Multi Policy Travel Insurance

owls1867

Hi all -

Just a quick question. 

I am going travelling in October to 4 different countries over a 6 week period. I am not spending anymore than 2 weeks in one location before I move on to somewhere else. (Japan / Vietnam / Laos / Thailand). 

Would I be covered using annual multi policy type of insurance or would I need specific backpacking? 

I am presuming that the Multi Policy would be sufficient in my case as I am only spending a short period of time in each country? I can't see why I wouldn't be covered in my circumstances with this type of insurance, but thought I would check.

Thanks, Tom 

Voyager2002

You should take out ONE policy covering multiple destinations.

If you complete the proposal form for any travel insurance (whether annual or single trip) you will be asked where you plan to go. Ensure that all the countries in your trip are included.

DullGreyGuy

owls1867 said:

Hi all -

Just a quick question. 

I am going travelling in October to 4 different countries over a 6 week period. I am not spending anymore than 2 weeks in one location before I move on to somewhere else. (Japan / Vietnam / Laos / Thailand). 

Would I be covered using annual multi policy type of insurance or would I need specific backpacking? 

I am presuming that the Multi Policy would be sufficient in my case as I am only spending a short period of time in each country? I can't see why I wouldn't be covered in my circumstances with this type of insurance, but thought I would check.

Thanks, Tom 

Presumably you arent returning to the UK between each country in which case you need either a single trip policy for the whole trip or a annual policy which is able to cover a single trip of up to 42 days (some are limited to 28 days). 

How are you moving between the countries? Its not uncommon for Travel insurance to only cover a missed/cancelled/delayed flight if its your outbound or return journey and they dont cover mid holiday you missing one of your flights (though will cover the cost of the flight if the whole trip is cancelled)

owls1867

DullGreyGuy said:

owls1867 said:

Hi all -

Just a quick question. 

I am going travelling in October to 4 different countries over a 6 week period. I am not spending anymore than 2 weeks in one location before I move on to somewhere else. (Japan / Vietnam / Laos / Thailand). 

Would I be covered using annual multi policy type of insurance or would I need specific backpacking? 

I am presuming that the Multi Policy would be sufficient in my case as I am only spending a short period of time in each country? I can't see why I wouldn't be covered in my circumstances with this type of insurance, but thought I would check.

Thanks, Tom 

Presumably you arent returning to the UK between each country in which case you need either a single trip policy for the whole trip or a annual policy which is able to cover a single trip of up to 42 days (some are limited to 28 days). 

How are you moving between the countries? Its not uncommon for Travel insurance to only cover a missed/cancelled/delayed flight if its your outbound or return journey and they dont cover mid holiday you missing one of your flights (though will cover the cost of the flight if the whole trip is cancelled)

Thanks for your reply. 

Yes - I won't be returning to the UK inbetween countries. I will fly out to Japan from the UK, then from Japan to Vietnam, then onto Laos and finally ending up in Thailand before flying home. 

My feeling was the annual / multi trip policy would be most suitable considering it its multiple countries I am going too and each country would be well below the 30 day time limit, but I can't work out the difference between that and back packing type of insurance (except for the length of stay). 

owls1867

Voyager2002 said:

You should take out ONE policy covering multiple destinations.

If you complete the proposal form for any travel insurance (whether annual or single trip) you will be asked where you plan to go. Ensure that all the countries in your trip are included.

Again - thanks for your reply. The idea was this one policy for multi trips over 12 months - because technically it is a multi trip (well that is my thinking!)

daveyjp

You could purchase either a single trip policy for a period of 42 days, or an annual policy which will cover this trip and any others within a 12 month period.

Just check time limits on annual policies both trip length and total days of cover.  For example my current policy is limited to 183 days cover per year.

DullGreyGuy

owls1867 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

owls1867 said:

Hi all -

Just a quick question. 

I am going travelling in October to 4 different countries over a 6 week period. I am not spending anymore than 2 weeks in one location before I move on to somewhere else. (Japan / Vietnam / Laos / Thailand). 

Would I be covered using annual multi policy type of insurance or would I need specific backpacking? 

