This list is for the days before you leave: ten points, and once you've ticked them off, the insurance side of things is sorted – so on the trip itself, all you need to think about is travelling. Save it, share it with your travel companions, and run through it before every trip: once it becomes a habit, it takes five minutes.
- The first half of the list is about cover (do you have it, is it set up correctly), the second about keeping things at hand (policy, numbers, cards).
- Most points can be ticked off days before departure – leave only the packing for the last minute.
- There's also a separate list for skiing trips: ski trip checklist.
The cover points (1–5)
1. You have valid travel insurance for the whole trip – both the departure day and the day you get home fall within the policy. 2. The territorial scope checks out: every country on the route is covered (including stopovers). 3. Activities are noted: skiing, diving, high-altitude trekking, racing – whatever's planned is also on the policy (common set-up mistakes). 4. The limit is sized to the destination – following the sizing logic. 5. The cancellation-cover question is settled: either you took it out at booking, or you deliberately skipped it – and you know which.
The keep-at-hand points (6–10)
6. The policy is on your phone (plus a copy with a travel companion or in the cloud). 7. The assistance hotline number is saved in your contacts – under “Insurer assistance hotline”, so you can find it even under stress. 8. Your EHIC is in your wallet (for EU trips) – and still valid; the same goes for family members. 9. Your bank card cover is clarified: if insurance comes bundled with your card, you know what it covers (bank card article) – and which hotline applies. 10. The “if something goes wrong” routine is agreed with your travel companions: who calls whom, where the policy is – that's what the emergency card is for.
Extra points by trip type
For a road trip: green card + comprehensive (casco) scope + roadside assistance (driving abroad article). For an exotic destination: a travel health consultation, plus checking the consular advisory and the list of regions not recommended for travel. For a group or school trip: every number is also in the chaperones' phones (school trip article). For a business trip: proof of the corporate cover with your colleague.
Why does this list work?
Because claims statistics stand behind it: the ten points mirror the most common claim headaches (a missing activity note, a wrong date, an unreachable policy, an unknown hotline number). Five minutes before departure – versus hours and a hefty bill when something goes wrong. For the full document system: travel document kit.
Frequently asked questions on this topic
When should I run through the list – how long before departure?
Ideally twice: days before departure (while everything can still be fixed or added), and on the evening before you leave (a quick final check). The cancellation-cover point is the exception – that one belongs to the day you book.
In a family, who's responsible for the list?
It works best if one person runs through the whole thing – but duplicate the keep-at-hand points (policy, numbers) onto every adult's phone. In an emergency, the “list owner” isn't necessarily the one who'll be able to act.
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