Travel insurance and booking flights

amictus · 2 January 2011 at 11:16AM

I'm planning to go to Malaysia for three weeks over Easter (see my thread) and was hoping to book flights as soon as I have decided where I want to visit. Do I need to get travel insurance before I do this? Or would it still be valid if I just sort this out some time before I travel? Will the chosen start date cover pre-booked flights/holidays?

Thanks!

withabix · 2 January 2011 at 11:22AM

Insurance ONLY needs to be in place before a claim event takes place. If YOU consider there is any risk, take out the insurance now.

To be on the safe side, why not get an annual policy - it probably won't cost any more than a single trip policy for a 3 week holiday.

whatmichaelsays · 2 January 2011 at 12:40PM

withabix wrote: »

Insurance ONLY needs to be in place before a claim event takes place. If YOU consider there is any risk, take out the insurance now.

To be on the safe side, why not get an annual policy - it probably won't cost any more than a single trip policy for a 3 week holiday.

Provided that no issues arise before you need to make a claim.

For example, you couldn't take out insurance to cover for the effects of industrial action after that action has been announced.

Enterprise_1701C · 2 January 2011 at 1:14PM

The best bet is to take out the travel insurance as soon as you have the dates confirmed, we have done it both as soon as we have booked and some weeks later, it makes no difference so long as nothing happens in the meantime. Don't forget that you need different cover if you are going to undertake high-risk activities such as diving (not snorkelling), quad biking, parascending etc.