Being young does not make you 'bullet-proof' and disaster can strike at any minute. How prepared you are to deal with curve balls that will determine your onward journey?
"Accommodation, travel and visas are just some of the basic costs normally associated with overseas travel, but travel insurance is a line item on your overall bill that should also be budgeted for," says Shannon Oddie, marketing manager for Student Flights.
Take for instance the 21 year old client from Student Flights, Cape Town who travelled to Colorado USA for a skiing holiday. The client was involved in a skiing accident and sustained a skull injury that accumulated over R190 000 in medical costs. This is just one example of many where a young person has travelled abroad for a carefree holiday, but been faced with an unexpected injury that has cost a fortune in medical bills. In some instances, medical bills have run into millions, which could be financially crippling.
If you can't afford travel insurance, then you can't afford to travel. And the policies on offer are really affordable. For example if you're travelling overseas on a gap year a basic policy will cost approximately R700. That is less than R2 per day. Well worth the peace of mind.
Student Flights offer comprehensive insurance through one of South Africa's leading suppliers of travel insurance. Our service provider, TIC, really understand just how quickly things can go wrong when travelling, which is why they have a range of products that are suited to the individual needs of specific travellers.
Travel purchased by credit card comes can come with free travel insurance, but travellers should keep in mind that travel insurance offered by a credit card company may not be sufficient, in which case additional specialised travel insurance would be necessary. Furthermore, many medical aids also offer travel insurance for overseas travel, but once again, there are limits in place and travellers should investigate the possibility of 'top up' insurance that would generate cover for a host of eventualities that may not be covered by the medical aid.
Anything can happen and the strangest things often do, which is why travel insurance is important for anyone that travels abroad. A trip overseas is supposed to be an exciting and memorable for all the awesome opportunities you're likely to experience. Travel with comprehensive travel cover and make sure that you have peace of mind.
Benefits of dedicated travel insurance:
- cover starts the minute you leave for your holiday (as opposed to when you've passed through passport control)
- no upfront payment of your bills (with the exception of a small excess)
- peace of mind
This month Student Flights is running a promotion where we have included travel insurance with most of the international packages we have on offer:
For example the Victoria Falls Dare Devils package priced from R4 600 per person (plus taxes of R2 365). This includes return flights, return transfers, three nights accommodation with breakfast daily and travel insurance.
Or Dive the Red Sea from R4 350 per person plus flight costs and this includes transfers, seven nights accommodation, a dive package (with 10 dives), transport to dive sites, use of cylinders, weights and guide and travel insurance.
The Northern Vietnamese trek starts from R5 450 plus flight costs and includes an 8-day tour with breakfast daily, six lunches and five dinners. The services of a tour leader and travel insurance are included.
Or take up a year flight to London with a free ISE discount card and travel insurance from R4 490 (plus approximate taxes are 2 990).
- For more information regarding travel insurance contact Student Flights on 0860 400 737 or visit