I am presuming that the Multi Policy would be sufficient in my case as I am only spending a short period of time in each country? I can't see why I wouldn't be covered in my circumstances with this type of insurance, but thought I would check.

Thanks, Tom 

Presumably you arent returning to the UK between each country in which case you need either a single trip policy for the whole trip or a annual policy which is able to cover a single trip of up to 42 days (some are limited to 28 days). 

How are you moving between the countries? Its not uncommon for Travel insurance to only cover a missed/cancelled/delayed flight if its your outbound or return journey and they dont cover mid holiday you missing one of your flights (though will cover the cost of the flight if the whole trip is cancelled)

Thanks for your reply. 

Yes - I won't be returning to the UK inbetween countries. I will fly out to Japan from the UK, then from Japan to Vietnam, then onto Laos and finally ending up in Thailand before flying home. 

My feeling was the annual / multi trip policy would be most suitable considering it its multiple countries I am going too and each country would be well below the 30 day time limit, but I can't work out the difference between that and back packing type of insurance (except for the length of stay). 

it doesnt require an annual policy but one may be cheaper, particularly if you are going abroad again.

A "trip" is from when you leave the UK and go when you land back in the UK, if you go to one place or 30 countries doesnt make it more than one trip. So you need to count the total time you will be out the country and thats the limit you will need on an annual trip policy. The fact you are in one country for 1 day or 20 days is irrelevant. 

Backpacking policies mainly allow a longer single trip than standard insurance will, the better annual policies cover trips (time whilst you are outside the UK) up to 90 days whereas a backpacker policy can cover a trip up to 18 months. 

Typically things like possessions cover are lower on backpacker policies but ultimately they are just marketing terms being applied to travel insurance, there is no different rules or governance over the two but marketing works well on people. 

owls1867

DullGreyGuy said:

owls1867 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

owls1867 said:

Hi all -

Just a quick question. 

I am going travelling in October to 4 different countries over a 6 week period. I am not spending anymore than 2 weeks in one location before I move on to somewhere else. (Japan / Vietnam / Laos / Thailand). 

Would I be covered using annual multi policy type of insurance or would I need specific backpacking? 

I am presuming that the Multi Policy would be sufficient in my case as I am only spending a short period of time in each country? I can't see why I wouldn't be covered in my circumstances with this type of insurance, but thought I would check.

Thanks, Tom 

Presumably you arent returning to the UK between each country in which case you need either a single trip policy for the whole trip or a annual policy which is able to cover a single trip of up to 42 days (some are limited to 28 days). 

How are you moving between the countries? Its not uncommon for Travel insurance to only cover a missed/cancelled/delayed flight if its your outbound or return journey and they dont cover mid holiday you missing one of your flights (though will cover the cost of the flight if the whole trip is cancelled)

Thanks for your reply. 

Yes - I won't be returning to the UK inbetween countries. I will fly out to Japan from the UK, then from Japan to Vietnam, then onto Laos and finally ending up in Thailand before flying home. 

My feeling was the annual / multi trip policy would be most suitable considering it its multiple countries I am going too and each country would be well below the 30 day time limit, but I can't work out the difference between that and back packing type of insurance (except for the length of stay). 

it doesnt require an annual policy but one may be cheaper, particularly if you are going abroad again.

A "trip" is from when you leave the UK and go when you land back in the UK, if you go to one place or 30 countries doesnt make it more than one trip. So you need to count the total time you will be out the country and thats the limit you will need on an annual trip policy. The fact you are in one country for 1 day or 20 days is irrelevant. 

Backpacking policies mainly allow a longer single trip than standard insurance will, the better annual policies cover trips (time whilst you are outside the UK) up to 90 days whereas a backpacker policy can cover a trip up to 18 months. 

Typically things like possessions cover are lower on backpacker policies but ultimately they are just marketing terms being applied to travel insurance, there is no different rules or governance over the two but marketing works well on people. 

So the fact I’m not flying back to the UK doesn’t make a difference for a single policy? I just want to make sure that I’m covered let’s say on lost luggage on a flight from Japan to Vietnam etc.

