As the majority of visitors to Corfu are residents from EU member states it becomes debatable as to whether travel insurance is really a necessity.
Information for members from EU states and Switzerland
If we look at travel insurance purely from the aspect of health, then for travellers from the EU or Switzerland it may seem like it is not an important requirement. But, if we take a broader approach and look at other unforeseeable circumstances, then holiday insurance seems essential. In the end it boils down to the amount of personal risk you are willing to accept.
For instance, medical protection cover under the E111 (EHIC - European Health Insurance Card) should provide either free or reduced price cover for medical requirements within member states. However, it is wise to bear in mind that in the case of a severe case, a serious accident for instance, EHIC will not pay for repatriation, which can be very expensive. In the case where you may be engaging in sports or leisure activities during your trip then you may be exposing yourself to a higher level of risk. This risk may be as simple as a visit to a water park, water skiing or even banana boat riding. In most if not all of these cases it is made clear that you indemnify the operator in the event of any accident, so you may need insurance to cover this extra risk.
Likewise, in car hire, and almost always in the case of bike hire, only third-party cover is provided as standard, with a higher level offered as an option. In the instance of an accident or damage to the vehicle or bike, although the other party will be covered you could find yourself liable to substantial expense to cover the cost of repairs. And, even if you do increase your cover it is wise to make sure that this also includes an excess waiver. Perhaps not so necessary for drivers from mainland Europe, accustomed to driving on the right, but UK drivers should consider this seriously.
Overall, our general advice is to ensure you buy the level of travel insurance you think you may need. In most cases you will, hopefully, never need to use it, but in the rare case where you do have to make a claim, it's always
nice to have the resource available. And, let's not forget holidays are about relaxing and having a good time and peace of mind is an important element in this.
There are a number of very good online travel insurance providers. Simply Google Search "Online+Travel+Insurance" to find one that meets your needs.
