| Traveling to far away and exotic places is something | | | | policies. |
| that is high on the list of priorities for many people in | | | | Some restrictions may apply to a backpacker policy |
| this age of easy travel. It is especially true for young | | | | regarding traveling and working. If a travel itinerary |
| people with itchy feet who are finishing up school or | | | | includes plans to work abroad or participate in paid or |
| college and eager to be independent and explore the | | | | unpaid voluntary work a different type of policy may |
| world. Travel insurance companies accommodate for | | | | be needed. If in doubt, always ask to make sure the |
| this type of travel by offering insurance for | | | | policy has the necessary levels of cover. |
| backpackers, students on a gap year, or any young | | | | Travel Insurance Agencies Ltd. provide a range of |
| (or even not-so-young) person needing insurance for | | | | policies designed for backpackers and travelers up to |
| an extended trip. It's just a matter of finding the | | | | age 46 who plan to travel light. Why waste those |
| right policy that will tick all the boxes. | | | | precious travel funds on insurance cover you don't |
| Okay, so you may not plan to take much luggage | | | | really need. A backpacker or Discovery Light policy is |
| and are not bothered about your property being | | | | designed to be affordable for those who plan to |
| stolen - but that is not a good reason to skip | | | | travel without a lot of luggage by excluding cover for |
| purchasing travel insurance altogether! At a very | | | | personal effects, baggage and cash. |
| minimum, a backpacker policy is important as it | | | | A backpacker policy can usually be combined with |
| provides cover for those unexpected mishaps - | | | | winter sports (skiing/snowboarding) cover for an |
| which hopefully will never be needed - such as | | | | additional premium - such as a Discovery policy. This |
| emergency medical expenses, personal liability, and | | | | will normally include cover for ski equipment, ski pass |
| legal costs. | | | | and ski hire for up to one year of travel. Make sure |
| Adventure sports activities are included as standard in | | | | that air ambulance and emergency medical |
| many backpacker policies. However, the activities | | | | repatriation is included, as the cost for these services |
| must usually be participated in on a 'casual' basis only | | | | abroad can be astronomical - especially in the USA. |
| (i.e. not the main purpose of the trip) such as scuba | | | | One big advantage of booking travel insurance |
| diving, wind surfing, or a parachute or bungee jump. | | | | through the internet is having access to an immediate |
| Be sure to check the terms and exclusions in any | | | | online cover note. If, as so often happens, the boring |
| policy and understand what is and is not covered - as | | | | details of the trip - such as sorting out travel |
| well as any excess (deductible) that may apply. | | | | insurance - are left until the last minute there will be |
| Worried about examination results? It is not | | | | no need to wait for the policy documents to arrive in |
| necessary to delay travel while biting your nails and | | | | the post. The policy wording will also be available to |
| waiting for those important, life-changing, exam | | | | view online if needed. |
| results. A backpacker policy will often provide cover | | | | Foreign travel is something most young people |
| for cancellation or curtailment of a trip if a re-sit of | | | | excitedly look forward to once all the years of hard |
| exams becomes necessary. Check the actual terms | | | | work and study are over. The playgrounds of the |
| and conditions, as typically it must be an approved | | | | world await - and it simply is not worth taking the |
| examining body and the date of issue of the policy | | | | risk of spoiling the reward and that trip of a lifetime |
| must be prior to the exam dates relating to any | | | | by neglecting to take out travel or backpacker |
| failed exam or course. | | | | insurance. Those itchy feet are likely to walk into all |
| It may be worthwhile - especially during difficult | | | | sorts of exciting adventures - so it is important to |
| economic times - to pay a little extra for a policy | | | | protect and care for them - wherever they may |
| which includes cover for 'Scheduled Airline Failure' - | | | | lead! |
| and this is included as standard in many backpacker | | | | |