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Planning for an Overseas Vacation? Check Out These 5 Destinations

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Published on July 20, 2021. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

A lot has happened over the last year and a half. The pandemic has completely altered our lifestyles. Especially, people who love travelling, had to stay put at home to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones. However, with the second wave subsiding and most people getting vaccinated, now could be the apt time to travel. In fact, quite a few countries are currently allowing tourists from India. But the last thing you want is to go on a trip and experience an unforeseen situation. Which means, getting an international travel insurance policy is more important than ever, to shield yourself financially if anything goes wrong in a foreign country. Read on to know about the countries you can explore and how to choose the best travel insurance.

5 countries allowing travellers from India

Amidst the pandemic, here are the 5 countries that have opened their doors to Indian travellers, but it is advisable to follow COVID protocols strictly.

1. Egypt: One of the popular tourist destinations, Egypt is all set to welcome tourists from any COVID-strain country, but with certain rules and regulations. It is mandatory for travellers to undergo a rapid DNA test upon arrival and be in isolation at their place of stay till the report is negative. If found positive, they must be in quarantine for atleast 2 weeks, the cost of which will be borne by them. Apart from this, a negative PCR report no older than 72 hours must be produced.
2. Russia: Travellers are required to provide negative RT-PCR test done 72 hours prior to arrival. Upon arrival, they need to undergo a test and will be allowed to enter the country if the test report is negative. They must quarantine till the report comes out to be negative. If it is positive, the traveller will be taken to a COVID treatment centre.
3. Iceland: If you are planning to visit The Land of Fire & Ice, there is no need to carry a negative RT-PCR report if you have been fully vaccinated with the vaccines approved by the European Union (Covishield in India) or if you have a proof of previous infection and recovery. However, upon arrival, you must undergo a screening test for COVID-19 and if the test is negative, you will be exempted from quarantine. If positive, you need to quarantine till another test is done after 5 days. If the second test is negative, you can come out of quarantine.
4. Turkey: A popular destination among Indian tourists, Turkey has made it compulsory for tourists to carry a negative RT-PCR report, which must be done 72 hours before departure from India. Upon arrival, random PCR testing may also be done. Travellers must undergo 14-day institutional quarantine. On the 14^th day, a COVID test will be done and if found negative, you will be allowed to leave the quarantine centre.

1. South Africa: Despite strict COVID protocols, the country has opened its doors to tourists. Travellers must come with a negative RT-PCR test report, taken within 72 hours of boarding the flight. If a traveller doesn’t have a negative report, he/she has to undergo an antigen test at the border. In case the report is positive, they will have to quarantine for 10 days and the expenses will be borne by the traveller.

How to select best international travel insurance?

So, are you all set to board the flight? Wait a bit. Have you thought of what to do in case any unforeseen incident crops up in a foreign land and inconveniences you? You may end up incurring heavy financial losses apart from other problems. This is where international travel insurance can come to your aid by safeguarding you against such unexpected risks. But, with so many travel insurance policies available, how do you select the best one? Here are some tips that can help you decide:

• Coverage: Ensure the policy offers coverage as per your requirements, otherwise you will be left in a mess in an emergency. Factors such as purpose of the trip, duration, activities planned (if it’s a leisure trip), if the policy covers pre-existing diseases, should be taken into account while determining the coverage of the policy.
• Risks covered: Check if the policy covers risks such as medical emergency, trip cancellation or postponement due to any personal emergency, theft or loss of baggage and other belongings, and emergency evacuation.
• Exclusions: Read the exclusions carefully before finalizing the travel insurance policy to avoid any kind of confusion at the time of claim settlement. This will also help you plan the trip better.
• Proper research: Before you zero in on a policy, conduct proper research as the coverage, features and exclusions differ from one insurance provider to another. Don’t buy a policy in a hurry or as suggested by an agent as it may not fit your needs and budget.
• Claim settlement ratio: This is the ratio of the claims settled by the insurance company against the claims filed. So, look for an insurer who has a high claim settlement ratio.

Conclusion

Though some international locations are opening their borders to Indian tourists, you should not be in a hurry to explore them. Any unforeseen risk can ruin your overseas travel both mentally and financially. So, before you embark on your journey, get international travel insurancefirst. This will have your back if an emergency comes up.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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