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Travel Insurance when visiting the Caribbean

Essential travel insurance tips

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The Caribbean, with its many island destinations such as Jamaica, St Lucia, and the Dominican Republic, has always been a mecca for international travelers who dream of escaping chilly climates and their frantic way of life. If you’re planning a trip to this unique part of the globe, considering travel insurance can provide support if your Caribbean holiday suddenly goes awry.

What’s covered

World Nomads travel insurance provides cover for illness, injury, or damage to your personal belongings. Depending on your Country of Residence and the plan you have selected, you may be covered for:

Overseas emergency medical: if you’ve had an injury or need urgent medical attention and require a medical centre or hospital, you must contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team in the first instance. They will confirm if the treatment is medically necessary and advise you on what to do, help locate suitable medical facilities (particularly in remote areas where access to medical care can be tricky) and monitor your medical treatments if needed to make sure you’re given proper care.

Medical evacuation and repatriation: we offer emergency medical transport and repatriation back to your Country of Residence if medically necessary and authorised by our emergency medical assistance team.

Baggage cover: if your baggage or other personal belongings are lost or damaged during your trip, then you may claim for these. However, claims without supporting documentation such as police reports and receipts may not be covered. Benefit limits, conditions and exclusions apply.

Extended stays: if you are having way too much fun on your Caribbean holiday and choose to stay longer, you may also extend your travel insurance for a maximum of one year past the start date of your policy.

Coverage for some Coronavirus (COVID-19) related events: if you are forced to cancel your holiday plans due to being diagnosed as having Coronavirus by your treating doctor, then you may claim for any non-refundable travel expenses. To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all the details, including benefit limits, conditions, and exclusions.

How to get the most out of your insurance when visiting the Caribbean

The two travel insurance plans that we offer are the Standard Plan and the Explorer Plan. Both offer cover for injuries, illness, trip cancellation expenses and theft. However, the Explorer Plan offers higher benefit limits and/or sub-limits than the Standard Plan and cover for a wider selection of activities.

For example, if you plan to go Scuba diving in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, then you might want to consider our levels of coverage for Scuba diving in case you are involved in a Scuba diving accident.

Though both our Standard and Explorer plans include benefits for Scuba diving, each plan has a different level of coverage and may exclude certain types of diving or dives of a certain depth. Be sure to check your policy for exclusions, such as unguided dives or search-and-rescue missions.

Besides Scuba diving, World Nomads offers cover for 150+ adventure activities including:

Surfing.
Hiking.
Backpacking.
Kayaking.
Sandboarding.
Snorkelling.

If your favorite sport is not on the list get in touch with our Customer Assistance Team and they will let you know if we cover it. Be aware that an upgrade for certain activities and sports may be required.

What to look out for when traveling around the Caribbean

The Caribbean is a tropical playground where travelers from all over the world gravitate to enjoy the lush wilderness, white sand beaches and laid-back vibes. However, getting sick or injured could prove to be very costly, you may want to consider purchasing travel insurance before you go.

Here are some common problems that travelers can encounter when visiting the region:

Extreme weather: well known for being a sun-drenched paradise with year-round warm climates, the Caribbean Islands are occasionally lashed by powerful tropical storms that wreak widespread destruction.

Travel insurance tip: if your hotel is damaged by a natural catastrophe, you may be covered for transport expenses as well as accommodation in a different hotel up to the policy limit.

Theft: thieves are known to prey on unsuspecting tourists whose bags may be snatched from them in street mugging incidents or sneakily taken whilst their attention is diverted elsewhere.

Travel insurance tip: if any of your belongings are stolen, you must obtain a written police report as soon as you can. Where possible, provide witness details as well as photographs, comply with all conditions of any issuing body and provide receipts for all costs incurred, or we will not pay for any claim that you make.

What’s not covered?

Below is a brief list of what we do not cover. Please check your policy wording for a full list of benefit limits, exclusions as well as the terms and conditions.

Pre-existing medical conditions as explained in the policy wording.
Any medical treatment, medication, or hospitalization for a non-urgent condition. Examples could include cosmetic surgery, general check-ups, or other elective surgeries.
Theft, damage, or loss of items that were unattended.
Expenses that other organisations, including hotels and airlines are liable for.
If you were breaking the law or acting in a careless manner.
Failing to comply with official organisations and our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team to repatriate you back to your country of residence.
Traveling to or staying in a country that the government in your country of residence has declared an official travel ban on or warned against non-essential travel.

This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. If you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Been working hard for your trip?

We'll work hard to protect it.

Trip Protection

Unexpectedly hospitalised?
Travel buddy unfit to travel?
Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Expenses

Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Need meds quick?
Accidentally injured?
Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transportation

Know where the nearest hospital is?

Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.

Evacuation and Repatriation

Banged up abroad?
Need a hospital urgently?
Medivac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Love photography, filming or sport?

Cover your bags, tech or gear.

