Travel Insurance help please.

dagsky

Hi can someone who knows better help me out please. Sister is off on holiday on monday and she asked me to find travel insurance for her. Thing is she is visiting 3 countries during her trip so i'm not sure which insurance is suitable (single trip or multi trip) AND she wants something that will cover in her in the event that something happens in those countries and she needs to be flown back home, i think repatriation or something like that! She's going to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.

babyfruitella

She needs a worldwide policy. A single trip one that covers the whole duration she's away.

dagsky

DAMN!! How does one choose between Soooooooo many different companies and policies?! Are there any recommended companies to use? I remember last year for my EU trip coloumbus was pretty much highly rated on here But for this policy they are way more dear than the rest.....

babyfruitella

Try moneysupermarket.com to compare.

davetrousers

Crikey for those countries you'll need to read the small print!

Might be better to speak to somebody on the phone specifying the countries.

HXDave

Dagsky, in all honesty, your sister is better off getting the insurance herself, as it can go in-depth, and ask probing questions in order to ensure the right cover is in place.

as far as who to use - well that is a minefield. the insurance we use is quite good - journey's, however due to FSA regulations we can only sell to those who have booked travel arrangements through our office.

what about her bank - they sometimes do good ones, and i hear a lot go with the post office.

main thin is though is to make sure its done properly, and will cover for what she needs. too many stories these days of brits trapped abroad due to insurance problems!.

mrbadexample

Sorry to butt into your thread OP, but I need some help too.

I'm going to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup next year, with 3 days in Fiji tacked on the end. Is that classed as a worldwide single trip?

Cheers,
MBE

sammilou1968

Have asked for help and if I can't get advice I will be going with Airmiles. Maybe not the cheapest but I know they have the cover I need. They were very helpful when I rang today asking specifics about the policy cover. Have a quick look on their website and ring if necessary? When it's not straightforward it's not always obvious from what you read on the sites

HXDave

Mrbadexample,

a single, worldwide trip insurance policy can be used, however just a few bits of advice:

1. make sure the trip starts from the moment you leave home, and covers for the DATE YOU ARRIVE back into the UK.

2. With doing NZ, and then back through FIJI, i presume you will also be travelling through the states? if this is correct, just be careful which worldwide cover you take. some companies now offer worldwide EXCLUDING USA & CANADA, and worldwide INCLUDING USA & CANADA. basically, because of the cost of medical treatment in North America, policies covering this area are higher priced, so if you are avoiding the area you can get a chearper policy. Even though your journey may only touch down in USA (i presume you will be flying into Los Angeles) and you might only be there for an hour or 2 (which, you will also need to complete ESTA & immigration), you still need cover that will include USA & CANADA.

mrbadexample

HXDave wrote: »

Mrbadexample,

a single, worldwide trip insurance policy can be used, however just a few bits of advice:

1. make sure the trip starts from the moment you leave home, and covers for the DATE YOU ARRIVE back into the UK.

2. With doing NZ, and then back through FIJI, i presume you will also be travelling through the states?

Thanks HXD. As far as I am aware, the flight out is Heathrow to Auckland (not sure if they stop for petrol on the way!) and the return flight from Fiji is direct too. So no going via the states, fortunately.

I'll make sure the policy covers the first and last days too, thanks. The policies seem pretty cheap anyway, so no need to try and trim it back.

HXDave

MrBadexample, whilst your ticket may show direct flight heathrow - auckland (is it the NZ1?), the aircraft cannot fly this, and there will be generally a 'technical stop' en route, in the most cases this is LAX. the reason it just shows the 1 flight is because it is the same aircraft all the way through, and the same flight all the way through, however if you check with your travel provider, and ask them where the aircraft 'touches down', this should give a clearer picture. whilst on the ground at LAX, you normally disembark, thus the need for an ESTA, (even for what is called transitting passengers). This will also probably be the same on the way back from Fiji - it will stop in LAX, you will disembark, transit (ESTA required again), and re-join the same aircraft for the flight back into Heathrow.

i would definitely contact who you have booked the flights with, and seek full clarification of your full routing, more for the ESTA than anything else (as if you turn up for your first flight Heathrow - Auckland without an ESTA, you may well find yourself going nowhere.)