Travel insurance vital for those heading for the European summer

The UEFA Champions League, F1 Grand Prix and Taylor Swift’s world tour are just some of the international events that will be drawing power crowds to Europe this year.

“South Africans who can afford to travel should always bear in mind expenses beyond plane tickets,” advises Linah Mabena, Chief Executive at Standard Bank Insurance Brokers.

“The last thing you need is to be burdened with financial losses arising from a medical emergency, trip cancellation or delays and lost luggage while traveling.”

According to Flight Centre, global travel for South Africans has become increasingly popular with 86% of local flight bookings in 2023 being attributed to international travel, with the remainder of only 14% for domestic travel.

The Henley & Partners Passport Index for 2023 shows that South Africans can travel to 106 countries around the world without needing a visa.

Mabena says that while travel insurance might not be top of mind when putting together your vacation checklist as it may not seem necessary, a comprehensive travel insurance plan can quite literally be a life saver.

“Life has its own twists and turns at the best and worst of times, meaning it’s crucial to be always on guard by taking out travel insurance that will cover you against mishaps that can ruin a good holiday. A dream vacation can quickly turn into a nightmare without a safety net to fend off emergency scenarios,” Mabena adds.

Your health is number one here. Data from the Travel Index shows that 73% of payouts for all Bryte insurance claims are attributed to medical expenses. Ranging from hundreds of thousands of rands to several million.

Mabena advises, “Travel insurance should cover essentials like hospitalisation and related medical costs, as well as a possible emergency evacuation. One should also be aware of their age, physical condition and destination as this might have an impact on travel insurance and any additional extras that might be needed to the plan.”

In light of young globe trotters and individuals ticking off activities from their bucket lists, travel insurance should also match the risks associated with planned activities. Island hopping, adventure sports, music festivals, and even business activities all have their own set of risks, that may not be adequately covered under a generic travel insurance plan.

“It is advisable that travellers interrogate their travel insurance plans so that they are adequately covered for any unforeseen circumstances that could happen, including climate-change risks,” explains Mabena.

For example, in popular holiday destination Greece, when wildfires broke out near popular resorts, the biggest ever evacuation had to be orchestrated. Consisting of mostly tourists staying in hotels, almost 20 000 people were moved to safety as fires swept through. Even more concerning is that the United Nations World Meteorological Organisation classified this event as part of the ‘new normal’.

With all travel plans, whether domestic or international, it is essential to be prepared. Travellers should educate themselves on what makes up the best comprehensive travel insurance cover. It is advisable to speak to your insurance broker to get the best possible cover for travel insurance that suits you and your own plans, should an emergency happen. Always be prepared, its your holiday after all.