Should I get Travel Insurance Before Travelling to Australia?
The simple answer to this is ‘yes’, you should get travel insurance before travelling to the Whitsundays or anywhere in Australia, much less the world. Here at Sailing Whitsundays, our locally based travel agents always recommend obtaining travel insurance before booking your Whitsundays tour or travelling anywhere in Australia. It's a great safeguard and can save you a lot of money in the long run if you have to utilise it.
Why should you get travel insurance?
There are many reasons that everyone should get travel insurance and almost all travel agencies would also recommend insurance cover when you are travelling. Travel insurance does not benefit your travel agent - instead, it protects you while travelling and is great for many things. Depending on the type you get, it can cover cancelled trips, medical needs, loss of property and more.
1. Travel involves risk!
All travel includes risks. We recommend that everyone have travel insurance to cover illness, injury, loss or damage of personal belongings or not being able to travel on your confirmed date of departure. Particularly when it comes to an overnight boat trip, there are many things which may stop the trip from departing, and without travel insurance, you may not receive any money back. Even if you are a part of the commonwealth and your medical needs are covered, missing a flight because you're sick isn't!
2. Delays, cancellations and accidents happen
There are many reasons that may come into play when it comes to travel insurance or having to deal with an insurance company. From flight delays, late departures, mechanical issues, weather and more, there are many things which that might influence your travels when planning a holiday and one thing may stop of all your other plans. Almost always these circumstances are unforeseen, which is why the backup of insurance is vital for unpredictable travel interruptions. To find the right travel insurance for you, it is best to search and research the type of insurance cover you will need if anything happened. Sailing Whitsundays does not sell travel insurance and is instead an independent travel agent.
What should I look for in a policy?
Policies vary from company to company, and it is always recommended you read the fine print before deciding which policy is right for you. For example, if inclement weather causes flight cancellations, and you cannot reach your destination to go on your tour, the tour operator is not obligated to refund your money as the tour itself was not cancelled by the operator. Travel insurance can come in handy in these cases. If you're travelling to Australia and going on outdoor adventure tours, such as an overnight sailing trip, you will also want to ensure these activities are covered by your policy.
Choosing the right insurance
With so many travel insurance companies out there, it can be daunting to try to sift through which policy is the right fit. Luckily there are many companies that have done the work for you and offer insurance comparison, saving you time and money. As always, make sure you fully comprehend the level of coverage by reading the fine print and asking questions before committing to a travel insurance policy.
