Have you avoided travel insurance and regretted it? We want to hear from you

Have you been caught in a bind, far from home, that could have been avoided with the timely purchase of an insurance package? We want to hear from you.

It's no secret that it's costly to go abroad.

Tickets, visas, exchange rates, baggage allowances, airport taxis, the dreaded layover meal that you could swear was half of the price just outside the terminal… Seeing the world can be the adventure of a lifetime, but it's rarely kind to the pocketbook.

So, as your cursor hovers over the "confirm booking" button for your next excursion for business or pleasure, it's natural to second-guess something as abstract as your travel insurance.

After all, what's the worst that could happen? Surely, it's reasonable to explore a foreign country without illness, injury or mishap, right? Is some peace of mind worth the extra cost?

Then again, you never expect it to happen to you.

Travellers have told countless stories of lost or damaged cargo, including vital items like medications or wheelchairs. Others have been stranded due to cancelled flights, left with no choice but to front the costs associated with an unexpected detour or extended stay.

Perhaps most disruptive, some have encountered sudden health issues abroad, resulting in medical bills in the tens of thousands of dollars at a time when they should be focused on their recovery.