Travel Insurance: Yes, You Actually Need It
This is genuinely one of those things you can’t afford to take lightly. I know, when everything’s going fine it feels like you’re throwing money out the window every month. But trust me, the day something happens and you’re staring at a bill worth tens of thousands of dollars, you’ll be very, very glad you were properly covered.
I’ve been lucky, or maybe unlucky, but every single time I’ve taken out travel insurance abroad, I’ve ended up needing it. So with health as fragile as mine, I’ve gotten pretty good at making my insurance “worth it.” I’m hoping you won’t get quite as much mileage out of yours as I have.
Over the years I’ve gone through a few different providers, because depending on where I’m traveling, the best deal isn’t always with the same insurer. Here are the three I’ve actually used and rely on depending on the situation.
Chapka
For New Zealand, back when I was on a Working Holiday Visa, I went with Chapka.
For 50 euros a month, you get full coverage including medical expenses, repatriation, liability, and baggage, with solid support for outdoor and adventure activities. It’s a policy that was basically built with backpackers and Work and Holiday travelers in mind, which is exactly what I was at the time.
Heymondo
For my trips around Asia, I love using Heymondo.I came down with sinusitis in Bali (yes, terrible timing, I know) and their service was genuinely fast. They helped me find a doctor in under an hour and set up a video consultation with an English-speaking physician who prescribed antibiotics. I didn’t have to pay anything upfront, and I had my prescription in hand within half an hour.
April
I use April for New Zealand now, because once my Working Holiday Visa ended and I moved onto an actual work contract, this insurer became more competitive than Chapka. Same kind of package, but a noticeably better price.
I’ve been to urgent care twice on this policy. Both times I had to pay upfront, but I was reimbursed within the month.
So Which One Should You Actually Pick?
Since people ask me this a lot, I put together a proper comparison for two situations that come up constantly in my world: a short trip to Bali, and a longer Working Holiday stint in New Zealand. Numbers below are ballpark figures for a solo traveler under 30, and they’ll shift depending on the options you choose and when you book.
Situation 1: Two Months in Indonesia
| Criteria | Heymondo Premium | Chapka Cap Assistance 24/24 | April Voyage Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated price (2 months) | €90 to €130 | €70 to €120 | €100 to €180 |
| Medical expenses | Up to $10M USD (≈ €8.5M) | Up to €1M | Up to €300,000 |
| Repatriation | Included | Included | Included, actual costs |
| Liability coverage | Around €60,000 depending on plan | Several million euros depending on contract | Included depending on contract |
| Baggage | Up to $2,500 USD (≈ €2,100) to €4,000 depending on plan | Around €2,000 to €3,000 | Up to €2,000 |
| Cancellation | Up to $7,000 USD | Cancellation option available | Up to €5,000 |
| Teleconsultation | Yes, via app | Yes, 24/7 | Yes, depending on plan |
| Diving / surfing / scooter | Good coverage, check exclusions | Very strong coverage for outdoor activities | More variable |
My take for Bali: Chapka takes first place here, because in Indonesia the number one risk isn’t a lost suitcase, it’s a scooter accident or a diving incident. Chapka built its reputation on backpackers, PVT travelers, and adventure seekers, and it shows. Heymondo comes in close second, with an excellent coverage to price ratio, huge medical caps, and a genuinely useful app. If you’re mostly doing classic tourism, it’s probably your best bet. April rounds it out in third. It’s fine, but the medical coverage is noticeably lower than the other two for a price that’s often higher.
Situation 2: A 6 Month Working Holiday in New Zealand
This is a completely different comparison. For six months, you’re not looking at “vacation” policies anymore, you’re looking at proper PVT and long stay contracts.
| Criteria | Heymondo Long Stay | Chapka Cap Working Holiday | April MyTravel Cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated price (6 months) | €250 to €400 | €330 to €500 | €250 to €450 |
| Medical expenses | Up to several million euros depending on plan | Up to several hundred thousand, sometimes €1M depending on guarantees | €250,000 (Emergency) or €500,000 (Comfort) |
| Repatriation | Included | Included | Included |
| Liability coverage | Included | Included, tailored to Working Holiday | Included |
| Early return | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sports and activities | Good | Excellent | Average |
| Seasonal work coverage | Check based on job | Yes, designed for Working Holiday | Variable depending on activity |
| 24/7 assistance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
My take for a New Zealand Working Holiday: Chapka Cap Working Holiday has basically been the go to for French travelers on PVT for years now, and for good reason. This contract was built specifically for that lifestyle: cellar work, harvest season, hospitality jobs, road trips, hiking, all of it. April MyTravel Cover is a strong second pick if you’re after international health coverage more than a classic travel policy, the medical caps on the Comfort plan are solid. Heymondo Long Stay comes in third. Very competitive pricing and good guarantees overall, but it’s just less specialized for Working Holiday situations than Chapka.
What I’d Pick If I Were You
Given that you’re working in wine, driving a lot, and spending plenty of time outdoors, here’s how I’d break it down:
| Situation | My Pick |
|---|---|
| 2 months in Bali | Chapka |
| Classic vacation in Asia | Heymondo |
| 6 month Working Holiday in New Zealand | Chapka Cap Working Holiday |
| Multi year expat life | April |
Honestly, there’s no single “best” insurance, it really comes down to where you’re going and for how long. But if there’s one thing I’d want you to take away from this, it’s: don’t skip it. Future you, sitting in a waiting room somewhere with a problem you didn’t see coming, will thank you.
