Do You Need Travel Insurance? A Practical Answer
This comes up in nearly every international trip we plan — here's our honest take, not a sales pitch.
When it's close to essential
Schengen visa applications actually require proof of travel insurance in most cases, so for Europe trips it's not really optional. Higher-cost trips (Switzerland, Australia) also carry more financial risk if something goes wrong.
When it's a reasonable optional add-on
For visa-on-arrival destinations like Thailand or the UAE, insurance isn't mandatory, but still worth it for medical coverage and trip cancellation protection.
What to check in a policy
Medical coverage limits, trip cancellation/interruption terms, and baggage delay coverage are the three clauses worth actually reading rather than skimming.
Our honest advice
The cost is small relative to the protection — we'd recommend it for any international trip, mandatory or not.
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FAQs
It's mandatory for Schengen visa applications (Europe); for most other destinations it's optional but strongly recommended for medical emergencies and trip cancellations.
Most policies include some compensation for significant delays — we can help you choose a policy with the coverage that matters most for your trip.
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