Taking out travel insurance is the best way to protect yourself from expensive holiday disasters including cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost possessions. Bad luck can strike at any time and therefore if you are travelling solo it is perhaps even more important to have a travel insurance policy on your side than if you were on a group trip.

However, not everyone understands why travel insurance is so important for solo travellers. Put simply, if you do not buy travel insurance, you will be financially responsible for paying for anything that goes wrong. Even a simple medical procedure can turn into an expensive ordeal that can eat into your holiday funds. By taking out travel insurance, you can claim most common expenses back.

So, let us discover some of the main benefits of taking out travel insurance before your next solo trip.

  1. Cancellation Cover

 

Life is unpredictable. You can never be sure about what might be around the corner, and almost everyone has had to cancel or drop out of a major event at some point in their life due to circumstances that were out of their control.

 

Consequently, most travel insurance policies cover cancellations beginning from the moment your premium has been paid for. Cancellation cover can be used to cover any prepaid costs for accommodation, transport, or car hire that cannot be recuperated from other sources in the event that you are unable to go on your solo trip.

 

If you are responsible for any dependents such as elderly relatives, or young children, there is always a chance that you might have to drop out of your trip for an unexpected reason to fulfil your duties of care. Therefore, if you are concerned that you might have to cancel your trip, it can be useful to work out how much you will need to spend on non-refundable costs.

 

If your trip is covered by a money back guarantee, or if any non-refundable deposits are relatively small, then any cancellation costs or interruption coverage should not be anything too serious to worry about. That being said, quite often travel insurance might only cost as little as 8% of your total trip costs and could turn out to be a valuable safeguard.

 

  1. Medical Emergency Expenses

 

Getting injured or falling ill while travelling solo is not only incredibly unlucky, but it can also turn out to be a costly experience. This is particularly true if you need urgent medical attention abroad. Communicating with foreign doctors can be incredibly stressful and you will almost always need to pay for some or all of your treatment.

 

With this in mind, most travel insurance policies include medical expenses cover. Policies can vary dramatically, but typical examples of coverage include full or partial payment of any emergency medical treatment, as well as a contribution towards the cost of getting you back home if medically necessary.

 

Just remember to consider any pre-existing medical conditions before travelling solo as some insurance policies will include a stability clause to limit your coverage entitlements. You might even want to speak to your insurer about any pre-existing health conditions to find the best insurance policy for your needs.

 

Additionally, if your solo trip is going to include high-risk activities such as scuba diving, mountain climbing, snorkelling, or zip-lining, you need to check that these activities are covered. Again, be sure to ascertain the exact terms of your insurance to ensure that you are protected.

 

  1. Loss, Theft, and Damage of Baggage and Personal Effects

 

Being separated from your belongings is always a highly traumatic experience regardless of whether you are travelling solo or as part of a group. However, if your bags are lost temporarily or permanently, and if you do not have a friend or relative to depend on for spare clothing, your plans can become significantly dampened.

 

Luggage gets sent to the wrong destination surprisingly often and it is no secret that the luggage carousels at airports make it incredibly easy for someone to take your bags by mistake. Having to fork out for new clothes and personal items can eat into your travelling time and your finances, but if you take out travel insurance then you can be reimbursed for these expenses.

 

As a solo traveller taking out travel insurance can also help you to freeze your bank cards and gain access to emergency cash if your cards are stolen. Any unauthorized transactions not covered by your card agreement can also be reimbursed.

 

Furthermore, no one likes to think too much about the possibility of being robbed while travelling solo. Nevertheless, it is reassuring to know that you can get access to money to pay for basic food and shelter if you need to.

Ultimately, taking out travel insurance can cover the vast majority of any unexpected costs that a solo traveller might encounter before, during, and after a trip. Above all, insuring your next trip can help you to relax and to freely enjoy new places without having to worry about what might happen if disaster strikes.