Stay safe on the road

Get in the car and let the vacation fun begin: Many Germans on holiday in Germany or Europe travel in their own car or camper van. The advantages of travelling independently include greater independence and mobility at the holiday destination. The right kind of travel cover is essential even on these kinds of journeys, because – whether in Germany or in neighbouring countries – without the right kind of travel protection holidaymakers can face high costs in emergency situations. The experts at ERV, the market leader in travel insurance in Germany, know precisely what holidaymakers need to be prepared for.

 For many travellers, help in cases of illness or accidents while away from home are a priority. On trips taken inGermany itself, the statutory health insurers will cover the costs of medical treatment. However, they do not cover the organisation and costs of casualty home transportation. If, for example, a holidaymaker from Hamburg has an accident in the Bavarian Alpsand wishes to continue their recovery at a hospital near home, they are only protected from high costs by international health insurance. When travelling abroad, the costs incurred can be significant: statutory health insurers only cover the costs that would also be incurred by treatment in Germany; the holidaymaker must pay the remainder. With international health insurance, holidaymakers can also rely on the competent assistance provided by the travel insurance company’s emergency response centre. The staff are at hand 24/7 with information on doctors and hospitals at the holiday destination and assistance when replacement medication is required unexpectedly.

 Carefree travel for one year

For people who like to travel by car or camper van, who often take more than one holiday a year, ERV travel expert Esther Grafwallner recommends annual travel insurance: “Whether you spend a fortnight in the Mediterranean, take a city sightseeing trip or make a weekend visit to relatives living far away – you are always comprehensively insured with an annual travel insurance policy”. The policy comes as a practical package, which not only includes international health insurance but also cancellation insurance, discontinuation insurance and luggage insurance. As such, not only are journeys by car or camper van insured, but the next flight too is covered.

 If a trip has to be cancelled due to unexpected serious illness or death in the family, the travel cancellation insurance refunds the cancellation fees. A termination of employment for operational reasons or short-time work can also be reasons to cancel a trip at short notice. The discontinuation insurance, which should be included in a good travel cancellation insurance package, assumes the additional costs of the return journey or unused travel services when the holiday comes to an abrupt end due to an accident or a burst water main at home.