Author Topic: Travel insurance - recommendations please  (Read 3410 times)

Travel insurance - recommendations please
« on: 10 May, 2012, 07:53:11 am »
It appears that I will be travelling to Europe twice in the next three months.   My first trip is a multi-country tour by car with eldest bear cub visiting France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Holland.    My second being a vaguely hatched plan for a cycle tour in Holland.

I need some travel insurance to cover both trips, cycling, cycle touring and a bit of strolling around some foothills of big mountains must not be excluded activities.   I will not be venturing up said mountains.

Any recommendations please?   

Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #1 on: 10 May, 2012, 08:14:23 am »
I've gone with Coversure for this. They seemed to be the only one who didn't lump cycle touring in with base jumping in their list of dangerous activities  ::-)

Price isn't bad either, I paid £38 for a 12 month family of four policy.

Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #2 on: 10 May, 2012, 08:45:01 am »
Try

http://www.mercertravelprotection.co.uk/

Obviously read their terms before purchase.
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #3 on: 10 May, 2012, 09:52:51 am »
Noted from this forum some time ago  http://www.cyclosure.co.uk/get-a-quote/ where cycling is normal and they cover competitive events as well.  I have yet to use them but certainly will look at them in the future.

Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #4 on: 10 May, 2012, 10:25:21 am »
After spending money on travel insurance for the last 15 years and never having a claim I did a search for the cheapest. Moneysupermarket came up with EHICPlus Expand Travel Insurance at £29.95 for the annual policy. So I have gone with them and saved myself over £100 compared to the CTC policy.
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #5 on: 10 May, 2012, 12:31:13 pm »
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #6 on: 10 May, 2012, 11:36:20 pm »
Post Office insurance.  Covers cycle touring (it doesn't cover any competitive cycling).

I have free travel insurance via my bank.  It covers cycle touring, including 'roadside recovery' in mainland Europe (but not the UK).
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #7 on: 11 May, 2012, 01:34:11 am »
My Royalties account with RBS includes travel insurance. I don't know about cycle touring as I haven't cycled with it. It is possible to buy extra cover to bolt on as I did for health related to my pre-existing MS.

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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #8 on: 11 May, 2012, 02:05:58 am »
Natwest Current accounts tend to come with travel insurance.
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #9 on: 11 May, 2012, 03:28:00 am »
We're covered by Trailfinders for our extended tour, because 1. they cover cycling as non-incidental, 2. our 12 month single trip policy can be extended from abroad (very, very rare in insurance policies) and 3. I am covered for asthma for an additional premium of £12.

I did some extensive research before we left, and the following companies are worth looking into. It is best to ring them and explain exactly what you need, rather than buying online:

Trailfinders
PJ Hayman (offer very bespoke policies)
Dogtag.com
World Nomads
Campbell Irvine
Cyclosure
Avanti

There's also these (cheaper) options, but personal liability is not covered if you're cycle touring:
American Express
Worldwide Insure

This is quite a useful site, too: http://www.travelinsuranceguide.org.uk/

Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #10 on: 12 May, 2012, 03:43:05 pm »
Check what cover if any your credit/charge card covers. American express insurance used to be fabulous dunno these days.
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #11 on: 13 May, 2012, 09:51:07 pm »
Check the T&C closely though - I was covered by the Post Office and when I missed a flight was not covered due to cycling to the airport, you have to prove you have gone by an "approved method" and aimed to arrive 2 hours in advance.  Another colleague was too ill to travel and found she wasn't covered for a weekend trip as they had to be min. of 3 days (that was the Lloyds TSB Silver Account thrown-in policy - c***s).  So be careful.

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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #12 on: 14 May, 2012, 01:14:39 pm »
I reckon most people have 'travel insurance' 4 or 5 times over, these days, via bank accounts and credit cards etc etc.  Whether any of it is worth a bean, I dunno.
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #13 on: 14 May, 2012, 01:18:05 pm »
The M&S travel insurance is worth looking at. We've got an annual policy that covers cycle racing, motorcycle touring and skiing. Their website lets you add in/take out lots of different activities and see the price change. Cycle racing only cost a few pounds and getting that option saves me any discussion about whether or not an audax is a race.
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #14 on: 14 May, 2012, 01:25:02 pm »
Thanks folks.   

Neither of my standard no fee current accounts include travel insurance.   I'm not sure whether there is an element within either of my credit cards but I'm sure taht I'd need to buy the tickets with the card(s) to qualify IIRC from my time in the cc industry.   As I am not directly responsible for buying for either of my upcoming trips this will not apply.

As things stand I have a pleasant evening on Thursday ahead wading through the options.     

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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #15 on: 09 August, 2012, 12:41:47 am »
(bump)

Towergate Wilsons appear to have decided to drop out the 'free' cycling market - (replacement) policy now reads:-

"This insurance provides automatic cover for the following activities
during a Covered Trip provided that you are not participating in
competitions and/or sports tours:
archery, angling, badminton, banana boating, baseball, basketball,
body boarding, bowls, camping, croquet, curling, cycling (excluding
touring and racing)
(*), dog sledding, golf, gymnastics,..."

(*) So, shopping trips are OK then, right?  ::-)

Off we go searching again.
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Re: Travel insurance - recommendations please
« Reply #16 on: 24 July, 2019, 11:28:52 am »
Try Pedalcover - they specialise in cycle / cyclist insurance, so may be able to help.

https://pedalcover.co.uk/cycling-travel-insurance-quote/
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