Insurance for trip to Alps

thefd
thefd Posts: 1,021
edited December 2012 in Road general
Hi all,

Myself and 5 mates are off the the Alps for a long weekend in May and we are hiring bikes over there. We will be doing 3 or 4 days riding. Would you buy specialist insurance or just go for standard insurance?

There are loads of 'winter sports' insurance but (and I haven't looked around) I haven't seen any for cycling.

Any help appreciated...
2017 - Caadx
2016 - Cervelo R3
2013 - R872
2010 - Spesh Tarmac

Comments

  • meesterbond
    meesterbond Posts: 1,240
    If you're not planning on taking an expensive bike with you, then a standard travel policy will probably cover you as long as you're not racing.

    The way to know for sure though is to check the policy document though.
  • buckmulligan
    buckmulligan Posts: 1,031
    I'm rather interested in this as I'm planning something similar. Presumably you're asking primarily regarding health insurance since you're renting bikes, but what about insurance against theft if you're taking your own bikes?
  • meesterbond
    meesterbond Posts: 1,240
    If you're taking your own bikes then I'd give whoever handles your contents insurance a bell first and find out what they'll cover first and what restrictions they have.
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    If you're talking medical insurance then I can recommend www.snowcard.co.uk, they do a lot of cycling holiday cover options not just winter sports (despite the name). I've not had to claim from them but others that have reckon it was hassle-free and they give a lot of options to tune the policy. Dog Tag is another one that gets a lot of recommendations but not used them myself. Get your EU health card thing sorted as well as that takes a couple of weeks to arrive.
  • TakeTurns
    TakeTurns Posts: 1,075
    I'm flying to Majorca soon with Easyjet, they provide health insurance, personal loss insurance and other stuff too. Only costed me £14.

    I'd say check whether the airline you're flying with provides it...
  • nunowoolmez
    nunowoolmez Posts: 867
    I have insurance through Barclays with my account. Includes stuff like cycling & all that. Very impressed. I had to cancel holiday this year to the Alps after a bad injury & they helped me out loads & reimbursed me no problem, minus the excess. Worth getting the form from the post office anyway, but i think it's always good to have specialist cover, just incase.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    Technically you don't need one... if you end up in hospital, you have right to free treatment and you don't really want to be transferred over here, as treatment in France is surely better. There are extreme circumstances where it is useful to have an insurance, but I always risk when I go to Europe... maybe because I am Italian.
    The luggage stuff is mostly paranoia, as airlines cover you, so you don't need an insurance... the reason they only cost 20 pounds is because they cover for events which are covered already, hence they don't expose themselves to any real risk.
    That said, it is only 20 pounds or so...
    left the forum March 2023
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    ...if you end up in hospital, you have right to free treatment...

    That's right, but what happens if your injuries mean you can't travel back the way you came? You would end up paying for the medical repatriation yourself. For the sake of £20 or so, I'd pay for the insurance.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    ...if you end up in hospital, you have right to free treatment...

    That's right, but what happens if your injuries mean you can't travel back the way you came? You would end up paying for the medical repatriation yourself. For the sake of £20 or so, I'd pay for the insurance.

    If you have the chance to stay in Pau, why would you want to be repatriated? A new life...
    left the forum March 2023
  • nevman
    nevman Posts: 1,611
    Post Office do very cheap insurance on the spot.
    Whats the solution? Just pedal faster you baby.

    Summer B,man Team Carbon LE#222
    Winter Alan Top Cross
    All rounder Spec. Allez.
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    ...if you end up in hospital, you have right to free treatment...

    That's right, but what happens if your injuries mean you can't travel back the way you came? You would end up paying for the medical repatriation yourself. For the sake of £20 or so, I'd pay for the insurance.

    If you have the chance to stay in Pau, why would you want to be repatriated? A new life...

    Good point! :D
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    just check the small print - many policies count cycling as a high risk activity if you are racing or not, so wont cover any accidents as a result. Many wont cover any personal items unless you have them on your person and wont cover hired items either, so just double check...
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • Pickled Pig
    Pickled Pig Posts: 233
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Technically you don't need one... if you end up in hospital, you have right to free treatment and you don't really want to be transferred over here, as treatment in France is surely better. There are extreme circumstances where it is useful to have an insurance, but I always risk when I go to Europe... maybe because I am Italian.
    The luggage stuff is mostly paranoia, as airlines cover you, so you don't need an insurance... the reason they only cost 20 pounds is because they cover for events which are covered already, hence they don't expose themselves to any real risk.
    That said, it is only 20 pounds or so...

    +1
    BTW, can you give me ONLY £20?
  • stokey1964
    stokey1964 Posts: 454
    have a look at these

    http://www.direct-travel.co.uk/faqs/wha ... -covered#C
    been using them for years for my ski insurance as they cover offpiste without a guide

    the contecnts show that cycling is covered for personel liability and accident. Cycle touring is give them a call.

    they are cheap but showed how good they were when my 12 year old broke her wrist in Feb this year whilst in Austria

    couldnt have been more helpful and efficient. its these times when you do have to claim you realise how good or bad a company is


    Simon
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    I use these guys for sports cover:
    http://www.sportscoverdirect.com/
    Rich
  • DrKJM
    DrKJM Posts: 271
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Technically you don't need one... if you end up in hospital, you have right to free treatment and you don't really want to be transferred over here, as treatment in France is surely better. There are extreme circumstances where it is useful to have an insurance, but I always risk when I go to Europe... maybe because I am Italian.
    The luggage stuff is mostly paranoia, as airlines cover you, so you don't need an insurance... the reason they only cost 20 pounds is because they cover for events which are covered already, hence they don't expose themselves to any real risk.
    That said, it is only 20 pounds or so...


    Not sure this is right. I think the EHIC entitles you to treatment on the same terms as locals, and in France the state pays a chunk and you top the rest up with health insurance. (At least that's what my sister tells me and she's lived there for over twenty years.) It might be worth checking what the EHIC gives you in your destination before deciding against insurance.
  • stokey1964
    stokey1964 Posts: 454
    Not sure about France, never had to use it, but in Austria the EHIC is only useful for scrapping the ice off your windscreen.

    As most of the hospitals, etc are private they will not except it and you have to pay first and claim off your insurance

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