Travel insurance is often one of the last things people think about before leaving… but it’s usually the most important when something goes wrong. Medical coverage, trip cancellations, repatriation, lost luggage or long-haul travel : a good travel insurance policy can literally save you thousands of euros. In this article, I’ll explain what travel insurance is for, when it’s absolutely essential, what it really covers and most importantly how to choose the right one for your next trip, plus my honest take on Chaka travel insurance. By the way, if you’re planning a trip to Iceland, I have also written a complete guide to planning a trip to Iceland, with all the practical tips you need before departure.
Why a travel insurance is essential
Traveling without insurance is a bit like going mountaineering without crampons : you hope you’ll never need them… but when you do, you’re very glad you have them.
Medical coverage abroad
If you get sick or have an accident while traveling abroad, medical care can be extremely expensive, especially outside Europe. Travel insurance usually covers :
- Medical expenses and hospitalization
- Emergency evacuation or repatriation
- 24/7 assistance
👉 Without this, even a short hospital stay can cost thousands of euros depending on the country.
This actually happened to my father when we traveled to the Bahamas. During a snorkeling session, a jet ski passed very close to him and the current pushed him onto corals. He split his head open and we had to go to the hospital. They gave us an estimate of 3500$, so we left. We didn’t have travel insurance and we knew reimbursement through the French health system would take months once back home. We eventually found a small clinic where it was cheaper, but my mother ended up stitching him herself.
If we had taken travel insurance, we would have had access to proper medical care and peace of mind. (He’s fine now and it’s a good story to tell 🤷🏼♀️)
Trip cancellation or modification
We don’t always think about it, but life happens : getting sick right before departure, family emergencies, work issues… A travel insurance policy can reimburse your flights and reservations if you’re forced to cancel (depending on the policy conditions).
Lost, stolen or damaged luggages
Imagine arriving after a longflight… without your luggage. It happened to me, and trust me, I thought it only happened to other people. Travel insurance can :
- Reimburse your personal belongings
- Compensate you if your luggage is permanently lost
- Cover valuable items like cameras, smartphones, drones, etc…
What standard insurances usually don’t cover
You might think you’re already covered by your credit card insurance or the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). That’s partly true… and partly false.
👉 The EHIC doesn’t work outside the EU, and even in some countries in Europe you’ll still need to pay upfront. You’ll then have to wait for reimbursement once back home, and I invite you to check the processing times of your national healthcare 🙃
👉 Credit card insurance often comes with hidden clauses : coverage limits, duration restrictions, exclusions… which can make reimbursement very complicated.
Travel insurances : how to choose the right one
Essential guarantees to check
When comparing travel insurance policies, always look at :
- Medical and hospitalization coverage
- Repatriation
- Trip cancellation
- Legal assistance
- Lost or stolen luggage
- Coverage for activities (diving, skiing, hiking, extreme sports…) if you plan to do any
👉 Don’t just look at the price, focus on what’s included and what isn’t. That’s where the real difference lies.
Chapka Insurance : the option I actually recommend
Whether it’s a short trip or a long road trip, proper planning helps reduce stress once you’re there. For my travels, in Europe and worldwide, I choose Chapka Insurance because their policies are genuinely well designed.
One of Chapka’s biggest strengths is its flexibility. They offer several plans depending on your travel style and duration : short stays, round-the-world trips, Working Holiday visas, studies abroad, volunteering, etc.
This means you can choose insurance that truly fits your project, without paying for an unnecessary coverage. Depending on the plan, Chapka includes :
- Medical and hospitalization coverage up to 1 000 000€
- 24/7 assistance
- Online medical consultations with a doctor who speaks your langage
- Luggage insurance up to 2000€
- Early return in case of serious hospitalization or death of a close relative
- Sports coverage (diving, skiing, hiking…)
👉 For full details, I recommend checking the official policy conditions directly on their website.
To be completely honest, Chapka isn’t the cheapest travel insurance on the market. Prices start at 27€ and vary depending on the plan, age, travel duration and coverage level. For example, for two people traveling 15 days in Iceland, I usually pay around 90€, which I find very reasonable. That’s roughly 3€ per person per day to be fully covered if something goes wrong.
On top of that, Chapka’s team is available 24/7, which makes all the difference when you’re on the other side of the world dealing with a health or logistical emergency.
My Chapka links so you can save more money
👉 I’m lucky to work with Chapka Insurance and to offer you 5% off the Cap Assistance 24/7 policy. This is the one I personally use for trips under 3 months and it allows me to travel with total peace of mind.
For the other plans, I don’t have a discount, but the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase insurance through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep creating free content so thank you so much for your support 🩷⤵️
⏪ Cap Cancellation : trip cancellation insurance 👉 Subscribe here.
✈️ Cap Working Holiday : full insurance for Working Holiday Visas 👉 Subscribe here.
🎒 Cap Aventure : insurance for long trips or round-the-world travel 👉 Subscribe here.
📚 Cap Student : health insurance for studies and internships abroad 👉 Subscribe here.
Conclusion – travel insurance is an expense you hope you’ll never need, but that can change everything
We all hope we will never need travel insurance (and I truly hope that for you too). But when something unexpected happens, such as an accident, a health issue, a last-minute cancellation, it’s often the one thing that turns a nightmare into a solution.
Personally, I prefer paying a few extra euros and traveling stress-free rather than risking a complicated situation abroad. That’s why I trust Chapka Insurance and can confidently recommend it today. I hope this article helped you choose the right travel insurance for your next trip. Safe travels !
