travel insurance: In all my years of travel both in the US and elsewhere i have never had a problem. This year I'm going to South Africa for a 15day photography safari . I checked out...

philo Loc: philo, ca

In all my years of travel both in the US and elsewhere i have never had a problem. This year I'm going to South Africa for a 15day photography safari . I checked out the cost of insurance for the trip. (about $700) the trip overall cost is about $6000.
I'm in good health just old 86 years. Will be in the bush most of the time.
Question is .........what to do?

byjoe Loc: Stillwater, OK

From past experience I would recommend that you buy the trip insurance. Especially in this pandemic period with travel restrictions possibilities and Covid itself. It is what the name suggests, insurance.

williejoha

The travel insurance is worth it. If for any reason you would have to evacuated home, $700 would be a small price to pay by comparison. at 75 I have started to get it for overseas trips even though I am in great health. IMHO
WJH

bamfordr Loc: Campbell CA

williejoha wrote:

The travel insurance is worth it. If for any reason you would have to evacuated home, $700 would be a small price to pay by comparison. at 75 I have started to get it for overseas trips even though I am in great health. IMHO
WJH

Ditto. Well worth the cost.

chemsaf Loc: San Diego

Concur. Look around and see if you qualify for a package insurance. AARP, AAA...

Cubanphoto

philo wrote:

In all my years of travel both in the US and elsewhere i have never had a problem. This year I'm going to South Africa for a 15day photography safari . I checked out the cost of insurance for the trip. (about $700) the trip overall cost is about $6000.
I'm in good health just old 86 years. Will be in the bush most of the time.
Question is .........what to do?

Buy the insurance and make sure it covers Covid. Think if you get Covid and have to quarantine, it could get very expensive.
Another way, check the credit card you paid with for the trip. The coverage with will not be as good.
I never bought insurance before either, but my last trip I did. It is called peace of mind!
Go on the shoot and share!

bobforman Loc: Anacortes, Washington State

Buy the insurance from an independent (and reputable) company. It will be about 1/3 of what the company providing your travel will charge. At least that's what I've found when traveling on Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean. I worked for Sunmakers Traverl Group before it went belly-up and we had a separate company providing this coverage. We made a lot of money with it. Some folks are insurance-poor.

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

philo wrote:

In all my years of travel both in the US and elsewhere i have never had a problem. This year I'm going to South Africa for a 15day photography safari . I checked out the cost of insurance for the trip. (about $700) the trip overall cost is about $6000.
I'm in good health just old 86 years. Will be in the bush most of the time.
Question is .........what to do?

When I was in Switzerland I was hospitalized for going up to, to high an altitude.
I was in a hospital there for 2 days.
After I got home I got a bill for over $13,000.00.
I had Trip Insurance. They paid every cent of the bill.
I never travel without it.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

On March 2nd we are traveling to Cairo Egypt - Returning home on March 13th -- We have never purchased Travel insurance for our numerous overseas trips in the past -- Due to Covid this time we are - Your per person Insurance costs just about matches ours -- Right now it "appears" we won't be Covid tested for our outbound flights -- Just prove that we have received our 2jabs + a booster -- Coming home they most certainly will test us - "IF" one or both of us tests positive we may not be allowed to travel home for x days until we do test negative -- -- This is where I see where the Insurance comes into play

philo Loc: philo, ca

I agree with all of you. i purchased the insurance. there are too many if's in this trip.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

philo wrote:

I agree with all of you. i purchased the insurance. there are too many if's in this trip.

HAPPY TRAILS
&
A "Covid Free Trip" for both of our families

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

philo wrote:

In all my years of travel both in the US and elsewhere i have never had a problem. This year I'm going to South Africa for a 15day photography safari . I checked out the cost of insurance for the trip. (about $700) the trip overall cost is about $6000.
I'm in good health just old 86 years. Will be in the bush most of the time.
Question is .........what to do?

We have used (filed a claim) travel insurance twice and you can't imagine the cost involved if you have an emergency outside of the U.S.
Not to mention over $1K/each for plane tickets, hotels, cruises, tours, are you getting the picture yet?
We use AAA Travel and use a reputable travel insurance company. In an emergency, AAA will try to assist any way they can and that means a lot!
Please have a good and safe trip.
Most of all take and share plenty of pics when you return.
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Always buy when leaving your country of residence, some of the comments have talked about you can't imagine the cost involved if you have an emergency outside of the US, haha, if your not American you can't imagine the cost of an emergency in the US. $45,000 to have my gall bladder removed in Florida, fortunately I had insurance that covered everything, medical, flights, out of pocket expenses even surcharges on credit card for international expenditures. make sure your insurance covers trip cancellation as well.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

philo wrote:

In all my years of travel both in the US and elsewhere i have never had a problem. This year I'm going to South Africa for a 15day photography safari . I checked out the cost of insurance for the trip. (about $700) the trip overall cost is about $6000.
I'm in good health just old 86 years. Will be in the bush most of the time.
Question is .........what to do?

If it is travel insurance....buy it. Your age is a consideration but if something goes south with the people you booked with you should be covered.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I bought travel insurance for every trip out of the country. The one time that I had to use it, it paid for expenses that totaled almost 100 times all that I had spent over the years. I was covered by Allianz. Not only did they pay my expenses but from the moment I contacted them from Italy, they assigned someone who followed up everyday to ensure we, wife and I, were receiving the best possible care.