Nepal

[kingrollo]

hi,

in conjunction with his uni my son has signed up for a two week trip to Nepal in August 2021 - which will hopefully be a great experience for him. I have put the initial deposit on my credit card for him To get the section 75 cover. a few questions:-

What sort of insurance should I get - I would like to cover cancellations and of course covid - any company recommendations welcome

in strictness he has to raise £2.5k for charity - in reality I will be paying ! - Just wonder is this amount refundable \ insurable ?

How safe is Nepal ? - any precautions he should take ?

 

[Sharky]

My daughter travelled to Nepal when we had those Icelandic volcano eruptions and all air travel was cancelled. I think she was stuck there for a couple of weeks. But she had a great time, travelling by herself, but meeting up with group travelers. Don't know what insurance she had, but I don't think she was out of pocket.

Another time, she got caught up in strikes and her flights were cancelled. Her insurance would have got her home, but she would have had to wait for several days. Instead, she got another flight, for which she had to pay for, but she got home much quicker.

Read the T&C's carefully- before you buy the insurance.

 

[Beebo]

in strictness he has to raise £2.5k for charity - in reality I will be paying ! - Just wonder is this amount refundable \ insurable ?

Not sure about the charity donation. My experience with sponsored events is that the Charity regard the money as theirs whether you do the event or not.

 

[vickster]

Trailfinders insurance covers Covid. Won't be the cheapest (£82 single trip covering the 1st 2 weeks of August as an example) but you're insuring against 2.5k for starters
https://www.trailfinders.com/insurance#/step1
You'd need to check the Ts & Cs as to what would be covered, excesses etc, but for starters

• Up to £10 million medical expenses & repatriation (with 365/24/7 emergency assistance), including Covid-19 cover
• Up to £5,000pp cancellation cover, with option to extend up to £20,000pp, including Covid-19 cover
• Covid-19 quarantine cover before and during travel if insured is instructed to self-isolate
• 21 day no quibble cooling off period
• Wide range of adventurous activities included at no additional charge
• Easy to understand and simple to book
• Sympathetic and personal approach to the handling of claims

Or try the company organising the trip? Or the Uni organisers - what do they say?

Ref Nepal safety, look at the FCO (although of course situations do change)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nepal
He's presumably going in a group with local guides and trekking and whatnot? Or is it a charity workcamp type thing?
He may need vaccinations too, check at Fitfortravel

 

[kingrollo]

Trailfinders insurance covers Covid. Won't be the cheapest (£82 single trip covering the 1st 2 weeks of August as an example) but you're insuring against 2.5k for starters
https://www.trailfinders.com/insurance#/step1
You'd need to check the Ts & Cs as to what would be covered, excesses etc, but for starters

• Up to £10 million medical expenses & repatriation (with 365/24/7 emergency assistance), including Covid-19 cover
• Up to £5,000pp cancellation cover, with option to extend up to £20,000pp, including Covid-19 cover
• Covid-19 quarantine cover before and during travel if insured is instructed to self-isolate
• 21 day no quibble cooling off period
• Wide range of adventurous activities included at no additional charge
• Easy to understand and simple to book
• Sympathetic and personal approach to the handling of claims

Or try the company organising the trip? Or the Uni organisers - what do they say?

Ref Nepal safety, look at the FCO (although of course situations do change)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nepal
He's presumably going in a group with local guides and trekking and whatnot? Or is it a charity workcamp type thing?
He may need vaccinations too, check at Fitfortravel

Thanks all - I will look at trail finders - it could be a bit difficult to insure because it could be argued the holiday is "Free" - so long as he raises £2.5k for charity (From Dad!!!!) - might drop them a letter asking confirmation its refundable/insurable etc.

keep the thoughts coming.

 

[vickster]

Thanks all - I will look at trail finders - it could be a bit difficult to insure because it could be argued the holiday is "Free" - so long as he raises £2.5k for charity (From Dad!!!!) - might drop them a letter asking confirmation its refundable/insurable etc.

keep the thoughts coming.

Phone them up - Trailfinders are a well established excellent company specialised in long-haul travel
Trailfinders Insurance Hotline: 020 7084 6510

 

[vickster]

Travel insurance is usually void if the FCO advises against all but essential travel but I cant imagine the trip would go under those conditions and insurance should cover cancellation, but obviously check!

 

[kingrollo]

Phone them up - Trailfinders are a well established excellent company specialised in long-haul travel
Trailfinders Insurance Hotline: 020 7084 6510

Phoned them - amazingly they had never been asked this before (ie insuring the charitable donation) - but are looking into it for me.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

What is he doing there? May seem obvious as it’s a popular trekking and climbing destination but he could also be riding motorbikes, mountain biking, bungy, jumping, white water rafting.

There are two main aspects to the insurance. Cancellation for whatever reason. Then insurance for the activities he’ll be undertaking and medical / repatriation. Most insurance covers belongings so I’ll skip that. The activities will dictate what insurance is suitable, especially if the two weeks includes anything classed as an “extreme” sport / activity.

 

[vickster]

Phoned them - amazingly they had never been asked this before (ie insuring the charitable donation) - but are looking into it for me.

What charity is it being done in aid of - maybe they have ties to an insurance Co?

 

[kingrollo]

What is he doing there? May seem obvious as it’s a popular trekking destination but he could also be riding motorbikes, mountain biking, bungy, jumping, white water rafting.

There are two main aspects to the insurance. Cancellation for whatever reason. Then insurance for the activities he’ll be undertaking and medical / repatriation. Most insurance covers belongings so I’ll skip that. The activities will dictate what insurance is suitable, especially if the two weeks includes anything classed as an “extreme” sport / activity.

Yes it will be mainly trekking - its more the fact that he (I !!!) - will be paying by charitable donation that concerns me

 

[kingrollo]

What charity is it being done in aid of - maybe they have ties to an insurance Co?

Yes -hes coming home next week so hopefully I can get more of an idea then. company have said refunds are charities discretion. I will try and get it in writing that this donation is subject to trip taking place. I mean £.2.5k is a decent rear wheel ...right ?

 

[vickster]

Yes -hes coming home next week so hopefully I can get more of an idea then. company have said refunds are charities discretion. I will try and get it in writing that this donation is subject to trip taking place. I mean £.2.5k is a decent rear wheel ...right ?

Nah just a Dura Ace chain

Maybe the charity thinks that they'll get the donations regardless (or at least the proportion that doesn't go on travel)...presumably the idea is to get the money together through fund raising not the bank of dad?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Yes -hes coming home next week so hopefully I can get more of an idea then. company have said refunds are charities discretion. I will try and get it in writing that this donation is subject to trip taking place. I mean £.2.5k is a decent rear wheel ...right ?

If he just wants to go trekking, far cheaper to do it as a holiday in its own right. What’s his reason for doing it for this charity ?

 

[kingrollo]

Nah just a Dura Ace chain

Maybe the charity thinks that they'll get the donations regardless (or at least the proportion that doesn't go on travel)...presumably the idea is to get the money together through fund raising not the bank of dad?

Yes true - but he thinks (and I agree) - that its a bit like begging so he can have a holiday + he isn't going to hit £2500 anyway.