Table of Contents
Introduction to Tips for Solo Women Going Travelling
Why Travelling Solo is Empowering
Travelling as a solo woman can be a life-changing experience, allowing individuals to discover new cultures and challenge themselves in a safe and supportive environment.
With the right mindset and preparation, solo women travellers can feel empowered and confident as they explore new destinations.
BUT – don’t forget! Travel insurance cover is an essential aspect of women travellers, providing protection against unexpected events and medical emergencies.
Many travel insurance companies offer standard policies for travellers of all sorts, including coverage for emergency medical treatment and trip cancellations. However, you may wish to look at an insurance company that was founded around the needs of women travellers when looking at travel insurance cover. Either single trip travel insurance, or annual multi trip policies, Emerald Life will see you right.
How Emerald Can Help With Your Travel Insurance as a Single Woman Traveller
Come to an experienced insurer!
Emerald is an award-winning travel insurer. We pride ourselves on covering as many groups, destinations and issues as we are able. However we were founded in a mission to better serve the LGBT+ community women in the insurance sector.
You can see from our website what we have done, and why we started looking at the underserved communities after the founders spent decades as advocates for women and the LGBT+ community.
If you want a travel insurance quote from award-winning Emerald, either get an online quote in minutes HERE or if you have questions you can call us on 0330 113 7109.
First, What Is Travel Insurance?
The Basics
Travel insurance is insurance cover for all things related to your social/holiday travel.
It covers a multitude of areas where you may suffer loss. For example, if you fall ill before you travel, or need emergency medical treatment if you are on holiday. Emergency medical care and emergency dental treatment are not cheap if done abroad, and those unexpected costs can soon mount up if you do not have travel insurance cover.
You can take travel insurance cover/holiday insurance cover as either an annual multi trip cover, or as single trip travel insurance. Much depends on your needs.
Further, apart from medical expenses, your travel insurance cover will provide cover for lost accommodation costs, lost luggage, cancellation cover, cancelled flight, bankrupt tour operator, other unexpected costs around lost baggage, personal belongings or other similar items a missed departure etc. Make sure, whether you have a single trip policy, or annual multi trip policies, you read the policy wording to check what your travel insurance policy covers.
Another point – when you arrange cover, you will need to disclose any pre existing medical conditions that you may have. That might increase the premium but all pre existing medical conditions need to be disclosed at the time that you take the travel insurance cover. If you do not do so then your trade insurance may well be void and may not pay out, which can present problems in the case of a medical emergency – and emergency medical expenses. If you are unsure about whether you need to declare any pre existing medical conditions, then call your insurance provider and ask specificially about those pre-existing medical conditions. Remember, you may get cheaper travel insurance if you don’t disclose your pre existing medical conditions but that is clearly a false economy.
Also, prepare your own medical cover as much as you can. For instance, insurance companies would expect you to get a global health insurance card (replacing the old european health insurance card after Brexit). While your insurance covers many things, insurers may not pay out for medical expenses incurred which would have been free if you had remembered to apply for your Global health insurance card.
Lastly as part of this introduction, you need to listen to the UK government! Travel insurance will not cover you if you travel to a country where the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all but essential travel to that country, or where the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office advises against ALL travel. Sometimes only part of a country is covered by this warning, and it changes over time, so check before you buy your travel insurance.
Planning and Preparation
Researching Destinations
Researching destinations is crucial for solo women travellers, helping them to understand local customs, safety concerns, and cultural norms. Remember that if you take annual multi trip cover, you may not be specifying your travel destinations when you buy travel insurance, so please do check each time as your travel insurance may not cover you in that case.
Travel insurance policies can provide valuable insights and guidance on destinations, including information on safety and security. This is particularly important for women travellers. As mentioned above
As with everybody, and as mentioned above, solo women travellers should consider purchasing travel insurance that covers pre-existing medical conditions, ensuring they have access to medical care if needed. If you do not have that, then your medical conditions and your medical expenses may not be covered. Given how (relatively) little travel insurance costs, most specialists will recommend getting holiday insurance just in case.
Finally, thinking about costs, annual multi-trip policies can be a cost-effective option for frequent travellers, providing coverage for multiple trips throughout the year. if you are a single women traveller, you can still take annual multi trip policies and travel with others who have their own holiday insurance.
Safety and Security
Staying Safe While Travelling
Staying safe while traveling requires a combination of common sense, research, and planning, including being aware of local safety concerns and taking necessary precautions. But your travel insurance can also help.
Travel insurance can provide emergency assistance and support in the event of a medical emergency or other crisis. That includes if there is some form of attack or similar that is a medical emergency. If you are thinking about cheaper travel insurance, just make sure that the basics are covered and everything else you need. For example they may not provide cover for a serious medical emergency. Also do you need winter sports cover? Or cruise cover? Or gadget cover?
