If the price isn’t too outrageous, it wouldn’t hurt to buy travel insurance. For one, you may want to insure your expensive cameras in case they get stolen, damaged, etc.

For example, if it costs an extra $25-30 to get travel insurance, go ahead.

Anything more, then I might say, take your chances.

Again, just my 2 cents. Don’t blame me for any outcomes of whichever decision you make

I don’t think so. But if you need acute care in Europe for a serious accidental injury you may not be covered by your current medical or injury insurance for what happens outside the US (or home country in general). Some policies will pay for transportation back to your home country for care. I always get such a policy on vacation because we are not covered outside Denmark.

Medical is a must.

Cancellation/interruption is rarely much use, but it’s often cheap so it can’t hurt just in case.

I never thought I needed property travel insurance, but I’m sorry I didn’t have it after getting mugged in Costa Rica. Luckily I only lost a few hundred dollars worth in total, including an old film camera. When I travel with my new digital camera, I’ll be certain to ensure it. Especially if you have an expensive SLR and lenses, insurance is probably highly worthwhile.

It would be nice enough to have the money to pay for medical care wthout having insurance. I don’t, and I suspect that you don’t as you wouldn’t be worrying about the cost of insurance. Somehow medical care seems important when you have been run down.

Be sure to check your current insurance about medical coverage…Blue cross here in the states does offer some coverage outside the states..However it does not cover emergency evac which travel insurance would cover…
-howie

As a travel agent, I’m supposed to encourage the purchase of full insurance (cancellation, baggage loss, emergency meidcal). But really, if you need to cancel, or if you lose your baggage, you know how much money you’ll lose out on. I personally never get that. But emergency medical is ridiculously important. even though i have out of country coverage through my credit card, i’ve checked into it and it’s super limited, so i ALWAYS purchase travel medical insurance. I’ve heard of too many instances (from insurance trainings I’ve attended) where people were travelling and had something happen (heart attack, get hit by a car, car accident etc) and resulted in thousands of dollars of bills. Seriously if you can’t afford medical insurance, you shouldn’t be travelling.

For medical, certainly – I met a guy who got meningitus and had to be hospitalized for about 10 days; he was definitely glad he had medical travel insurance to cover that cost.

If you are bringing an expensive camera, mp3 player, etc. then it might be worth it to look for plans that cover those items.

So can anyone recommend a good one to use?
One too that could be used for up to a year or longer in one place.
One that countries are apt to accept when they require that you have travel/health insurance to stay in their country for a little while.

Thanks!