Backpackers 'need tailored travel insurance'
14 March 2008People considering embarking on a backpacking trip have been advised to research tailored travel insurance cover.
A spokesman for Trailfinders, a travel agent that is well-known for its tailor-made itineraries, said that backpackers need to take issues other than price into account when purchasing their travel insurance.
These types of travellers are more likely to visit remote locations and rely on local transport, he said, meaning that they need to be covered for different eventualities to someone on a two-week holiday in a tourist hotspot.
"A backpacker needs a very different kind of policy, which is perhaps going to cover you with a good 24-hour medical assistance helpline," the spokesman said.
"The big piece of advice is that a backpacker shouldn't pick their policy based on price alone, they need to pick it on the quality of what they're going to get rather than the cheapest policy they can find online."
Recent research by a travel insurance provider found that backpackers are collectively carrying £1 billion worth of valuables on their travels.
The rising popularity of digital cameras, mp3 players and other gadgets means the average backpack now carries items worth £450, according to the survey.