Why you shouldn’t travel without travel insurance

Advice from two full-time travellers from South Africa, who have been doing this for 6 years and have learned the hard way.

Rhett and I have been full time travellers for around 6 years now. Very early on in our travels, we realised that as fun and exciting as traveling is, SO much can go wrong on your trip unexpectedly. Whether you’re traveling for 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years, ensuring your health and safety while exploring new destinations is so important. One of the best ways to protect yourself is by signing up for a trustworthy travel insurance before you embark on your journey.

Why is travel insurance so important?

Having travel insurance is crucial for any trip, as it provides essential protection against unexpected events that can disrupt your plans. From medical emergencies and trip cancellations to lost luggage and travel delays, the right insurance can save you from significant financial burdens and stress. Imagine facing a sudden illness abroad without coverage or dealing with the hassle of replacing lost belongings without support. Travel insurance not only offers peace of mind but also ensures that you can seek help and receive necessary care without the fear of exorbitant costs. By investing in travel insurance, you safeguard your adventure, allowing you to focus on making memories instead of worrying about what could go wrong.

Which travel Insurance do we use?

We use Safetywing - we’ve used them for around 5 years now and in those 5 years we’ve personally claimed from them 4 times. We sign up for the Nomad Insurance policy before every trip we go on.

What is Safetywing?

SafetyWing is a travel medical insurance specifically designed for digital nomads and travellers, offering comprehensive coverage tailored to your needs. Whether you're backpacking through Southeast Asia or working remotely in Europe, having reliable insurance gives you peace of mind. With SafetyWing, you’re covered for unexpected medical expenses, travel delays, and even lost belongings, making it an essential part of your travel preparation.

How to sign up quickly

The application process is straightforward and can be done online in just minutes. With flexible plans that adapt to your travel schedule, you can easily extend your coverage as your journey evolves. Plus, SafetyWing operates globally, so you’re protected no matter where you roam.

Step 1:

Use our unique link here to sign up for an account (don’t worry, it’s free). Click on “log in” on the top right and then click on “Don’t have an account? Sign up” to create an account. You only need to purchase a policy when you’re getting ready for your trip. Having an account now already means it’ll only take you less than ONE MINUTE to purchase a policy just before your trip. We generally purchase a policy at home or at the airport the day of our travels, or a few days before.

Step 2:

Read up on the different policies they offer. And figure out which one best suits you and your travel/health needs. We personally use the Nomad insurance. But if we were living outside of our home country, we’d sign up for Nomad Health. Here are the policies in short:

Nomad insurance - Travel coverage for when you get sick or injured while abroad, designed specifically for travellers. Buy anytime and anywhere with ongoing coverage. Flexible terms.

Nomad Health - Fully-equipped global health insurance in your home country and anywhere you travel, designed for remote workers, digital nomads and their families. Must sign up on a yearly plan.

Remote health - One group policy for 175+ countries, Remote Health is a complete health insurance solution for remote companies and globally distributed teams.

Step 3:

Use the pricing calculator to select your age bracket as well as to add on any extra coverage you may need. Add “US coverage” if you’re planning to travel around the US. Add “adventure sports” on if you plan to do exhilarating and more dangerous activities on your travels. Add “electronic theft” on if your electronics are not already covered by insurance back home.

Step 4:

Purchase your policy. It’ll take less than 1 minute if you have an account already and wallah! Now you’re covered for your trip. It’s that easy.

And the best part - when you get home from your trip, you can cancel the policy no strings attached. We personally repeat the process every time we travel out of our home country.

When have we needed Safetywing:

“Okay guys, but when have you actually used Safetywing?”

2020 - they covered our repatriation flights from Bali to our home country of South Africa at the start of the pandemic. It would have cost us $2500 USD out of pocket had they not covered.

2021 - they covered $50 USD a day for a mandatory government quarantine we were put in, on the island of Belitung in Indonesia.

2022 - they covered our doctor visits and treatments we received in Malaysia, for stomach viruses we picked up in India weeks before.

2022 - they covered an emergency root canal treatment Claire needed in Bali, at this point medical and dental work became quite expensive in Bali post-pandemic.

We’d count ourselves lucky though. Nothing too serious or scary has happened to us on our travels but some people aren’t as lucky.

Don't leave your health and safety to chance. Sign up for SafetyWing Nomad Insurance or Nomad Health before your travels and enjoy your adventures knowing you’re covered for the unexpected. Your future self will thank you!