Solo women travelers should consider purchasing travel insurance that includes coverage for the right level of emergency medical expenses, ensuring they have access to quality medical care if needed. This can of course save money in the end if you need to claim – even for the smallest claim under gadget cover, or lost luggage.
Group travel insurance can be a good option for solo women travellers who are joining a group tour or traveling with friends. There are several women’s travel groups where Emerald provides a travel insurance policy, such as Walking Women.
Health and Wellness
Staying Healthy While Traveling
Staying healthy while traveling requires attention to hygiene, nutrition, and stress management, including taking regular exercise and getting enough rest – things we don’t often do on holiday! The thing is that if you are travelling alone, you need to make sure that you have your travel insurance cover details to hand in case there is an emergency medical issue that needs dealing with – whether annual multi trip cover, or a single trip travel insurance, there should be a clear and obvious number for claims. Particularly important if you are doing winter sports trips or some other hazardous activity.
Travel insurance can provide coverage for medical expenses, including emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation. Emerald provides up to £10m of emergency medical expenses cover. Cheaper travel insurance may offer less for not much less premium so beware with affordable cover.
As a single traveller also make sure that your tour operator has your contact details and that your policy covers paid for accommodation – as likely you will be the only person staying there, so those costs cannot be defrayed if, for example, you fall ill or cannot make it because of a cancelled flight.
As mentioned above, solo women travelers should consider purchasing travel insurance that includes coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, ensuring they have access to medical care if needed as they may not have a companion. Also as mentioned, these pre existing conditions are important – if you do not let an insurer know about the pre existing conditions then your travel insurance policy may not pay out, even for other things like cancelled flight or lost luggage.
Medical cover is an essential aspect of travel insurance, providing protection against high medical costs and ensuring access to quality medical care. Even the UK government on its website recommends travel insurance cover. Emerald works with the UK government on travel issues for women and the LGBT+ community, so we have a great background to help with your travel insurance policy.
Financial Planning
Budgeting for Solo Women Travellers
Budgeting for solo travel requires careful planning and research, including estimating costs for accommodation, transportation, and activities.
Travel insurance can provide financial protection against unexpected events, including trip cancellations and lost luggage.
Solo women travelers should consider purchasing travel insurance that includes coverage for accommodation costs, ensuring they have a safe and comfortable place to stay.
Personal belongings, including luggage and valuables, can be covered under travel insurance policies, providing financial protection against loss or theft.
Transportation and Accommodation
So for women travelling alone, it is important to travel safely. If you are in car that can be safer but be aware of your surroundings when travelling all the time. Obviously it is better to be safer in the first place than to have to claim on your travel insurance. You should exercise caution on every single trip, particularly if you have medical conditions or other pre existing issues. Travel insurance will provide cancellation cover, but the cheaper travel insurance companies may argue when you come to claim (in which case you should immediately contact the Financial Conduct Authority) – but not all cancellation cover is the same and some may not cover pre booked accommodation costs, so check your policy carefully. Cheaper travel insurance may not always save money!
Personal Liability and Emergency Assistance
Understanding Personal Liability
Understanding personal liability is essential for solo women travellers, including understanding their responsibilities and obligations.
Travel insurance can provide coverage for personal liability, including legal costs and compensation for damages.
Solo women travellers should consider purchasing travel insurance that includes coverage for emergency assistance, ensuring they have access to support and guidance in the event of a crisis. Otherwise emergency medical expenses can be very steep indeed
Emergency medical treatment, including hospitalisation and surgery, can be covered under travel insurance policies, providing financial protection against high medical costs. Emerald covers up to £10m of emergency medical expenses, in every travel insurance, even single trip travel insurance.
Conclusion
How Emerald Can Help With Your Travel Insurance
Emerald is here to help with your travel insurance. We pride ourselves on covering as many groups, destinations and issues as we are able. We were founded in a mission to better serve women and the LGBT+ community in the insurance sector. Travel insurance cover was one of our first areas.
You can see from our website what we have done, and why we started looking at the needs of women after the founders spent decades as women and LGBT+ advocates. In the meantime, if you want a travel insurance quote, either get an online quote in minutes HERE or if you have questions you can call us on 0330 113 7109.
Summary Article for Financial Conduct Authority purposes – travel insurance cover for single trip. annual multi trip policies; travel insurance for emergency medical expenses; travel insurance cover for medical conditions; specialist cover for women travellers; review of travel insurance costs; discussion of pre existing conditions; insurance cover cancelled flights
