If you have been spending a good number of months each year on some remote parts of the world as a backpacker, then you are the so called “professional backpacker.”
A professional backpacker is someone who makes it their business to see the world through modest and ingenious ways. Through each and every memorable experience, a lesson is learned. One big lesson to learn pertains to finding the best possible backpacker traveler insurance. It could have been a hit and miss at the start; it is always that way for any newbie not knowing what features and coverage makes it a good one. But, practice makes perfect; one gets the hang of finding the best insurance through frequency and practice.
Investing In a Backpacker Travel Insurance
A backpacker’s travel is fraught with many risks. Staying in inexpensive accommodations and moving from one place to another using public transport puts an adventurous backpacker at greater risk of both bodily harm and theft. Neophyte backpackers lugging around their heavy bags are easy prey for professional scammers when they least expect it. This is the reason why they must never leave home without the protection of travel insurance.
Despite the cost, there are huge benefits that backpackers stand to have when they are covered by travel insurance. Hotel Club in its blog Travel Insurance for Backpackers says, “Backpacker travel insurance is available at very low cost. It is important that a policy is purchased that specifically covers the backpacking method of travel to ensure there are no issues, should a need to use the insurance arises. Plus, the backpacking policy can be customized to cover the specific needs of the backpacker should a mountain trip be planned, or scuba diving, or skydiving, etc.”
The Coverage
When purchasing a policy, make sure that it has provisions that would cover medical emergencies, particularly when you are planning to engage in active pursuits – mountain climbing, scuba diving, cross-country skiing, etc. – or traveling in an exotic destination, such as Southeast Asia, Africa or in the Outback.
It will also be convenient to have personal liability coverage that comes handy when the backpacker unintentionally causes damage to another person or their property. Hotel Club also recommends cancellation cover “…should a situation arise where the whole trip must be cancelled, this would ensure you recoup any money spent on the trip before you went on the trip.” And since there is always that risk for theft and travel delays, “a backpacker policy must cover baggage/personal belongings, money, and travel delays… If the policy covers travel delays, then any finances lost due to a delay in a connecting flight where a reservation is lost, for example, than that reservation cost can be recovered.”
Read the Fine Print
What are the clauses or stipulations that you need to watch out for, read diligently and comprehend? These are six usual facets of a backpack traveler insurance that backpackers must pay attention to. lost and damaged baggage, personal liability in case you accidentally hurt someone liability, the cost of legal cases ensuing after fatal and serious accidents, excesses on the policies, medical and cancellation if and when there is a need to.
It is important not to make any assumptions with any of this. Just because you’re insurance last time served you well or wasn’t put to the test, it does not follow that it will perform this time around. The best suggestion really is to find out the details of the terms and conditions before making the final pick. Read those fine prints; remember, “forearmed is forewarned.”
More Tips for Backpackers
Backpackers traveling to a foreign country can better avoid and manage problems when armed with information. Be conscious of the common backpacking problems with more tips, especially when traveling to remote or exotic destinations like Thailand. Go Backpacking Thailand shares a checklist of 10 tips in the blog 10 Things You Need to Do Before You Go Backpacking in Thailand. Aside from securing a travel insurance, the other tips include:
- Get a good Backpack and packing essentials.
- Get info on Vaccinations and get educated on Malaria
- Book your first couple nights at a Hostel
- Get a general idea of where you want to go
- Save enough money to cover your expenses
- Make copies of your passport to carry with you.
- Get money switched over to Thai Baht, and let your bank know you are going to Thailand.
- Check Visa info for your home country.
- Open your mind, say yes, and be outgoing!
Once you have planned, prepared and have accomplished these 10 tips, you can relax as you head to the exotic destination in your bucket list. If you are traveling with a relative or friend, share these tips, so they too can have a pleasant backpacking experience.
