Why all Australians should take out travel insurance before going overseas

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Travel insurance

For most Australians overseas travel is a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, however, every day our consular officers deal with human tragedies involving the death, injury or hospitalisation of Australians abroad. Each year we handle over 20,000 cases involving Australians in difficulty overseas. This includes over 700 hospitalisations, 600 deaths and 100 evacuations of Australians to another location for medical purposes.

In cases where victims are not covered by travel insurance, such personal tragedies are further compounded by a long-term financial burden. Hospitalisation, medical evacuations, or even the return of the deceased's remains to Australia, can be very expensive. Daily hospitalisation costs in Southeast Asia regularly exceed $800; return of remains from Europe in excess of $10,000. The cost of medical evacuations from the United States regularly range from $75,000 to $95,000 and sometimes up to $300,000. The department has handled medical evacuations from nearby Bali in which costs have exceeded $60,000.

Unfortunately, not all of these cases involved travellers covered by travel insurance. Travellers who are not covered by insurance are personally liable for covering incurred medical and associated costs. As a result, we have known instances where families have been forced to sell off assets, including their superannuation or family homes, to bring loved ones back to Australia for treatment.

Despite these stark statistics, it is not the department's intention to discourage Australians from travelling, which in almost all cases is a very positive experience. Only 0.6% of Australians travelling overseas encounter difficulty each year.

Instead, one of our key messages to Australian travellers is that there are things you can do to help reduce the likelihood of becoming one of the more unhappy consular statistics. With accidents or illness often unavoidable, proper travel insurance is very important in this context. Of course, the all-too-common occurrence of theft and loss of personal belongings is also something all Australian travellers should insure against. Each year the department handles over 16,000 cases involving the welfare of Australians who have suffered illness, theft, robbery or assault.

In choosing a policy, we would note some insurance policies will not always cover claims made in those countries to which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recommends against travel. For up-to-date travel advice, we recommend travellers consult and monitor this website.

Where Australians cannot obtain travel insurance to cover their personal medical circumstances, they should consider the potential financial risks very carefully before deciding whether to proceed with planned travel overseas.

Case Studies

Following are some examples of the kind of cases handled by the Department:

The reasons for Australians requiring hospitalisation vary. Cases handled by the department have included car and motorbike accidents, a simple misstep and fall at a temple, and side effects from prescribed drugs. The department advises 'if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel'. In many of the cases it is the traveller's family who have had to foot the bill.

1. In Bangkok a man was hit by a car while riding a motorcycle. He sustained a badly fractured leg and was admitted to the nearest local hospital. His wife was with him. He did not have any travel insurance, and so had no choice as to hospital or treatment. The hospital did not have the expertise to do anything for him except clean the wound. After 3 weeks his wife asked the Embassy for assistance as parts of the shin bone had died and the fractured ends were not healing. The Embassy assisted in having the man medically evacuated to Australia for admission to hospital, at very considerable expense to his family.

2. In Bali, 5 Australians were injured in a mini-van accident. Consular assistance was limited to support and routine contact with next-of-kin (NOK), as all the Australians involved had travel insurance. The travel insurance company paid their hospital bills and arranged their medical evacuation to Australia.

3. A young man worked in a US ski resort for four months, then took time off to travel around the US. He permitted his 12-month travel insurance policy to expire just a few days before his departure for home. He was hit by a car while crossing a road and suffered serious head injuries. He was admitted unconscious to intensive care and required highly intensive sophisticated care until he was able to be flown back to Australia. He was still unconscious and returned on a stretcher. The cost to the family for the medical evacuation alone was $80,000. They have taken out a second mortgage on their house to raise the funds.

4. A young Australian surfer went to the United States for a surfing competition. Although an experienced surfer, he unfortunately chose the wrong wave during a practice session. The wave dumped him on a reef and he sustained serious injuries. He was flown to a local hospital and immediately underwent two major operations. The hospital bill was AUD290, 000. Fortunately the young man's parents had insisted he take out travel insurance before he left Australia. The insurance company covered the bill, and the young man and his family were able to focus on his recovery.

