Outbreaks of infectious diseases such as Ebola, and now COVID-19, can scupper the best laid travel plans.
While saving for a dream holiday, you don’t envisage that world-famous museums may be closed due to an epidemic, or that you could be confined to a ship’s cabin, or a tiny apartment in a foreign country.
“When you’re searching online for cheap flights, suitable accommodation and car rental deals, comprehensive travel insurance isn’t usually top of mind,” said Sarah Nicholson, commercial manager of Justmoney.
“Doing your research, however, and factoring appropriate insurance into your budget could be a lifesaver if disaster strikes.”
Justmoney is a personal finance website that partners with trusted financial brands to provide busy and digitally savvy South Africans easy access to financial products, services and information.
Nicholson and Justmoney offer the following 10 tips for travellers:
Fully refundable tickets and reservations are generally advisable when making your travel bookings.
Pay with your credit card as this provides you with travel insurance, but don’t presume that this will be sufficient.
Your medical aid could already offer some substantial travel insurance benefits, depending on your policy.
If you require additional travel insurance, buy this as soon as you book your holiday.
Shop around for travel insurance that suits your needs. Read the fine print and don’t be afraid to ask “stupid” questions. Check what’s offered in the case of epidemics and pandemics, travel disruption, emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation.
Keep up to date on what is happening in your holiday destination. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases is particularly relevant to the African continent. The World Health Organisation has frequent updates on global events and offers handy resource on a health topics.
Check out policy conditions before making a cancellation call. For example, you may have to cancel your holiday within a certain period before departure, and even then, you may not receive all your money back.
If you hear of a few isolated disease cases, again, don’t rush to cancel your plans. Just because you are scared, or a few cases have been discovered, doesn’t mean you are in danger, and that your policy covers cancellation. Much depends on whether governments and reputable health authorities have advised against all but essential travel to an area. If you have an existing health condition and are vulnerable, for example a weakened respiratory system, then you are more likely to be covered in the case of a disease outbreak.
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