Nobody talks about this in the highlight reels…you’ll be glad we did.
Nobody talks about this in the highlights reel. You'll be glad we did.
The scariest thing they taught Vicky during scuba certification in Thailand wasn't what could happen underwater. It was how expensive it could be if something went wrong.
If you surface incorrectly and develop decompression sickness, you may need emergency treatment in a hyperbaric chamber. Treatment can cost thousands of dollars. Out of pocket. In a foreign country. While you are already having the worst day of your life.
That was the moment travel medical insurance stopped feeling like something your parents tell you to buy — and started feeling like something you would be genuinely foolish to travel without.
How we travel
Six countries. One non-negotiable.
We have visited six countries in the last year. Different climates, different healthcare systems, different levels of "the ambulance will definitely arrive in time." And the one thing that has been on our list before every single trip — before the flights, before the accommodation, before we have even decided what to pack — is sorting our SafetyWing Nomad Insurance.
Because here is the reality of travel that nobody really talks about in the highlights reel: things go wrong. Flights get delayed. Luggage gets lost. People get sick at the absolute worst moment. And dealing with any of that in another country, in another language, potentially without the right coverage? It can go from stressful to genuinely catastrophic very quickly.
We would rather not find out what that feels like.
The plans
What we actually use
SafetyWing has two tiers of Nomad Insurance and knowing which one to go for depends entirely on how you travel.
Nomad Insurance Essential
What we use for most trips. Straightforward, affordable, and does exactly what it says.
- Unexpected medical emergencies while travelling
- Trip interruptions and travel delays
- Lost checked luggage
- Works across multiple destinations
- Up to 364 days of coverage at a time
Nomad Insurance Complete
For longer trips or extended time abroad. Everything in Essential, plus a lot more.
- Everything in the Essential plan
- Ongoing coverage, renewable indefinitely
- Routine and emergency care anywhere
- Mental health support and wellness
- No coverage restrictions at home
Why we like it
Built for people who actually travel
A few things stand out to us about SafetyWing specifically, beyond the coverage itself.
Multi-destination
Works across 180+ countries — ideal when your itinerary is more "series of fortunate decisions" than fixed plan
Subscription style
Renews automatically while you're travelling. No calls, no hold music, no explaining what a connecting flight is
24/7 support
Real humans via live chat, responding in under a minute. Genuinely useful when something goes wrong abroad
The honest part
We haven't had to claim. And we hope we never do.
We will be straight with you: we have not had to make a claim yet. And we hope we never do.
But after enough time spent in airports, on trains, on overnight buses, and hopping between countries on a wing and a prayer, we have learned that the trips you enjoy most are the ones where you have taken care of the things you can control — so you can stop worrying about the things you cannot.
Travel insurance is one of those things. It sits in the background, quietly doing nothing, and that is exactly the job you want it to do.
Ready to travel with a safety net?
If you're planning a trip — whether it's two weeks or six months, one country or six — sort your coverage before you go. Use our link to check out SafetyWing's plans and pricing.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever recommend things we genuinely use ourselves.