Source: smartraveller.gov.ua

• To photograph everything is possible, but in the street it is better to ask the sanction people. By the koran the image of the person is forbidden, but you can pay and be photographed. To remove the chamber also everything is possible, but in its shops with itself do not take: the chamber - an attribute of riches, and to you the improbable prices can "break"! To show and print photos it is possible practically everywhere and quickly.

• Museums in Egypt are closed early - in the winter at 16.00, in the summer at 17.00. To photograph in museums it is authorized, but without flash and for an additional payment.

• Shops in resort areas usually work till 22.00. The majority of shops works from 9.00 till and again from 16.30 till . If on the goods the price is put to bargain senselessly. If is not present - safely force down the price.

• More Egyptian souvenir, than the papyrus with color figures to think up it is impossible. They are inexpensive, durable, light and convenient at transportation. But be cautious - Egypt is flooded by cheap fakes - from a rice paper or banana leaves with stamped figure, therefore to buy papyruses follows only in specialized shops where certificates of quality stand out. Alabaster figurines are interesting also.

• Tip within the limits of 1 pound for fine services can be given the employee of hotel and the airport who brings luggage, opens a door of the car. At restaurants to the waiter usually leave delivery at a rate of from 1 up to 5 pounds.

• The clothes should be enough modest. It is reasonable to women to concern to a choice of the clothes better and to not go on streets in too open orders - religion of the country it does not welcome. In hotels, by steam-ships the European conditions of rest where it is possible to not care of a choice of clothes are created.

• The most frequent disease - diarrhea which can be consequence{investigation} drunk kola, the eaten ice-cream, an ice in drinks, dirty or skrabn't fruit and vegetables, salads in which there is a washed off water. strengthening the effect gives fig. Many recommend to disinfect a stomach vodka, but Egyptians have got used to make it by lemons. Therefore both to soup and to salad to you the small lemons cut in two will submit.

• Water buy in bottles on one and a half litre. The best "Siva" or "Delta" because is softer, but it is possible to buy and to "Barrack". Do not drink water from under the crane. She " for external application "! Do not clean to her even a teeth, rinse a mouth the bought water. Will save money for water - will save at excursions and entertainments: from all Egyptian places of interest will see only to the sanitary technician, exposed in your hotel room.

• Creams for sunburn are better for bringing with itself - here they very expensive.

• Any critical statements about Egypt if they proceed from the foreigner, are perceived as roughness and even as the personal insult. In society it will answer with an indulgent smile. In the street or in other public place if the insult will count serious, the discontent can is fast overage in anger. Egyptians very much are proud of the country and often repeat: " We her children ".

Malaysia today

Movement on the country

Today move across Malaysia it is possible by the rented machine, if you have less 18 years (in some firms of not less than 23 years) and no more than 60. The taxi in Malaysia costs cheaply. The self-locking device is not especially widespread, besides to lonely women in such a way movement to use categorically it is not recommended. Across Kuala Lumpur it is the most convenient to move by buses and the ground underground. The Fare depends on quantity of stations and changes. If you sit down in a taxi, agree about the price at once. In spite of the fact that there is a fixed price for kilometer, frequently drivers lift up the prices, starting to turn or choosing the longest way up to the specified point, especially if you do not know road.

Currency

All non-residents of Malaysia at entrance should fill the form of the currency declaration. You should declare necessarily the exact sum of national currency if she exceeds 1000 ringgit, and the sum of a foreign currency, including traveller's cheques if she exceeds 2500 American dollars. At entrance the declaration is saved and surrenders at departure. In a greater part of the country banks are opened from Monday till Friday from 9.30 till, on Saturday from 9.30 till . On Sunday are closed. In staffs Gym shoes, Kelantan, Trenggany banks work from Saturday till Wednesday from 9.30 till, on Thursday from 9.30 till, and on Friday are closed. Also all banks are closed on the first Saturday of month. The majority of institutions in tourist zones is accepted with credit cards. But consider, sometimes hotels or restaurants raise the prices for 2.5-3 % if you pay off with a map.

