Thailand updated

Do not travel to Bangkok advisory issued by Australia and other western governments. Due to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Bangkok all traveller are advised not to travel to Bangkok and to reconsider their need to travel to Thailand in general. Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok Airport) is exempt from the advisory and continues to be relatively safe but the situation could change at any time.

All the latest can be found at Smartraveller.gov.au and you can contact your travel insurance provider to see what level of cover they still provide in Bangkok and broader Thailand.

Updated Travel Advice for Bangkok, Thailand

Due to the increase in civil unrest in Bangkok, DFAT has issued a series of new warning for travellers to Thailand. The current overall threat level is "Reconsider your need to travel".

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Thailand due to the deterioration in the security environment caused by widening political unrest and civil disorder occurring in Bangkok and other parts of the country.
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

The Thai army has declared a number of protest areas as "Live Fire Zones" so they are extremely dangerous and all tourists should stay well away from these areas.

Please consult your travel inusurance company if you are travelling to Thailand in the near future to see what level of protection it will offer you as far as travel or accomodation disruptions, medical treatment or evacuation.

What you need to know about Cheap Travel Insurance

Everyone should know that travel insurance is a must when on holiday or vacation. Medical emergencies can cost up to $100,000 or more if an evacuation is required. Cancelled plane, cruise or tour tickets can also cost a lot of money and often there is nothing you can do it avoid it. Even theft of baggage can be costly now that more people travel with notebooks and mobile phones.

Sometimes you may not want to pay the cost of travel insurance. For long trips it may actually cost more for insurance than it does for plane fare. This is especially true of backpacking holidays through places like South East Asia or Europe. Also backpackers may not have costly tour packages or luggage to be worried about. The standard comprehensive level of holiday insurance is often a waste for these people.

Many holiday insurance companies offer plans designed for the budget conscience and backpackers. These plans tend to cover general medical expenses such as hospital visits, doctor and surgical fees, dentist fees, and medical evacuation. Sometimes these will also offer minimal cover in other areas such as baggage, credit card and document replacement. It is up to you to decide if you want this as it will raise the price.

Some providers in Australia of budget and backpacker travel insurance are: iTrek Travel Insurance, Downunder Insurance, 1Cover Direct Travel Insurance, Insure4Less, and Travel Insurance Direct. Reading travel insurance reviews can help find the best insurance for you.

The excess is another thing to consider. The normal excess is often around $100 but some companies charge a higher excess in order to offer lower price. It is usually best to avoid high excesses as it discourages claiming. However, this tends to not be a problem on backpacker holiday insurance as it usually only covers costly medical expenses where the excess fee is only a fraction of what the bills would be.

Always review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before purchasing a travel insurance policy as levels of cover can have different terms and conditions. A PDS is mandatory in Australia and details all the conditions, exclusions and limits of the policy.

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Get a quote from Travel Insurance Direct or read reviews on Travel Insurance Direct.

Icelandic Volcano and Travel Insurance

Allianz and QBE have said that they will cover all reasonable costs as a results of the Icelandic Volcano: article on SMH

Other insurance companies may provide cover. Check directly with your insurer and find out what they are prepared to cover. Otherwise you may find yourself out of pocket substantial hotel and meal costs.

Remember to keep all receipts, get written proof from the airline that you are affected, and do all you can to minimise the claim.

If you are still looking to take out a travel insurance policy then try Travel Insurance Reviews Australia.

Travel Advice for Thailand

Due to the recent civil disturbances in Bangkok, Thailand the Australia Government has advised traveller exercise a "High Degree of Caution" when travelling to Thailand.

http://www.smarttraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

Many Travel Insurance companies have also issues travel advisories that outlines specific detail about their policies and the situation in Thailand.

We suggest that you check with your insurer to determine what you are covered for when visiting these areas.

Travel Insurance -- Essential Protection for Everyone

The conventional reasons that individuals purchase travel insurance is to cover their luggage against theft or incase the airlines lose it. What people often neglect is the necessity of having a travel insurance policy that extensively covers them for medical emergencies.

The Australian government travel advisory website, Smartraveller.gov.au, provides some examples of costs: hospital stays in South East Asia have exceeded $800 per day; repatriation of remains from Europe can cost $10,000; medical evacuations from the USA can cost up to $300,000 and from nearby Bali has exceeded $60,000.

These figures are painful because if you had to pay them without travel insurance you may end up financially bankrupt. It is not too difficult to find a good insurance policy that will cover you in case of a medical emergency. In Australia it is required for travel insurance companies to supply you with a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) prior to purchase. A PDS details what the policy covers including what they will pay for certain incidents and any if there are any specified terms and conditions attached. If you have a pre-existing medical condition then you'll need to check to see if you are still eligible for cover.

In Australia all the major travel insurance companies have websites so it is easy to compare their price and cover. Some of the largest companies are: Insure4Less, iTrek, Travel Insurance Direct, World Nomads, 1 Cover, AAMI, Allianz, and Columbus Direct. Just search for them and others using your favorite search engine.

Look for the PDS once you are at their website. It will usually be on the quote and product pages. Open it up and don't be worried at how confusing it can look, scroll down to the Schedule of Benefits, a large take with lots of dollar values in it. Ensure that the sections labeled Medical Expenses and Medical Evacuation or similar are unlimited or in the millions.

Get a quote for have a policy that covers what you need. Narrow your search down to those that offer the lowest premiums for your requirements. Reading online reviews can be very helpful at this stage to make the final decision.

Need help with Australian Travel Insurance? Go read up at Travel Insurance Reviews and check out the Travel Insurance Direct (TID) Review.