Holidays used be a luxury: generations ago, the idea of crossing nations was intimidating for its expense and difficulty, while the concept of crossing oceans was only possible for the lucky few. Nowadays, packing your bags for a trip is almost an expectation for many middle-class families, and the travel industry is booming.
The need for travel insurance has grown as well and, while many travel now and then, there some families and individuals who can afford regular trips. If this is the case for you and your family, you need to consider how to make annual travel insurance work for you.
Choose the right provider
The first step is probably the most obvious. Choosing the provider of your policy comes with its own set of expectations, including reliability, efficiency, and, of course, value for money. But picking an annual travel insurance policy from the plethora of companies flooding an already bursting market can seem daunting. The key is to focus on the quality of a provider’s guarantees, matched with the openness and simplicity of their plans. Solid, small and reliable firms are usually backed up by larger insurers, and offer plans which, while simple to quote and easy to book online, always come with a clear explanation of exactly what you can expect if you plan your regular trips. Choose wisely, and whether you’re heading off to Spain on short weekend trips or have a few conventions to cover in Ireland over the summer, you know you have a policy you can trust.
Choose the right plan
Even the smallest providers will offer a range of plans. It’s not always a simple matter of narrowing down a number of annual travel insurance plans offered by a few companies and going with your gut instinct. The intelligent way to make your plan work for you is to ensure you only pay for what you need. Year-round cover varies, and whether you are a businessperson, family, couple, or individual will, along with other factors, affect the efficacy and cost-efficiency of your plan. Checking the fine print will save you from paying for things you might never need.
Choose the right extras
The nature of annual travel insurance means that it’s is based on the rather pessimistic premise of portentous injury, accidents or loss of valuables. But even if the best-case scenario occurs and you never need to make a claim, a policy can be made attractive with some potential extras. Free cover for children, cover for cruises or golf equipment, 24 hour emergency contacts and other perks can make your plan work for you all the harder even harder – and save you money!