Hi Everyone, Thought I would post up a bit of travel insurance info i got whilst doing some research for a trip I'm going on. Almost all insurers had similar figures and only small differences in the main things. I'm going with medibank purely because I am with them for private health insurance already. An email conversation to them below(you'll have to read from the bottom to the top): From: medibank@travelinsurancepartners.com.au To: Subject: RE: Travel Insurance Cover Question - Kiteboarding Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 04:42:28 +0000 Hi Scott, Thank you for your email. We confirm that, providing you are taking reasonable care, your participation in Kitesurfing is an activity which would be covered under our Travel Insurance policies. Kind regards, Travel Insurance Support (CM) Customer Service: 1300 362 544 | Fax: 02 8362 9366 | Web: www.medibank.com.au/travel To: Medibank Cc: Subject: RE: Travel Insurance Cover Question - Kiteboarding Hi, Thank you for the very quick response. Your below email is very vague and in no way confirms that if i take out comprehensive travel cover with Medibank private that I will be covered if taking reasonable care whilst Kiteboarding/KiteSurfing. Could you please confirm or reject the fact that: A comprehensive cover taken out today with Medibank Private will provide cover for me whilst participating, using reasonable care, in the sport of Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding. Kiteboarding/Kitesurfing being defined as "A person standing on a board with or without foot straps or bindings and uses the power of a large controllable kite to propel themselves and the board across the water" I would much prefer to acquire my travel insurance through Medibank as I am already an existing member, however cannot do this if Kiteboarding/Kitesurfing is not covered. My Medibank Private Membership number is Regards Scott From: medibank@travelinsurancepartners.com.au Hi Scott, Thank you for your email. We are happy to advise that Kite surfing would be an activity we would look to providing cover for. Please note that in order to be covered you must also ensure that you are taking reasonable care while participating. Kind regards, To: Medibank Subject: Travel Insurance Cover Question - Kiteboarding Hi, I would like to take out Comprehensive Travel insurance for Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Could you please advise me as to whether or not Kiteboarding/Kitesurfing is covered in this policy as your PDS does not mention it. Kind Regards Scott

When looking through the list I notice Ostrich riding is covered but not equestrian riding!!!!!!!!

I would not trust that to cover you in the slightest. What is 'reasonable care'? You can bet they have a whole floor of lawyers willing to define it for you. And their definition will not be the same as an everyday commonsense definition. You will note that they have failed to answer your question in any meaningful or legally binding way. Also be careful, most travel insurance pretends to cover for theft, but the fine print it atrocious. I looked at covering kite gear and the exclusions were things like... Not covered if: unattended in your hotel room unattended on beach while kiting checked in at airport taken from boot of cab while you are in it It virtually came down the the fact that you were only covered if mugged in broad daylight with a witness handy. Also note here http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/high-price-for-thai-scooter-crash-20120704-21h3r.html Thieving companies use many tricks to avoid covering you. These people asked for the highest level of cover. Ms Myles said she'd since found out that while they were on the highest policy, they were not on the highest premium, which meant riding scooters was not covered by their plan. I am personally approximately $25,000 in front from not using travel insurance. It's a gamble, but so is travel insurance

If you are fit and healthy don't bother. Think of all the beer you can spend instead. Europe is a socialist state so you will get free A&E health care, some may charge a minimal fee. ie In Finland i thought my wrist was broken, i turned up at a hospital, paid €25 to have an xray and see a doctor. Whole process took about 30mins. Not broken. If someone insists you should get it, let them pay. I got insurance to come to AUS for 6 months, cost me $1 per day, 50 cents of which covered kitesurfing. Waste of money. It would have only got me about 14 pints of beer in freo, Perth ( or 30 in the UK, 40 in Spain) but beer would have given me ten fold the pleasure.

Well don't come up here to Lancelin and hurt yourself then, I think the local nursing post will slug you close to $100 just to walk in the door if you aren't an Aussie and covered by Medicare. Insurance is a rip-off. Until you need it.

Mate, all northern EU are than heavenly socialist and not bankrupt at all. EU crisis is because of the Euro and extreme funding of Brussels bureaucrats (and agencies), and other things, but not of free welfare. Non of EU countries would be bankrupt if they have a monetary control. Devaluation of money saved for example Italy number of times before the EU and Euro. Bla, bla... You're right in the last statement. Japan (only capitalist state by the U.S. standard, plus UK), is far from socialist country, but almost free healthcare - see my post from above). Anyway, lets not steal this thread.