The Cost Of A Sunburn In Thailand
I had just broken up with a long term boyfriend so my best friend and I decided that a girl’s trip was in order. I had lived in South East Asia years before and she had never been so we decided to head to Thailand for the infamous Full Moon Party. As young, well-travelled women, it seemed like the ideal place to let loose and have some fun. The Cost Of A Sunburn In Thailand
After some time in Bangkok, we headed south to Koh Pha Ngang along the infamous backpacker route: bus, train, ferry. It was a smooth journey, albeit a very long one, and by the time we reached the ferry, we were both exhausted. The sun was coming out as we climbed aboard the boat and we found some uncovered benches to fall asleep on as our ferry sailed through the Gulf of Thailand.
Now let me preface this next bit with some facts about my friend and I: While I have tanned skin that lends itself to darker shades of brown, my friend is a classic English rose. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin that burns under a flashlight. So as you can imagine, four unconscious hours in the relentless Thai sunshine did not bode well for my friend. When we eventually woke, she was red- beet red- with awkward burn lines across her body. She cringed as she attempted to sit up, staring down at her red, charred body. I don’t know if she cried or not but I would have.
When we finally arrived on the island, we walked slowly to our hotel, my friend careful to not let anything touch her skin…and that included other parts of her skin. She sat under a cold shower for hours as the nausea, headaches and pain that come with heat stroke and a bad burn also washed over her body.
The next day, we had to find a doctor. Her burn was definitely 2nd degree at least and needed serious medical attention. Not knowing where to go or what to do, I walked to different drug stores and attempted to communicate the problem to a Thai speaking individual behind the counter. Entirely futile. No one could help me and I didn’t know where to go next.
Now, if we had been smart, we would’ve purchased travel insurance for this trip and used it in this exact case. We could’ve called our insurance company and been referred to the closest (and most appropriate) hospital and had all of the billing arranged while my friend was treated for her severe burns. This could’ve happened quickly and efficiently. I wouldn’t have wandered through a Thai island village looking for someone, anyone, who could help relieve some of my friend’s pain.
I eventually found a clinic, which was also full of other twenty somethings in pain. Some had fallen off their scooter while drunk or ran into a pole while drunk or gotten their arm stuck in a fence while drunk…you get the picture. Now, not all of these geniuses would have been covered given the activities that put them there to begin with, but none of us had travel insurance and none of us had the medical care we needed at the time.
According to Allianz Global Assistance Canada, 43.4% of travellers between the ages of 18-34 leave the country uninsured. Why, I ask as a woman with kids in her mid thirties? For those surveyed 15.8% felt travel insurance was unnecessary, while 15.3% per cent thought it was too expensive, and 14.9% felt their trip was too short to warrant getting insurance. As a former ‘free-spirit’ who backpacked South East Asia on her own, there are many occasions where I did go off the beaten path, taken part in a risk that didn’t pay off and ended up in a situation that could’ve been avoided. Travel insurance may have helped.. For more on those fun times, stay tuned.
In the end, my friend saw the clinic doctor. He gave her an expensive medicated cream (likely would’ve been covered), some painkillers (unsure of exactly what they were…) and advised her to stay out of the sun.
Within a few days, the pain had faded away and most of the burnt skin had peeled off like a lizard shedding its coat. But think of the days we lost sitting in the shade, my friend on dodgy painkillers and me waiting for her to feel good enough to come out and play. We still had a great time, partied hard, met some awesome people and made it home in one piece. Just barely.
Lesson learned, life. Lesson learned.
With a presence in 36 countries, Allianz Global Assistance has been helping Canadians safely explore the world for 30 years. Their goal is to make your travel insurance experience simple from end to end, so you can focus on enjoying your next adventure.
Check out their featured travel insurance plans designed for Canadian residents and Visitors to Canada, or browse their site to learn more about travel insurance and other available plan options provided by Allianz Global Assistance.
Disclaimer: I am a brand ambassador for Allianz Global Assistance (Canada) and receive financial compensation.