Insurance for France, DFAT travel advice

[taurus]

Hi, I hope someone can advise me here. My 15 year old son will be going to France and Italy in September this year on a school excursion. I have been advised by the school to take out a policy with an insurer that will cover cancellation costs once DFAT advice level gets to 2. I have called Good2Go and InsureNgo as rated by Choice and they both say no cancellation won't be covered due to some pretty loosely-termed points regarding terrorism/unrest/government actions etc. DFAT level is currently 3 and while I know this can change, I'm concerned about losing the couple of grand deposit I've already paid and then another 4K due in instalments. Has anyone had any experience in this area that can assist? Yes, I should've sorted insurance before I paid a cent but the school intimated earlier the excursion might be changed to Switzerland (not now) and also dates are not even set in concrete yet.

 

[Guvner]

World Nomads - Policy Wording: Certain underwriters at Lloyd's (AUS) effective 10 December 2015

Specifically states that if a Level 4 is declared after you purchase the insurance and after you have booked the arrangements, you are covered for cancellations.

"The Australian Government or other official authority has issued a Do Not Travel warning to a specific region or country and that warning was first given after you purchased the policy and after you booked the arrangements"

 

[taurus]

Thanks Guvner. I will look into World Nomads.

World Nomads - Policy Wording: Certain underwriters at Lloyd's (AUS) effective 10 December 2015

Specifically states that if a Level 4 is declared after you purchase the insurance and after you have booked the arrangements, you are covered for cancellations.

"The Australian Government or other official authority has issued a Do Not Travel warning to a specific region or country and that warning was first given after you purchased the policy and after you booked the arrangements"

 

[opusman]

I think the chances of France and Italy getting a Level 4 are pretty slim!

 

[kpc]

I think the chances of France ....getting a Level 4 are pretty slim!

I don't know about France....things have been quite dire recently! I was there recently during the Yellow Vest protests and I felt quite uneasy!. The threat of terrorism must be quite high as I saw police with machine guns every where ready to fire!

 

[Guvner]

Having been to France on many occasions I wouldn't hesitate to travel there again. The "troubles" are fairly localised and anyone with any sense knows where to go and not go. French police carry "machine guns.." at airports and shipping ports all the time. It might be confronting for Australians but its normal in France.

 

[RooFlyer]

DFAT level is currently 3

Italy is at 'level 1' (the lowest risk level). France currently is at DFAT 'Level 2' - exercise a high degree of caution.

Level 3 is 'reconsider your need to travel'.

advised by the school to take out a policy with an insurer that will cover cancellation costs once DFAT advice level gets to 2

So is the school saying that they WILL cancel the trip if the advice level reaches 'Level 2' ? What happens if the advice for 'level 2' is only for part of the country (as it frequently is)? Travel advisories can be issued for things like natural disasters, not just terrorism/civil unrest etc.

 

[taurus]

Italy is at 'level 1' (the lowest risk level). France currently is at DFAT 'Level 2' - exercise a high degree of caution.

Level 3 is 'reconsider your need to travel'.



So is the school saying that they WILL cancel the trip if the advice level reaches 'Level 2' ? What happens if the advice for 'level 2' is only for part of the country (as it frequently is)? Travel advisories can be issued for things like natural disasters, not just terrorism/civil unrest etc.

Thanks. The woman on the call centre at Insure and Go said it was 3. I've since surmised the school's advice is a typo and should've said 4 not 2. I am waiting on further clarification. About to look at TID and World Nomad as I think they are both fine for a 4 if you have taken insurance before the declaration. Thanks everyone!.

 

[RooFlyer]

4 ("Do not travel") would be pretty dire for France. Iraq and Libya are 4 (which is interesting, as I was just starting to look at going to Libya!!).

Many countries will have a "4" zone on borders with bad places - like Tunisia's border zone with Libya.

Check out more exactly what the School's definitions are - would the cancellation trigger be a '4' in ANY part of the destination, or where the trip is planned, or what? If the trip is 6 months away, and a '4' is declared for some part of the country in a week, is the trip automatically cancelled, etc.

May make a difference to whether the insurance company pays out.

 

[Pushka]

I’m not even sure the Govt would ever issue level 4 for ‘friendly’ countries.

Our son was due to fly to Germany the week after 9/11. The school cancelled and deferred until months later without penalty.

 

[TonyHancock]

I don't know about France....things have been quite dire recently!

I'd probably say since the early 1300's.