Protect your gear

Passport stolen?
Airline lost your gear?
Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation

Trip Cancellation or Interruption
24-Hour Assistance Services

Baggage
And more (depending on your country of residence)

*This is a general summary only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Coverage may not be available for all countries, states or provinces. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Get a quote for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

Contact the team

Travel insurance. Simple & flexible.

Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.

Photo © Jarana Creatives/Getty

Travel Insurance for a trip to Portugal

Learn more about World Nomads travel insurance for your travel across the Old Continent.

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Thousands of Americans plan bucket-list vacations to Portugal each year to enjoy the enticing Douro Valley wine region, impressive architecture in cities like Porto or Lisbon, sandy-white coastlines like Camilo Beach in the Algarve and exciting foodie experiences. As you’re making your travel plans for Portugal, it’s a good idea to purchase a travel insurance policy from World Nomads to protect your trip investment, your well-being and your baggage.

Your World Nomads policy may include coverage for:

Lost, delayed or stolen baggage coverage
Overseas medical insurance and benefits for COVID-19-related events
Access to our World Nomads skilled 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team
Coverage for activities and sports you plan to partake in while in Portugal

SRua Garrett at night — Rua Garrett at night, Lisbon, Portgual. Photo credit: Getty Images / Renaud Visage

When planning a vacation to Portugal, common setbacks American travelers can face are lost or delayed luggage and unforeseen medical issues, including COVID-19 illnesses.

What’s included in your World Nomads travel insurance policy for a trip to Portugal?

Lost, stolen or delayed baggage coverage

World Nomads may cover (up to the policy limits) the loss, theft or damage to your baggage or personal belongings depending on your specific situation. Here are more details:

Delayed baggage

Upon arriving to Lisbon to start your trip, if your luggage isn’t on the carousel at the airport, it can be very upsetting. But your World Nomads policy may provide coverage if your bags were lost in transit to Portugal for more than 12 hours. The first thing to do is file a report with your airline, and then keep your paperwork organized so you will have this documentation to file a claim. Your bag-delay benefits may provide reimbursement for a change of clothes and some personal care items until you are reunited with your luggage.

Stolen personal effects

Your personal belongings may be covered if stolen while vacationing in Portugal. If you are the victim of a crime, file a report with local police, your tour manager or hotel staff. Be sure to read your policy documents so you understand reimbursement guidelines. For example, if you are on a walking tour in Lisbon, and your camera gets stolen from your backpack while you’re strolling in a city square, you may be reimbursed. Read over your travel insurance policy so you understand how depreciation and exclusions may impact your claims.

To be best protected, keep your personal belongings close to you at all times. Keep valuables like credit cards and travel documents in a money belt or cross-body bag, and don’t draw attention by wearing flashy jewelry. Also, risky behavior that causes loss of property likely won’t be covered by travel insurance. For example, if you’re drinking wine in excess in Porto and leave your cell phone unsupervised at a bar, this probably won’t be reimbursable.

Lagos beach in Algarve, Portugal. Photo credit: Getty Images / Carol Yepes

Overseas emergency medical coverage and benefits for COVID-19 related events

When traveling in Portugal, having overseas emergency medical insurance is very important in case you get injured or become ill. Your US based health insurance plan may not be accepted outside the US, so if you need medical attention you will have to pay out of pocket. With your World Nomads travel insurance policy in hand, if you break your wrist from a fall while hiking the Fisherman’s Trail from Porto Covo to Odeceixe, you could potentially be reimbursed for any medical care, imaging, hospital stays and medicine.

Regarding COVID-19, World Nomads Travel Protection Plan purchased by U.S. residents may provide coverage if you test positive for COVID-19. Benefits may cover emergency medical, emergency medical evacuation, trip delay and trip interruption coverage if you contract COVID-19 while traveling in Portugal.

If you need to cancel your trip due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, your policy may cover loss of pre-paid, nonrefundable expenses such as flights, hotel rooms and excursions if your doctor says you can’t travel on your scheduled departure day because you’re diagnosed with COVID-19. A positive COVID test must be accompanied by 3rd party verification for claims documentation purposes. Verifiable proof of positive COVID test includes physician consultation, PCR lab results (includes name of patient, date, result) or proctored COVID test witnessed by a physician or nurse.

Elevador da Bica funicular in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo credit: Getty Images / Alexander Spatari

Access to 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team

Your World Nomads travel insurance plan includes a team of professionals who can help with many issues. If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, for example, we can provide a helping hand to direct you to a medical center, talk to doctors, arrange pre-authorization for treatment and even offer translation services. We may also be able to contact your family or friends back home to keep them updated on your condition.

Coverage for sports and recreational activities in Portugal

If you’re headed Minho in North Portugal to hike or trek in the mountains, or plan to snorkel in The Azores, World Nomads offers travel insurance coverage for 150+ activities and sports. Be sure to read your plan documents to see if your intended pursuits are covered. We have two policy options: Standard and Explorer. Activity coverage differs by plan. Be sure to compare options and select the plan that best covers the activities you plan to do while in Portugal.