Travel insurance - how to choose?

When going on a trip, appropriate travel insurance is crucial so that you are maximally protected in unforeseen circumstances and can feel safe during the entire trip.

Mode of transport

When looking for the most suitable travel insurance, you must first understand what transport you will use to get to your chosen destination: shall I go by plane, car or perhaps some other means of transport?

If you choose to go abroad by plane, it is important that the insurance includes the risks of flight cancellation and delay and that the luggage is insured when checked-in with the airline. This way you will avoid unpleasant surprises when you receive your belongings at the destination airport.

When looking at multiple offers, it is also noteworthy to understand such aspects as, for example, when a flight is considered delayed, what is considered luggage in the specific company’s rules, and what will be compensated if the luggage is lost or delayed. To give an example, BTA considers that a flight is delayed if it is for at least 4 hours late, but the luggage is considered delayed if it is for at least 2 hours late. You should also review the limits of each risk, namely, the sum that will be indemnified in a specific situation.

Here you can see a comparison between BTA and other insurance offers available in Latvia (8-day long trip, arriving at the destination by plane). BTA offers not only high quality of service, but also the best price!

BTA Travel insurance calculator

Of course, you should also protect your luggage if you plan to travel in your own car because items are often stored in the car without supervision. If you plan to take a computer with you, for instance, you should definitely compare the rules of different companies and make sure that the insurance covers this type of equipment. If the customer keeps the luggage, the BTA travel insurance coverage includes not only shoes, clothes and hygiene products but also a phone, computer, tablet and additional accessories for these devices.

Some potential travel risks

If you plan to spend time on the trip not only lounging on the beach or going for a short walk but also engaging in higher-risk activities, it is necessary to compare the offers to see if this activity is included and insured. When the customer selects high-risk activities, BTA insurance covers skiing and snowboarding, mountain hiking up to a height of 4500 m above sea level, mountain biking, surfing and many other activities.

Not everything always goes according to plan. We understand that. Therefore, travel insurance usually covers trip cancellation. However, for the trip cancellation risk to be valid, you must buy the policy a few days before the trip, not on the day of the trip. This term may differ for each company; for example, the BTA travel insurance policy must be purchased 72 hours before the risk takes effect. So, before you buy your insurance, make certain you buy it in good time so you can be sure that this risk is covered.

All your needs must be taken care of, which is especially important if you have chronic illness. Before buying insurance, ascertain that the medical assistance you need will be provided and compensated, and whether there are any restrictions and limits.

Even if you are healthy before going abroad, you might be exposed to an illness or even a serious injury during the trip. You can choose to insure yourself against this risk for extra peace of mind during your trip. When purchasing the programme Gold of BTA travel insurance, this risk is automatically included.

You may need to rent a car when you get to your destination. It is important to take into account that if something happens to the car while you are using it, you may have to pay a deductible, which can vary from a few hundred to a few thousand. Therefore, if you plan to rent a car, compare offers and be sure to choose rental car deductible insurance. Remember that this is an additional risk that is usually not included in the standard coverage, so you will have to add it for an additional sum.