Do you buy travel insurance?

For what little it costs its peace of mind .Of course its not essential but when you get medi-evac is going to come from your pocket. That would really ruin your holiday

It's not essential if you don't need it! But the thought of being really sick, or in an accident, or losing all valuables and no insurance is frightening!!

If you work out the cost of your trip, what sort of % is you insurance?

I think it is definitely worth it. IMHO :)

Hasher and Sweet Rose speak wisdom. I've never left Australia without it and have never made a claim, but I still regard travel insurance as money well spent.

Insurance companies have these people called actuaries who figure out the odds of things happening, then the cost if they do, then they add on a profit. If you can pay anyway you can save by not getting it, (on average of course). Also suppose you don’t value your life or health very much, why bother. Last month a friend of mine got found a month late with his foot sticking out of the snow in Sichuan. The money would have been wasted, hope he spent it on beer or climbing gear instead. If you are worried about not losing your stuff hold on to it. Can’t believe all the people on this forum talking about police reports for insurance companies. Nervous Nellies. Time to take up drugs or something.

#4 LOL! what was that?!

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<hr>Time to take up drugs or something. <hr></blockquote> you beat us to it didn't you?! ha! :)

I was gobsmacked. Just amazed that folks are so frightened and need to be insured against everything. 99.9% of the people in Cambodia and Vietnam somehow live on without every facet of thier lives being insured, so can I.

Hi Somsai,

Sorry for being cheeky, but your post made me laugh!

While I appreciate what you are saying, and you are right, we definitely are a very heavily insured society. However, the other side of the coin is the reality of requiring the insurance. For example - my niece became very ill in Bali, hospitalised and was getting worse by the day etc. etc. she ended up having to be medi-vac'd out of there, cancelled plane tickets, accommodation, medical expenses, surgery (3 lots) on her return etc. etc.

They were very thankful she had medical insurance as the costs became astronomical! (I think her insurance cost her $80) All choice isn't it?!

I'll be travelling extensively so I've just purchased insurance online to cover everybody just for the peace of mind. Thanks all for the interesting opinions.

Try to get a policy that covers use of motorbikes as you will doubtless end up on one at some point during your trip, either as a moto taxi passenger or riding it yourself.

If you are going to get seriously injured or killed in SE Asia, more often than not this is how it will happen. Forget about insurance against nuclear war or tiger attacks, just try and get one that covers bikes! (not all that easy though).