Advanced search
image
Travel & living abroad

Gap year adventures

Whether you're riding the waves in Hawaii, wakeboarding in Italy, kite surfing in Sharm el Sheik or bungee jumping in New Zealand, make sure you take out comprehensive travel insurance. Your insurance will need to cover any sports or activities you're undertaking, medical costs including air ambulance and any equipment you're carrying.

It's a good idea to think ahead about any unplanned holiday activities such as sports and be covered for all situations - dabbling in a bit of scuba-diving, snowboarding or white water rafting will undoubtedly seem more tempting when you're there.

Always check that your insurance policy includes any adventure activities, and if not, get extra cover! It's better to be safe than sorry.

Don't break the bank as well as your leg!

If you break your leg whilst you're abroad and you require treatment it could cost anything from £4,000 if you get caught without adequate insurance in Europe. In Canada, this can sometimes be as much as £28,000! Before attempting any strenuous activity, ask yourself if you are fit enough for it? When planning a holiday, try and train beforehand for any sport you might try, whether it's skiing, swimming or even a mild trek. Throwing yourself into a week of energetic activity after months of studying in the library or sitting behind a desk can be a recipe for disaster.

Here are some useful tips for when you're shopping around for your insurance:

  • Check whether the FCO website advises against travel to the country you plan to visit. If so, your insurance may be invalid
  • Does your policy cover all the activities you intend to try? Check any exclusions
  • Check for any age restrictions
  • Is any equipment you are taking with you covered in case it's lost, damaged or stolen? Is replacement rental covered?
  • Check the details i.e. for diving, what depth are you covered up to? For skiing, can you go off-piste?
  • Check third party liability, especially for skiing, where you could easily injure someone else on the slopes
  • If you do decide on a spur of the moment activity, make sure the organisers offer insurance, or contact your own insurer to arrange a top-up.

It Won't Happen To Me!

"I went on a trip to South Africa when I was 26 years old. Unfortunately, although I had taken out some insurance, it wasn't adequate to cover me for extreme sports as I just didn't think to take it.

Whilst abroad I decided to go bungee jumping on the spur of the moment. Afterwards I felt very nauseous and whilst swimming later I began to feel extremely dizzy. I was rushed to hospital where I had a CAT scan which showed that due to the pressure my brain had swollen.

I was treated and given medication by the doctor and had to delay my flight home, which meant I had to wait for another available flight home five days later, costing me about £500. I wish I had extended my insurance so that it fully covered me for extreme sports."

Don't say hasta la pista to those great holiday memories by taking the risk to feel the adrenalin rush - always be prepared!