Travelling abroad

The most frequent trip made by expats is the one that takes them back to their own country.  In surveys carried out by Tenerife Lifeline, residents missed family most of all.  Relatives, and of course friends, are the main reason we go back to visit our old homes.  Shopping is also high on the agenda: Boots and Superdrug fill many an expat suitcase, as do clothes and shoe shops.  But there are some delights that we can’t bring back with us on flights.  Particular foods, beers and restaurants can make grown expatriate men’s eyes moisten as they fondly reminisce about them.  While their wives stretch their suitcases to bursting with goodies from the shops, Tenerife Lifeline surveys indicate that it is men’s waistbands that are pushed to their limits. 

Whatever our reasons for visiting the ‘old country’, many of us forget that we are no longer residents of the UK or Ireland, and as such we are not protected in the same way that we were when we lived there. For example, if you are ill, then unless you have been to the social security office and obtained your Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea, you will not be covered by the National Health Service.  Controls on this are being tightened up, so make sure that you are not caught unawares.

Almost as common as trips back to the UK and Ireland are holidays taken elsewhere in the world.  Expats are, generally speaking, quite keen on travelling.  Whether skiing, sightseeing or soaking up a foreign culture, you do need to ensure that you are covered if something should go wrong.  As English speakers, we will tend to book our holidays through English travel agents and websites.  As expats, we need to exercise a little caution in doing so.

Whether visiting the UK, Ireland or any other country, you will need to take out some form of travel insurance.  Many expats take out policies through flight booking websites and UK travel agents, unaware that they may not be covered.  A general condition of UK or Irish policies is that you must be a resident of the country where the policy originates.  Normally, your journey will also have to start and finish in that country as well.  Many, many people take out these policies automatically when they book tickets, blithely unaware that they are buying a useless piece of paper.  It is only if a hapless expat should come to make a claim that they will realise that they simply took out the wrong type of policy.

The options for a Tenerife resident are twofold.  The first is to take out travel insurance with a Spanish insurer.  If your Spanish is very good, then this should not be a problem.  The policy terms and emergency numbers will, of course, be designed for Spanish speakers, so if you are lose your suitcase and money in Dublin, you may find yourself having to explain yourself in Spanish to the insurance company.  Like any legal document, an insurance policy is best understood if it is in your own language.  An important factor with Spanish insurance policies is that you may not find them as comprehensive as you might expect, so you really do need to understand what it is you are being covered for.

The second option is to take out a travel insurance specifically designed for expats, and there are now very cost effective solutions that will cover your health, as well as loss, theft, delays, cancellations and all the myriad of other things that can go wrong when you are travelling.  The policy need not cost any more than the Spanish alternative, and they will often have very few limits on who they will issue a policy to, allowing travellers to qualify even if they are  80 years old or more.

When you are taking out travel insurance, make sure:

•    That you will be covered in the country you are going to, particularly if you are returning to your own country.
•    The level of cover.  Medical bills can be astronomical, and cover should be in the millions to protect you in all eventualities.
•    That you benefit from a couple / family rate
•    That there is a 24 hour help line that you can speak to in English
•    If you are a frequent traveller, that there are discounts or annual policies available to cut costs.

Tenerife Insurance Services Address: You can find Tenerife Insurance Services at 67, Av. Claudio Delgado Diaz in Las Chafiras with ample parking just outside. Send an Email