Im going to be away roughly for 6 weeks, so not a huge amount of time. It was more to make sure that I’ve protected whilst moving from one country to another. So effectively, in my case, a single policy is pretty much the same as backpacking?

Having a brief look at prices - and as mentioned below - a multi policy for the year is cheaper than a single one. It fits into my schedules in each place, but I was more querying if I’m covered from non UK to non UK flights and what is classed as a “trip” 

owls1867

daveyjp said:

You could purchase either a single trip policy for a period of 42 days, or an annual policy which will cover this trip and any others within a 12 month period.

Just check time limits on annual policies both trip length and total days of cover.  For example my current policy is limited to 183 days cover per year.

Thanks for this as well. It’s actually cheaper for me to get a multi trip annual policy rather than single one - even if I know I won’t be using again.

Just seems all too good to be true to do it that way! 

I think I just got confused with what is classed as a “trip” and if flying from non UK to non UK is covered within that period of time. 

DullGreyGuy

owls1867 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

owls1867 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

owls1867 said:

Hi all -

Just a quick question. 

I am going travelling in October to 4 different countries over a 6 week period. I am not spending anymore than 2 weeks in one location before I move on to somewhere else. (Japan / Vietnam / Laos / Thailand). 

Would I be covered using annual multi policy type of insurance or would I need specific backpacking? 

I am presuming that the Multi Policy would be sufficient in my case as I am only spending a short period of time in each country? I can't see why I wouldn't be covered in my circumstances with this type of insurance, but thought I would check.

Thanks, Tom 

Presumably you arent returning to the UK between each country in which case you need either a single trip policy for the whole trip or a annual policy which is able to cover a single trip of up to 42 days (some are limited to 28 days). 

How are you moving between the countries? Its not uncommon for Travel insurance to only cover a missed/cancelled/delayed flight if its your outbound or return journey and they dont cover mid holiday you missing one of your flights (though will cover the cost of the flight if the whole trip is cancelled)

Thanks for your reply. 

Yes - I won't be returning to the UK inbetween countries. I will fly out to Japan from the UK, then from Japan to Vietnam, then onto Laos and finally ending up in Thailand before flying home. 

My feeling was the annual / multi trip policy would be most suitable considering it its multiple countries I am going too and each country would be well below the 30 day time limit, but I can't work out the difference between that and back packing type of insurance (except for the length of stay). 

it doesnt require an annual policy but one may be cheaper, particularly if you are going abroad again.

A "trip" is from when you leave the UK and go when you land back in the UK, if you go to one place or 30 countries doesnt make it more than one trip. So you need to count the total time you will be out the country and thats the limit you will need on an annual trip policy. The fact you are in one country for 1 day or 20 days is irrelevant. 

Backpacking policies mainly allow a longer single trip than standard insurance will, the better annual policies cover trips (time whilst you are outside the UK) up to 90 days whereas a backpacker policy can cover a trip up to 18 months. 

Typically things like possessions cover are lower on backpacker policies but ultimately they are just marketing terms being applied to travel insurance, there is no different rules or governance over the two but marketing works well on people. 

So the fact I’m not flying back to the UK doesn’t make a difference for a single policy? I just want to make sure that I’m covered let’s say on lost luggage on a flight from Japan to Vietnam etc.

Im going to be away roughly for 6 weeks, so not a huge amount of time. It was more to make sure that I’ve protected whilst moving from one country to another. So effectively, in my case, a single policy is pretty much the same as backpacking?

Having a brief look at prices - and as mentioned below - a multi policy for the year is cheaper than a single one. It fits into my schedules in each place, but I was more querying if I’m covered from non UK to non UK flights and what is classed as a “trip” 

It makes a difference in that it's considered a single trip so on an Annual/ multi-trip policy you need to ensure the max total duration is sufficient for how long you are out of the country. 

As previously described you need to check what cover you will have if, for example, your flight from Japan to Thailand is cancelled or delayed or you get to the airport too late etc... this varies significantly between policies. I've not seen a policy where baggage cover is varied by having additional mid holiday flights.