When travel is concerned the most important thing to remember is: always read the fine print. The second most important thing to remember is: read the fine print again. Whether you’re heading out on your first travel adventure or you’re a seasoned traveller with a passport that’s almost full, there are still many hidden clauses and subtle loopholes to be aware of. Increasing your fine print awareness can save you money and time in some situations, and lead to fantastic travel hacks in others. Here’s a round-up of the top travel loopholes and fine prints to be aware of.
Always check Travel Insurance fine print
- Every traveller knows a good insurance policy is the safety net to any great trip. Yet so often they misunderstand what they’re covered for. It pays to know what you are NOT covered for in the fine print. In many cases your claims can be voided if an accident occurs while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and on top of that it remains your responsibility to stay away from unnecessary risks, travel insurance fine print will spell out the context in which responsibility is yours or not. The activities you have in mind will affect your insurance so if you want to ride scooters in Bali or ski in Switzerland, check the fine print and find the policy that’s right for you! Head of Travel at Scoopon Gordy Bayne recommends consumers book their travels through an AFTA bonded travel agent. It means they are a bona fide travel agent and meet industry standards.
Cyber World vs Real World
When it comes to your airfare, insurance and accommodation it can be tricky to know whether to shop online or turn to a travel agent. In many cases the agents are spurred on by commissions and your quotes are higher than those found online. Conversely the online figures that appear much cheaper through third party websites can mean claims are difficult to follow up with multiple parties to chase after. Consider both and make the choice that’s right for you.
There’s a surprisingly lot of these so we’ll rattle them off quick and you can research the ones that suit your travel goals.
- Sign up to Airline credit cards. Frequent flyer points are the essence of travel hacking so sign up where appropriate and earn those miles.
- Follow Travel Blogs for the latest deals. Use the experience of those in the know to get you where you want to go.
- Use comparison websites to find the cheapest deals for you, then take those figures to a travel agent and see if they can beat it!
There’s no doubt that the introduction of widespread non-refundable services, a rise in exotic and remote travel destinations and the general unrest in many locations has increased the need for travel insurance. Despite this, a thorough understanding of the fine print and using the latest travel loopholes means the best trip you haven’t yet had is out there waiting for you.