Etiquette

In Malaysia there are no private beaches. Therefore rest toples or in general without clothes is not welcomed at all. As to women, they in advance should be prepared to not look and not behave defiantly, especially outside tourist zones. Ladies can put on everything, that advertise the western magazines, but in mosques or in the remote malayan villages they should appear in more modest clothes. To shorts, short shirt and to miniskirts still it is necessary to deserve access to the Asian province. That on ignorance to not tread on corns of local residents, it is recommended to remove footwear before visiting of houses and temples. At visiting religious institutions it is necessary to put on the modest clothes closing hands and legs. In some temples give out special footwear and scarfs. Today visitors in Malaysia usually offer drinks, to refuse them it is very impolite. Women here welcome a nod of a head and a smile more often. Hand shake is possible, only if the woman herself stretches a hand. The traditional greeting looks as not so strong hand shake by both hands. Never specify for or the person an index finger. For this purpose the big finger of a hand is used, other fingers are bent. Never take meal and do not pass anything the left hand. Traditionally she in this country was used for the hygienic purposes, and to pass someone to something the left hand means fatally it to offend. The head of the person is considered in Malaysia sacred, and to touch her it is impossible. Therefore do not take in head to stroke by our tradition Malasian the child on a head.

ONE DAY FROM THE LIFE IN THE VEIN

About places of interest of the Vein it is told much. It is not less important to know local orders and customs to which each tourist coming to city should be ready. Some things for " our person " can seem not clear, and even at all strange. As speak, when in Rome do as the Romans do. So it is necessary to adapt to not look the outsider on a background local Burger

So, to get acquainted with those places of interest, you should reach them somehow. Transport in the Vein essentially is more dear, than in Moscow. The underground - 1,50 evro.

Ground transport - 2 evro. Costing at the monitor in searches of the button to get the ticket, do not forget - to press it is necessary on the screen. The main thing, after purchase, do not forget to punch the ticket in the special device. Otherwise from you can take the penalty in 60 evro. Think, you will manage to be driven by a hare, time at turnstiles is not necessary habitual granny? You are mistaken. It is better to not risk! Chambers watch each step … If you go family it will be more favourable to take a taxi. Landing - 2 evro, and further on the counter.

Passing street, do not forget about bicyclists. In their Europe becomes more and more. The vein not the exception, special paths, traffic lights is here again.

In searches of certain number of the house, be close. The figure before the name of street is number of area. Speak, depending on it it is separated in the price in shops. The first area - historical downtown - it is natural, road.

In the menu of restaurants you necessarily will meet well-known Viennese schnitzel . In an ideal he should be made of a beef. But can meet and pork. The prices vary from 6 evro up to 17 evro. For the sake of justice, it is necessary to note, that some Austrian cooks too love salt …

Visitors do not miss an opportunity to try and the well-known Viennese coffee. To a drink on idea should submit a glass of cold water. Be not surprised, that she not boiled … Local residents in this occasion do not panic, means, to be afraid there is nothing. Suitable water for drink - a subject of pride of the Austrians. To coffee tourists take apple pie (Apfelstrudel) - a batch popular here more often. The stuffing can be not only from an apple, but also from cottage cheese with vanilla sauce, vegetables and even meat.

The small note. Reserving meal, drinks and a dessert be ready to that coffee with sweets to you will bring first of all. If you have not got used to such sequence, it is better to tell about it in advance to the waiter.

