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 It’s the dream holiday you’ve been waiting for. You’ve spent the last few months scrimping and saving. You’ve been hoarding your annual leave like no one’s business.
The moment is finally here and you’re ready to board the aeroplane for the journey of a lifetime… But amongst the dreaming of exotic locations and holidays escapades, have you protected yourself from the worst case scenarios? We chatted to nzgirls Emily, D and Lisa to find out their travel horror stories – and how their insurance saved the day and was money well spent!
 Vietnam Victim - I lost my passport and credit card!
“My best friend and I were travelling in Vietnam during The Tet, which is their New Year. Basically everything shuts down for seven days, including the New Zealand embassy.
My friend lost her passport and credit card the evening before the first day of The Tet – two days before we were meant to fly back to Bangkok. She had to fork out a lot of money to get people to come to the embassy and sort her out with an emergency passport.
It was a complete disaster in the end, but if she didn't have travel insurance it would have been so much more stressful! Especially because at first we thought she was going to have to stay in the country for another seven days and change her flights! Given that we spent seven weeks overseas, the insurance was so cheap and totally worth it in the end."
Emily, Auckland
 Oktoberfest Oh Nosies - I had my drink spiked!
“My travel insurance for a ten week trip to Europe last year totally paid itself off! It was good to have when my three week old camera got blown off the post we had put it on to take an automatic timer shot - meaning I had to replace it in Paris, using Euro currency!
However, the biggest saving was when I had my drink spiked at Oktoberfest and I woke up to find myself in a German Accident and Emergency centre, pinned to a bed by someone speaking broken English, trying to figure out what
medication I was on!
They tried to tell me I’d just drunken too much (two beers!) and they charged me over $500 before we were allowed to leave – it was a relief to be able to charge this back through my insurance when I was home."
D, Wellington
 Racksed in Rome - I lost everything except the clothes off my back!
About two years ago, I did my big overseas experience and had everything stolen in Rome! I had arrived at my hostel in the morning and told that check in wasn't until the afternoon, but that I was welcome to leave my huge backpack with my whole life in it behind reception and it would be perfectly safe…
Needless to say, it wasn't. I lost everything! My clothes, camera, spare memory card and worst of all, my passport with Visas to get into Egypt where I was off to next! Thank goodness I had travel insurance because I had to replace everything - I lost my camera full of photos (irreplaceable), all my clothes but the ones on my back and my beloved passport (again, irreplaceable). Luckily, I was issued with an emergency passport to travel on.
My insurance sorted out all the extra accommodation and fees though, and I hate to think what would have happened if they didn't... I would have had to cancel my trip and head home as soon as I got my passport sorted. As it happened though, I continued my trip and chalked it up to experience.
Lisa, Auckland
We get it! The ‘worst case scenario’ is the last thing you want to think about before you launch into the holiday of your dreams – but when you’re faced with a lost passport, a drink-spiking experience or stolen luggage having to think about handling the stress and expense of disaster striking all by yourself is even worse to think about! Our friends at State offer two great travel insurance options, for the best money you'll spend on holiday (bar those hot shoes...):  State iTravel, available online from www.statetravel.co.nz is great for those who want their travel insurance pronto and who don’t need cover for their pre-existing medical conditions or for specified items over $1500.- If you’re after a comprehensive option, then check out State Travel Premier, an ideal policy for those who want travel insurance for specified items or those travelling with pre-existing medical conditions.
Remember, if you buy now online you can save 20%! Click here to find out more. Plus, we're also giving away the ultimate travel prize pack, which includes the new Canon Digital IXUS 80 camera here!
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