Hi
there, Chris here...
I wanted to share my own personal story which highlights the need to ensure you have travel Insurance every time you leave the country ...because you never know...
The
week before moving into my new place (which is now the home of my office), I was offered a FREE trip to Phuket for 5 nights leaving the
Monday after I moved. ....Obviously it goes against everything I believe in to
turn down a free trip, and with the thought of cheap daily massages, I left the
boxes where they were and took off to Thailand.
Naturally I was going for educational purposes - the chance to try out Air New
Zealand's 'grab a seat charter beach party flight' from Auckland to Phuket, and
to check out the Westin Siray Bay
With 'Dry July' looming I thought a wet end to June was in order!
This is when I tell you about the benefits of having travel
Insurance....
The flight over was interesting to say the
least. 6 hours into our 12 hour flight Air New Zealand had run out of
alcohol and at least 4 of the toilets were deemed unusable. However the
300 of us survived and landed in Phuket. (some definitely worse for
wear!)
So far so good....
The next day I went into Patong (we were about 40 mins away) to have a look
around and have a massage. I love Thai massages and at 300THB (around
$12-13) for an hour what's not to love...
Back to the resort, had some dinner and went for a swim. Coming out of
the pool to go down the stairs (to where my towel and things were on a lounger)
I slipped on the stairs, crashing back on my backside before falling forward
down the stairs. (....and no, before you ask I wasn't drunk - I wish I
had been as then I wouldn't have felt it!)
In this fantastic display of grace and poise I managed to chip my front tooth,
and ended up numerous cuts on the front of my leg as well as a massive lump (hematoma)
on my backside.
With the help of the staff, who coated all exposed injuries in iodine,I went
back to my room to self medicate with panadeine and voltarin (which clearly no
experienced traveller should ever leave home without !!) until I went to the
hospital the next day.
I had an x-ray at the hospital (Bangkok Hospital in Phuket)...nothing broken
just VERY sore and battered. I would have to say that the Hospital was so
efficient - I was registered and into see the Dr within about 15 minutes (safe
to say it seemed a lot longer when I was sitting!!)
Lots of drugs later and a letter from the Dr stating that I can't sit for 12
hrs in 3 days time for the flight home (sitting back in a seat or chair was
definitely the most painful) I was back at the hotel on the phone to QBE.
As I was on a charter flight and the flight was full in all classes , I
couldn't be upgraded on that flight. On medical advice (my doctor's
letter/summary) QBE booked me on Silk Air to Singapore and Qantas Business
class home at a cost of AUD$3934. (they should have asked me to book it as I am
sure I could have got it cheaper!)
I did save them some money however by getting my tooth fixed at the hospital at
the same time for a mere $75NZD.....If you are going to damage your teeth
anywhere Thailand is the place to do it!
To be honest while it was not the trip I had imagined (lying on my 'heavenly
bed' with an ice pack on my backside was not part of the original plan),given
the way I fell, I was lucky that I did not shatter my tailbone or do anymore
damage.
The bruising is now coming out in all its technicolor glory and I am feeling
heaps better.
Moral of the story is to always clutch onto the handrails (in this case there
were none) but more importantly ALWAYS TAKE INSURANCE as you never know what
could happen.
Over the years I have always had insurance and never really claimed, but have
always worked on the basis that it will help me out when I need it most.....
Don't leave home without it!
Call me for all your travel and travel insurance needs.... 021 740 736
