Do you buy insurance for holidays?
I normally do not but seeing that there has been some travel chaos and holiday planned has 3 chained flights which could go wrong, I’m thinking about it but not even sure where to start.
I have an annual package from my insurance company (AXA) which included car breakdown services and holiday insurance.
I never need to remember to take out travel insurance.
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I took once a travel insurance from TCS as it was cheap to add. Exactly during that time we actually had an incidents coming home from Asia and having engine problems the hole shabang including a note at the airport. Once we got the confirmation of the 13h delay from the airline I thought it would be straight forward. Guess again, after 5 months of going back and fourth over an amount of 200 CHF I gave up and cancelled my travel insurance at that instance.
We rented some bicycles in Italy.
They were stolen and we had to pay a sum for them from the rental place.
I got a Police report which took twemnty minutes and claimed the money back without question from AXA.
I had a look at AXA, their website online talks about cancellations due to “war and natural disasters” but I’m more concerned about IT systems going down, strikes etc. or delays causing missed connections. Not sure if those are covered.
The only travel insurance I carry is medical, and that because I mostly travel to the US. Never had to put it to the test (knock wood) so I can’t evaluate whether it is worth it, or not. But knowing the cost of a US ER visit…
Travel disruption is pretty much a given these days, so I buy fully changeble or refundable tickets. I used to buy travel insurance to complement a less expensive ticket but the one time I needed it all I got was ‘computer says nooo’ so I decided it wasn’t worth it.
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I have the Zurich mobility insurance still from my motorbike days. Whole family included.
My wife had to cancel some flights due to an accident and did only get back the tax. I opened a case on Sunday, uploaded the papers and on Monday I already got the money.
Addon: I am no fan of insurance for things I can pay myself. But this insurance is more about getting help when you need it. On a Sunday in Spain some kids messed up my security chain on my motorbike. I called Zurich asking for a guy with a circular saw and in about 20 minutes I got help. In Spain. Could still catch up with my friends.
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Yep, with Allianz Travel - including medical and repatriation.
Sometimes I think I am well over insured. I pay a (small) supplement for my regular health insurance for worldwide coverage (except US), I have REGA and Air Glaciers repatriation and some coverage with AMEX.
I never go to the US.
Why REGA and Air Glacier? I have Air Zermatt, and when I looked into it there was no need to have REGA also, one or the other was sufficient.
You are right, but we want to support both organisations.
I have basic “assistance” insurance with Helvetia, other family members have more comprehensive travel insurance with Smile. Yearly premiums are much better value than single trip insurance. There is so much choice around but you have to read the T & Cs really carefully to see if what you are concerned about is covered. Also travelled for years without any additional insurance. Regular health insurance covers a lot abroad and even my household insurance covers some things
I only pay explicitly for the car hire excess insurance (around £40 a year), so that I don’t need to pay for the “casco” each time I rent a car…
Beyond that, I’ve had to use travel insurance once (the “free” one that comes with an amex and the “smile” one) and it was such a nightmare that I just avoid them entirely now. (for background, had a bag with 3 laptops stolen in Venice… never got a cent back)
Also check what insurance coverage your credit card has. Book a holiday with a gold card and it seems most is covered.
I rented a car in Australia and some jerk reversed into it while it was parked and damaged a tail light. My CC paid…
But Swiss health insurance will only cover health costs abroad at 2x Swiss costs - so if you went to the USA etc and got sick you’d be in big trouble without travel insurance. Also what about repatriation in case of illness?