Hey adventurer! Yes, you! You have packed your suitcase, got your passport, and are excitedly waiting for your international trip, right? So, have you got travel insurance? I can almost hear you saying, "Oh dear, what do you need?" That's exactly why I'm writing this article. Because travel insurance is much more important and necessary than you think. Come on, let's go on a journey and talk about why you need travel insurance.
The "Nothing Will Happen to Me" Syndrome
We've all experienced this. The thought of "Nothing will happen to me, I'll live carefully." But sometimes life is full of unexpected surprises. For example, listen to what happened to my friend Ayşe who went to Thailand last year.
Ayşe got food poisoning while she was at a street food festival in Bangkok. Just when she thought, "Oh dear, I'll have a little nausea," things got serious and she was taken to the hospital. Luckily, she had travel insurance, and both her hospital expenses and additional accommodation expenses were covered. Otherwise, your vacation budget would suddenly go to health expenses.
Health Services: Don't Think It's Free!
If you think that health services are free abroad, you are unfortunately wrong. Health services are quite expensive in many countries, especially for tourists. You may have to pay hundreds of dollars even for a simple examination.
For example, think about the story of my cousin who broke his leg while skiing in Italy. Hospital expenses, ambulance, treatment and even a private flight to return to the country... The total cost was almost 20,000 Euros! Luckily, he had travel insurance and he was not crushed under this financial burden.
What Happens If Your Luggage Is Lost?
Think about the panic you experience when you can't see your suitcase on that rotating conveyor at the airport. All your clothes, personal belongings, and maybe even valuable gifts are lost. Travel insurance provides you with financial support in case of lost luggage. It provides the money you need to buy new clothes and meet your urgent needs.
My friend Mehmet's suitcase, who went to London last summer, was left in Amsterdam. Thanks to his travel insurance, he was able to do urgent shopping and his suitcase was delivered to his address a few days later.
Cancellation and Postponement Situations
Sometimes life doesn't go as planned. Maybe a family member got sick, maybe a critical situation arose at your job and you had to cancel your trip. This is where travel insurance comes into play.
Many people's travel plans were turned upside down during the pandemic. Those who had travel insurance were able to cancel most of their reservations and get their money back. Unfortunately, those who didn't have it suffered great losses.
Legal Issues and Liability
What happens if you have an accident in a foreign country? Or if you accidentally break something in a store? Travel insurance usually offers personal liability coverage for such situations.
For example, a friend of mine who rented a car in Spain and had an accident was able to cover both the vehicle repair and the other party's expenses thanks to the insurance. Otherwise, his vacation budget would have disappeared in an instant.
But My Credit Card Already Has Insurance!
Yes, some credit cards offer travel insurance. However, the scope of these insurances is usually very limited. Most of the time, it only covers situations such as flight cancellation or loss of luggage. Comprehensive travel insurance offers much more.
What About the Cost?
"Okay, but who knows how expensive it is if it covers so many things?" I can almost hear you say. But believe me, it's not as expensive as you think. You can usually get comprehensive protection for a cost of 2-3 Euros per day. Do you know what that means? You can insure your entire trip for the price of a fancy coffee.
How Do I Choose?
There are a few points to consider when choosing travel insurance:
- Duration of Travel: There are special policies for long-term trips.
- Country of Destination: Some countries may require additional coverage.
- Activities You Will Do: If you are going to do extreme sports, you should choose a policy that covers this.
- Health Condition: If you have chronic illnesses, choose a policy that covers them.
- Value of Your Items: If you are going to carry valuable items with you, you can consider a policy with high coverage.
Travel is one of the most beautiful experiences of our lives. Seeing new places, getting to know different cultures, making unforgettable memories... But if you want to live this beautiful experience without stress and worries, don't forget to get travel insurance.
Remember, travel insurance is not just an expense, it's also an investment. It's a guarantee for things you don't want to happen to you. As they say, "Let's not be the bulgur at home while going to Damietta for rice". And that's exactly what travel insurance provides.
Go ahead and get that travel insurance now. Then enjoy your vacation! Who knows, maybe one day you'll thank me for reading this article. Have a nice trip!
