Embarassing Symptoms
I woke up with a sore chest. I looked under my t-shirt and the little red mark I first noticed two days ago, was now so big, red and swollen that it reminded me of an enormous third nipple. We were luckily staying in Bangkok then, which meant there were lots of options to choose from. I definitely needed to get it checked. After a quick googling, we decided on an international hospital to make sure we'd be understood and the doctor would be able to communicate with us.
Yet another injury whilst walking around the villages in Kathmandu, Nepal. That time we didn't need the hospital!
Posh-pital
We arrived to Bumrungrad Hospital and as soon as we saw it, we knew the visit would be pricey. Thanks goodness for our travel insurance, I thought. The hospital felt more like a luxurious hotel, than a place where they deal with patients. The reception ladies spoke perfect English and sorted all out straight away. Soon, we were upstairs on some high floor, sitting on a comfortable sofa, our feet on an expensive-feeling carpet and a fridge with free juice and water at our disposal. Definitely not what we were used to as backpackers...
The nurse called my name about five minutes into my relaxation on a comfy sofa and a few sips into my orange juice. Disappointing, but I did want to get that third nipple checked out, so... after a few basic tests, like checking the pressure, height and weight, we were invited into a doctor's room. The doctor was super nice and after examining my chest, it turned out that I must have been bitten or received a little cut, which then had become infected by bacteria and inflamed. Nothing too serious, but if I haven't had it checked out right then and there, there was a possibility that I would have to have an incision! So me and Zach congratulated ourselves timely decision to go to the hospital.
The Bangkok hospital might have been posh, but instead of taking a posh way of transport, such as taxi, and standing in the traffic, you'll be better off jumping on to a water taxi that skips the traffic and lets you walk to the hospital in less than 5 minutes!
Why is Travel Insurance important?
In the end, I just got antibiotics to take for five days, and another appointment in five days to make sure my 'extra nipple' was disappearing. This meant we had to stay in Bangkok longer than planned, but we loved it there, so we absolutely didn't mind. The moment of fear came when I thought of the bill... We had to pay for the registration, initial basic tests, doctor's appointment and antibiotics! All conducted in a luxurious hospital with super comfy sofas and posh carpets...and a 'free' juice. Also, we would have to go back in five days, to do it all again... This time the amount we had to pay was £100. It wasn't tragic, taken into consideration the wonderful service we received, but it did equal our budget for four days of travel.
Five days later, we returned to Bumrungrad Hospital again, as welcomed as the last time, but this time a little less happy about spending another £100. In the end my chest had healed, antibiotics helped, the doctor was again super nice and we spent £80 this time, as we didn't have to pay the registration fee again. At the reception we asked the lady about a certificate for our insurance, and soon after returning to our hotel room, we photographed all the documents and bills with our phone, and sent all straight away to World Nomads through an easy online form.
All in all, we spent £180 for the two visits, including the two courses of antibiotics. This was our budget for almost 8 days of travel, and although we were happy that I was getting better, we weren't happy this amount of money was something that we didn't plan. Luckily I suffered from only a minor ailment, but imagine something big happening to you, like a broken leg or a serious infection? A night in this posh Bangkok hospital would surely take its toll on your budget. So in situations like this, it's better to be safe than sorry and get an awesome and affordable travel insurance!
Hanna swinging in Koh Phangan, Thailand. It's better to spend your travel budget on things like this, rather than on hospital, so a good travel insurance makes all the difference.
Why choose World Nomads?
We've chosen World Nomads as our insurer because they're the only travel insurance company that is so perfect for backpackers. They let you buy your travel insurance for even a year and they're okay with you moving from one country to another - there is no limit for the amount of countries you can visit! Some other companies let you buy travel insurance for a maximum of 3 months and they often let you choose only a handful of countries, which is so limiting. World Nomads also have a great customer service (speaking from first hand experience) and it's so easy to get the money you paid in the first place back to your account. It's also so simple to get a quote - you don't need to call or email them, you don't even need to wait - the quote is instant. You can find the quote window at the bottom of this article and whether you're going away for 3 months or 12 months, to 3 countries or 10 countries, you can check how much being safe can cost.
Check our little info section about World Nomads Travel Insurance below to get to know more and stay safe on your travels! We wish you no third nipples or other embarrassing stories, wherever you are in the world!
We spent lots of time looking for a perfect insurance for our backpacking trip and did a lot of research...so now we would like to save you time!
Travel insurance: simple & flexible
You can buy and claim online, even after you've left home. Travel insurance from WorldNomads.com is available to people from 140 countries. It’s designed for adventurous travellers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.
7 things you should know about travel insurance from WorldNomads.com
- Trusted reliable underwriters
WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurers who provide you with great cover, 24 hour emergency assistance and the highest levels of support and claims management when you need it most. - Value for money with the cover you need
WorldNomads.com provides cover for what's important for travellers from 140 countries. By focusing on what you need and leaving out what you don't, World Nomads prices are some of the most competitive online. - Flexibility when you need it most
Had a change of plans? You can buy more cover or claim online while you are still away. You can even buy a World Nomads policy if you're already travelling. - Cover for a range of adventure activities
From skiing & snowboarding in New Zealand to whitewater rafting in Colorado, WorldNomads.com covers a range of adventure activities, giving you peace of mind to get the most from your travels. - World Nomads keeps you travelling safely
All WorldNomads.com members have access to up-to-date travel safety alerts, as well as travel safety advice and tips online through the World Nomads Travel Safety Hub. - More than just great value travel insurance
All WorldNomads.com members can learn the local lingo through a series of iPod & iPhone Language Guides and can stay in touch with family and friends with an online travel journal. - Commitment to exceptional customer service
We want to make sure you get the most from WorldNomads.com. You can find out more about why travel insurance is important for your trip. If you have any questions about your travel insurance or travel safety in general, please contact WorldNomads.com directly.
The article contains affiliate links, which means that if you buy World Nomads Travel Insurance using our links, we'll earn a small commission fee. You will not pay more than if you had bought it in a different way, and we will get a couple of pounds to keep us going and writing more useful articles for you! All the opinions in this article, as always, are ours.
