25 Bizarre Travel Insurance Claims: From Lost Teeth to Tourist-Harrassing Monkeys

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  10.31.07 | 11:23 AM ET

imagePhoto by Meanest Indian, via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Think of it as a list of things to not do before you die. The Times UK’s “Money Central” bloggers recently dug through the files of some of the UK’s largest insurance companies to put together their 25 most bizarre travel insurance claims ever. I’m not sure which are more unexpected: the strange things that happen to people on holiday, or the strange things people seem to believe they can claim on their insurance. Some of my favorites: No. 3, a pensioner whose false teeth went overboard while he threw up over the side of a cruise ship. His claim was paid under “lost baggage.” Or No. 8, a family whose tent and camping equipment were destroyed by a falling parachutist. They had no accidental damage coverage, and were not reimbursed.

Best of all, though, is No. 25: “Finally, according to one long-serving insurance underwriter, there have been more Rolex Oyster watches, worth upwards of £1,000, recorded as lost in the Costa Del Sol in Spain than have ever been manufactured.”

Almost—but not quite—makes me feel bad for the insurance companies.


Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


2 Comments for 25 Bizarre Travel Insurance Claims: From Lost Teeth to Tourist-Harrassing Monkeys

Europe Travel Insurance 11.14.07 | 4:21 PM ET

That’s beyond bizarre< I simply don’t know what to make of it.

Anthem 04.13.08 | 7:57 PM ET

Never hear of Rolex Oyster watches before. That is one way to pay for your trip is to have your “rolex watch” stolen or lost.

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