It is necessary to mention and local sweets. There is no, probably, a tourist who would not bring from the Vein "mozartkugeln" - the sweets named in honour of the well-known composer. To search specially for them it is not necessary, they will find you, since are on sale continually. It is the most favourable to buy these gifts in supermarkets. Gift shops increase the prices almost twice.
About a photo - on salzburget "mozartkugeln" there is no even such image. Strangely enough, on the present sweets made manually, the structure … is not written even

But if to you to have the luck to visit Salzburg there you with surprise learn, that all the sweets bought in another Austrian cities not that other as a fake! Several years ago manufacturers of sweets known to us had legal proceedings with descendants of the first manufacturer "mozartkugeln". The last have won and now do the present sweets in the limited circulation which are on sale only in Mozart's native city. A difference in the price and a wrapper. Speak, the original candy wrapper should be not golden, but silvery color. On taste and color … Than to regale - to solve to you. Interestingly that, as on one, and on other sweets an inscription one - echte salzburger Mozartkugeln, as means - " the presents … ".

The majority of travellers already on the native land are bought by local currency (evro). But if you all the same need to change money, in the Vein it is better to do it in bank. First, here from you will take less than commission fee, than in room with an inscription "change". Secondly, feel a difference: anybody at all will not say a phrase " your passport ".

If you use a mobile phone, study in advance quotations. Banal sms-ка can manage to you instead of habitual 6 cents in 50. The Same concerns also conversations. Naturally, to call most cheaply from a call box. From hotel - time in three more dearly.

And the last. This information represents special interest for men. During week stay in the Vein has discouraged only one - the tablet in bathing:

Purchases in Germany

Firm running shoes at half price, a suit from HUGO BOSS at a discount 40 %, porcelain and laces are exclusively inexpensive... The Secret of favourable purchase – to get a thing at the manufacturer

Hunting for discounts became for Germans some kind of a national entertainment.Hunting behind discounts became for Germans some kind of a national entertainment. The present master in this area the one who without effort can find on a map of Germany shops at factories (Factory-Outlets) in which known manufacturers of consumer goods directly realizes production is considered. The difference in the price in comparison with usual shopping centers and boutiques makes from 10 up to 70 %. Thus it is a question not of a seasonal advertising campaign and not about the false, any way established discounts: under the low prices the goods within all year are realized all. To find these oases of economy the Guidebook across Germany for hunters behind discounts » (« Schnapchenfuhrer Deutschland ») helps special «.

Benefits of factory trade appreciate not only buyers, but also manufacturers. In some cases incomes of it make 10 % of a turn of the company. Modern trading pavilions at factories all are less similar on jams warehouses: they are considered as the card of the enterprise. Company Adidas, for example, has constructed beside with the factory in the city of Hertsogenaurah (Bavaria) a spacious trading building in futuristic style.

Advantages of factory trade are obvious to those who appreciates qualitative production of known stamps, not away to save and the step in a step (at factories it is possible to buy hits of the last seasons, new collections are realized through usual shops) is ready to not follow a fashion.

The most interesting Factory-Outlets Germany:

Bayer

What? Cosmetics, sun-protection means, all for a camping, bed-clothes and pesticides

How much? From 10 % up to 50 %

What? Here too it is possible to buy production of company Agfa

Where? Leverkusen, Northern Rhine-Fetfal(Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, Bayer-Werk, 51373 Leverkusen, ph. 02 14 / 3 06 52 55)

Jil Sander

What? Almost all subjects from a collection of the last season: suits, jackets, trousers, a sweater.

How much? From 50 % up to 70 %

What? A benevolent atmosphereWhere? Eleray, Shlezvig-golshtein (Berliner Damm 5-11, 25479 Ellerau, ph. 0 40 / 55 30 20)

Chimsee

What? Clothes for rest and sports

How much? From 30 % up to 70 %

What? The goods of other known stamps (including Mango, Buffalo, Hallhuber, Salamander) in Outlet-center В5

Where? Wustermark, Brandenburg (B5 Designer Outlet-Center, Alter Spandauer Weg 1, 14641 Wustermark, ph. 03 32 34 / 90 40)

Lindt

What? Chocolate, sweets, gifts

How much? 25 %, up to 70 % on the broken sweets

What? Sale of the goods with expiring period of storage

Where? Aachen, Northern Rhine-fetfal (Suesterfeldstrasse 130, 52072 Aachen, ph. 02 41 / 8 88 12 75)

