Chol Chnam Thmey, or Cambodian New Year, will be celebrated from April 14th to 16th this year, marking the start of the Buddhist year 2568. Many people will be travelling during this time. Don’t forget to protect your family while on the move.
Let the celebrations commence
Many Cambodians will be on the move this month, travelling back to their hometowns and villages to celebrate the new year, or Sangkran, with loved ones. There will be public festivities, in some of Cambodia’s most iconic venues including Angkor Wat in Siem Riep, Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh and Wat Krom in Preah Sihanouk.
Expatriates may want to join in the festivities, or they may take the opportunity to travel further afield during the festive period.
The risks of travelling for New Year
While the celebrations will be trouble-free for the vast majority of people, travelling during Khmer New Year comes with increased risks.
More cars on the road generally means an uptick in accidents and Cambodia is hardly a paragon of safety at the best of times when it comes to driving, with road traffic one of the leading causes of deaths and injuries in the Kingdom.
Beyond traffic risks, travelling, whether within Cambodia or abroad, can also make you more vulnerable to theft, loss of belongings, and exposure to health hazards, including food and water or mosquito-borne diseases.
At this time of year, it’s essential to have the right insurance in place to protect your family.
Insurance when travelling
If you’re travelling within Cambodia, it’s worth checking that your car and health insurance policies are up-to-date in case of any unforeseen problems.
Expats travelling abroad at this time should ensure they have a comprehensive travel insurance policy to minimise the financial, medical and logistical risks associated with travel.
Travel insurance offers numerous benefits to protect your family including:
- Medical coverage & emergency assistance if a family member falls ill or gets injured while travelling. Make sure your policy includes emergency medical evacuation cover to ensure you can access the treatment required even if it is unavailable locally. Most insurers have 24/7 assistance hotlines to support you, whatever happens.
- Protection against accidents & travel disruptions to cover road accidents and provide compensation for trip cancellations or delays, ensuring you don’t lose money on non- refundable bookings.
- Security against theft & loss of luggage, passports, or personal belongings. Some policies offer emergency cash assistance if your wallet or cards are stolen.
- Liability coverage to protect you and your family in the case of accidental damage to property or injury to someone else, avoiding potentially hefty legal costs.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to safeguard your loved ones against all accidents and incidents when you’re travelling, but you can reduce the financial fallout if things do go wrong and ensure that you can access the help you need quickly.
Infinity Financial Solutions is a boutique insurance agency operating in Cambodia, and we take pride in helping our clients to find insurance that meets their unique needs. Insurance policy terms and conditions can be difficult to understand. We offer independent and technical advice as well as ongoing service support. We’ll help you find the most appropriate cover at the best possible price.
If you would like to work with the best insurance provider in the Kingdom of Cambodia, why not today?
I started in the financial services industry back in 1995 and I am now the Country Director of Infinity Financial Solutions (Cambodia) Limited, specializing in corporate and individual medical and general insurance needs along with expatriate financial planning.
