. if that arose. It is unlikely but lets say a broken ankle or the likes when far from a populated spot then it makes sense. However it states it is not travel insurance. It would really just be for he search and rescue/emergency issue.

    The AA travel insurance covers trekking up to 4000m so covers us also. It does however explicitly state it excludes search and rescue.

    Is it a case of getting both?

    If travelling in Europe would your European health insurance card not cover for any medical treatment in hospital. If you had to transported home I'm guessing you would need insurance for this.


  • #17
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    bwalsh1983 wrote: »
    Trying to put this to bed and book our cover here - the Austrian Alpine Club seems to cover helicopter evac. if that arose. It is unlikely but lets say a broken ankle or the likes when far from a populated spot then it makes sense. However it states it is not travel insurance. It would really just be for he search and rescue/emergency issue.

    The AA travel insurance covers trekking up to 4000m so covers us also. It does however explicitly state it excludes search and rescue.

    Is it a case of getting both?

    The thing to remember that if an accident takes place in the Alps, the likelihood is that a helicopter will be called to rescue you, it's not like here, where the local mountain rescue team will assemble and carry you out.
    Helicopters are expensive, and you will be billed for the cost, but you are right, cover with the Austrian Alpine Club isn't travel insurance as such.


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