Bree

What? Ladies' bags, suitcases, purses, backpacks

How much? From 30 % up to 60 % on samples, the commodity rests, products of the second grade

What? Very convenient distribution of production in a trading hall of one of cases of firm Where? Изернхаген, the Bottom Saxony (Gerberstrasse 3, 30916 Isernhagen-Kirchhorst, ph. 0 51 36 / 8 97 60)

Shott

What? Heat resisting utensils, glasses, vases, bowls

How much? From 25 % up to 30 %, special offers - up to 40 %

What? The center of sales of the commodity rests of company Tschibo adjoins to shop: from textiles up to hours and bicycles

Where? Yen, Thuringia (Otto-Schott-Strasse 13, 07745 Jena, ph. 0 36 41 / 68 16 94)

Leifheit

What? The goods for the house, including such stamps as Soehnle, Spirella, Dr. Oetker-Backgeraete, Die kleine Wolke

How much? From 30 % up to 50 %

What? The goods of the second grade in separate packing

Where? Nassau, Reinland-Pfalc (Leifheitstrasse, 56377 Nassau, ph. 0 26 04 / 97 70)

Rosenthal

What? Porcelain services, tablewares, glasses, glasses

How much? From 30 % up to 50 %

What? Sale of the goods of firm Villeroy and Boch

Where? Zelb, Bavaria (Philip-Rosenthal-Platz 1, 95100 Selb, ph. 0 92 87 / 7 24 90)

Versace

What? Fashionable clothes

How much? From 30 % up to 70 %

What? Designer-Outlet, offering the goods of other known stamps, as for example: Aigner, Lacoste and Diesel Where? Zweibuecken, Reinland-Pfalc (OCI Designer-Outlet, Londoner Bogen 10-90, 66482 Zweibruecken, ph. 0 63 32 / 9 93 90)

Bally

What? Female and man's footwear

How much? From 30 % up to 70 %

What? In Wertheim Village the goods and other known stamps, among which, for example, Reebok and Quiksilver are on sale

Where? Wertheim, Baden-Wurtemberg (Wertheim Village, Gewerbegebiet Almosenberg (industrial zone Almozenberg), 97887 Wertheim, ph. 0 93 42 / 9 19 90 11)

Fujitsu-Siemens

What? Computers, notebookes and accessories

How much? A significant prize in the price owing to sales and special offers

Where? Munich, Bavaria (Otto-Hahn-Ring 6-12, 81739 Muenchen, ph. 01 80 / 5 00 76 96)

Adidas

What? Sportswear and footwear

How much? From 30 % up to 50 %

What? A wide range of the goods in a new futuristic building. Here factory sale of products of such stamps as Puma, Nike, Sport Hoffmann

Where? Herzogenaurach, Bavaria (Am Kriesel ERH-25, 91074 Herzogenaurach, ph. 0 91 32 / 84 20 46)

Boss

What? Female and menswear, sportswear, glasses, the rests of a fabric, dry goods

How much? From 20 % up to 40 %

What? Factory sale of the goods of many other things of stamps, for example: Bally, Escada, Joop, Bogner, Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger

Where? Metzingen, Baden-Wurtemberg (Kanalstrasse 6-10, 72555 Metzingen, ph. 0 71 23 / 94 22 04)

Schiesser

What? Linen, bath dressing gownes, pyjamas, and also children's clothes

How much? From 20 % up to 30 %, on the separate goods up to 50 %

What? A gray-blue building in folklore style

Where? Radolfzell, Baden-Wurtemberg (Schuetzenstrasse 18-22, 78305 Radolfzell, ph. 0 77 32 / 90 22 39)

BIG

What? Toys, including BIG Bobby-Car, sledges, hills, cubes

How much? From 10 % up to 20 %

What? In the warehouse transformed into trading halls, practically full assortment of the goods of firm BIG is presented

Where? Fuert-Stadeln, Bavaria (Alfred-Nobel-Strasse 55-59, 90765 Fuerth-Stadeln, ph. 09 11 / 9 76 30)