Travel insurance when visiting Turkey
Experience a vibrant mix of East and West, historical marvels, and the Grand Bazaar!
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For a country that straddles Europe and the Middle East, Turkey brims with tourist appeal. Whether you’re drawn to the mosques and historic sites in Istanbul, wish to pay your respects at Gallipoli, take a hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia, or hiking through the Valley of Love is more your speed, World Nomads can assist with travel insurance plans while you are abroad.
- What's covered?
- What should I look out for when travelling to Turkey?
- What's not covered?
- Travel insurance and safety tips when visiting Turkey
What's covered?
Along with all your valuables, you should consider packing World Nomads Travel Insurance as soon as your trip is confirmed, if it’s an afterthought, that’s OK too, you can buy your policy while on the road.
Our team recognises that the coverage each traveller needs depends on their individual circumstances. That’s why we offer two different policies – Standard and Explorer – each with different coverage depending on what you’ll be doing on your travels through Turkey.
For example, if you’re planning on renting a vehicle and driving around Turkey, the Explorer option may suit you, as it includes a rental car excess and may cover the cost of a replacement key should one be required. This cover also includes benefits associated with hijacking, higher baggage reimbursement limits, and some coronavirus-related coverage.
If you’re heading to Bodrum for a relaxed seaside holiday, Standard cover may be sufficient. World Nomads offers coverage (up to the policy limits) for:
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- More than 150+ activities, sports, and experiences
- Trip cancellation
- Natural disasters
- Emergency overseas medical
- Baggage and personal effects
- 24/7 worldwide Emergency Assistance
And many more cover options and extras…
Make sure that you’ve selected the right travel insurance plan for your specific needs as our travel insurance plans are different and cover will vary, depending on what's happened, the plan you choose, and any optional extras or upgrades you buy. With World Nomads you can get a quote, make a claim, or extend your policy instantly online, even while traveling.
What should I look out for when travelling to Turkey?
Turkey is peppered with incredible experiences, but any time within this nation comes with a few risks. Pickpockets are a concern (muggings too), especially in Istanbul; terrorists have targeted the country before and may do again; and if you’re looking to hire a car, be aware that Turkish drivers are renowned for often ignoring the road rules.
None of us has a crystal ball that can tell us whether our bags will go missing enroute, or if an injury or illness is on the horizon, or that due to weather conditions your pre-booked hot-air balloon ride or your ferry ride from Turkey to Greece will be cancelled. Depending on the policy you choose, our policies may cover you (up to the policy limits) for the following:
- Emergency medical and evacuation - if you become ill or are in a serious accident that requires emergency treatment or medical evacuation, your policy may cover you for medical and surgical treatment, hospital fees, and in some cases, specialist counselling. If required, you can get transported to a medical facility suited for your care, subject to approval from the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team. Benefit limits apply.
- Baggage and personal belongings - if your luggage or personal items are accidentally damaged or stolen on the way to or during your holiday, you may be able to claim your unexpected costs. In addition, if your luggage is delayed more than 24 hours, you may be entitled to replacement costs. Check your PDS carefully as terms and conditions apply.
- Activities coverage - we cover more than 150 activities, sports and experiences including hot-air ballooning, windsurfing, and hiking, which are just some of those activities that Aussies seek out when in Turkey, but not all are covered under each plan. If you’re venturing to Turkey in winter and keen on skiing or snowboarding, you’ll need to upgrade your cover to ensure you are covered for this. Many activities also have specific conditions and exclusions you should read up on before you go. Terms and conditions apply.
- Cover for some Coronavirus-related events: World Nomads offers cover for some Coronavirus-related events to help if your trip is derailed by COVID-19. For all the details including benefit limits, terms and conditions and exclusions under our Coronavirus cover, check out our Coronavirus cover article.
What's not covered?
Travel insurance is not designed to cover everything. Some things we don’t cover include:
- Pre-existing medical conditions - see the PDS carefully for details.
- Travelling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to an Australian Government ‘Do Not Travel’ warning (see www.smartraveller.gov.au).
- Participation in a sport or activity not listed in the PDS or agreed by World Nomads or one that's covered by World Nomads, but you haven't paid the required additional premium.
- Costs arising from refusal to be repatriated once declared medically unfit to continue a trip but fit for repatriation.
- The policy excess per person per insured event where applicable (check the ‘Summary of Benefits’ in your PDS).
- Loss or damage to luggage due to age, wear and tear, loss of value. Damage to sporting equipment caused while in use.
Travel insurance and safety tips when visiting Turkey
- Australians are advised not to travel alone, especially after dark, as muggings and assaults are common especially around Taksim Square, Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. Women in particular are asked to exercise caution.
- It’s advisable to be wary of ‘new friends and acquaintances. The common scam in Turkey is locals befriending tourists, taking them out for a drink, or dinner and then expecting the tourist to pay for it. Taxi drivers are also known to provide tourists the wrong price to earn themselves more.
- The risk of violence and acts of war is high along the borders with Syria and Iraq. Threats include rocket attacks, terrorist attacks and kidnapping. If you go against official government advice, and you travel to these areas, you may jeopardise your insurance policy.
- Avoid large public gatherings. Protests often happen in major cities and as with any action it can turn violent. Extremists have targeted political protests.
- Food and drink spiking is an issue. Don't accept food, drinks, gum, or cigarettes from strangers. Don't leave your food or drinks unattended.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your PDS in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Travel insurance tip 2: terrorism is the greatest worry for tourists to Turkey with the most recent attack taking place in 2017. Remain informed of the country’s status when it comes to alerts as your insurance coverage can be deemed null and void if you travel against official government warnings and are caught up in an attack. Monitor Smartraveller for the latest updates.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Been made redundant?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Overseas
Take the pain out of medical costs.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
We'll get you to hospital lickety-split
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Overseas Medical Expenses
- Emergency dental treatment
- 24 hour assistance
- Emergency medical transport & repatriation
- Cancellation costs
- Trip interruption costs
- Compassionate emergency visit home
- Resumption of trip
- Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
- Baggage delay over 12 hours
- Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
- Personal liability
True Claims Stories
Never travel without travel insurance. This was the first time I ever purchased travel insurance and I am so glad I did. A few days into my trip to Spain I twisted my foot heading down to the metro. Thanks to World Nomads I was able to get medical attention in Spain, and since, as luck would have it, I had a fracture that required surgery, they got me a flight home the next day. Filing a claim was surprisingly easy and when the claim was finally processed, I was reimbursed for all of my expenses including things like the extra week in the hotel I didn't get to take advantage of.
U.S resident in Spain
24/7 emergency assistance
If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Phone: +61 2 8263 0470 or Phone: +61 2 8292 1470 (reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)
Contact the teamBefore your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.