Traveling during the busy holiday season
Travel tips to keep your holiday on track and on schedule during the busiest time of the year
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Travel tips for the one of the busiest times of the year... holiday season!
Ahh, holiday travel. Who hasn’t fantasized about bursting through the door with an armload of presents on Christmas Day, getting back home for Thanksgiving dinner, or maybe even just using that time off-work to get away? At World Nomads, we’re huge fans of travel during November and December… especially if it’s done right.
We know you’re itching to travel again. The world is waking to a new era of travel and while you want to launch heartily into the holiday season and explore new regions again, it’s important to plan ahead during peak travel periods so your much-needed holiday leaves a smile on your face.
Whatever your plans are for the holiday season you should consider purchasing travel insurance in case your dream vacation goes awry or is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).
- What's covered
- Tips for the busy peak holiday season
- Things to look out for when considering travel insurance
What's covered
The following is a small sample of what World Nomads Standard and Explorer plans offer (up to the benefit limits) for:
- Coverage for extended stays: Having too much fun and want to stay longer? You can extend your policy before it expires for up to 12 months from its start date. You must not have had any change to your health, submitted a claim or intend to, or exceeded the eligible age limit at the time to be eligible to extend.
- Emergency medical and evacuation coverage: Our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team can help you find a doctor and you can submit a claim to recover unexpected medical costs (up to your benefit limit). Our plans include emergency evacuation coverage for ambulances or transfers to an appropriate medical facility best suited for your care (subject to approval from us). Be sure to check the maximum benefit amount and terms of coverage in your policy.
- Baggage and personal belongings coverage: If your gear is damaged or swiped from under your nose, our gear coverage may help with replacing covered items (policy excess may apply).
- Activities coverage: We cover more than 150 sports and adventure activities, from ocean kayaking to mountain biking. Depending on your country of residence, you may need to include an insurance upgrade when you buy to have coverage for some activities. If you don’t have the right level of coverage, you won’t be able to claim if something goes wrong.
- Cover for Coronavirus-related events: Depending on your country of residence and the plan you choose, coverage can include medical assistance, repatriation and hospitalization benefits if you get sick with COVID-19 overseas. To find out what cover applies to you, read our What’s Covered for Coronavirus article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
Traveler tip: Don’t forget to read the policy wording as all plans are different and coverage will depend on your country of residence. Never assume you’ll be covered in every situation, as benefit limits, terms and conditions and exclusions apply. If you are still unsure about what you are covered for, contact us.
Tips for the busy peak holiday season
Taking some simple precautions can be the difference between holiday season bliss and a trip you’d rather forget. Here are a few tips for making the most of that precious holiday time:
- Stay up to date: Our number one tip is to check with your government and the government authority of the country you’re heading to, or through, and familiarize yourself with any new or existing COVID-19 requirements for entry. Government travel advisories can change rapidly. Regularly check our travel alerts, and local news updates of the country you’re in. Depending on your country of residence, some of our Explorer Plans may cover coronavirus travel costs for cancellation and trip interruption due to coronavirus.
Traveler tip: Check your passport to make sure it hasn’t or won't expire soon. Some countries require at least six months of passport validity to allow entry. Be sure to review your and your travel companion’s passport details well in advance in case you need to renew a passport, as there have been big delays in getting passports renewed.
- Arrive at the airport early: Travel insurance can cover many unexpected events but arriving at the airport too late – by your own fault – isn’t one of them, sorry! Traffic jams, public transport delays, and finding a car parking spot can all create a nightmare when you’re trying to catch a flight. For those short holiday trips, just taking carry-on can take some of the stress out of battling your way to the bag drop counter hours before departure.
- Be prepared for flight cancellations and trip delays: We know daydreaming about your next vacation doesn’t include hold-ups but delays and cancellations are common during peak holiday periods as are COVID-19 operational delays. World Nomads Travel Insurance may protect you from some out-of-pocket expenses if your transport is overbooked, delayed or cancelled due to a covered event and you need to find alternative arrangements. Remember benefit limits and sub-limits apply.
Traveler tip: Try to find a direct flight rather than one with several connections, even if it costs more. You'll reduce the risk of missing connections, trip delays, and of losing your luggage during a transfer.
- Know your limits: At World Nomads we see people every holiday season who are seriously injured because they did things under the influence they would never do sober. Travel insurance won’t cover you for claims that occur when you’re intoxicated, so it’s never a good idea to go swimming at midnight or try that double back-flip on skis you could do when you were a kid. While under the influence of alcohol, a traveler is also a bigger target for pickpockets and thieves, especially solo and female travelers.
- Take safety seriously on (and off) the slopes: The Yuletide wonderland of the Tyrolean slopes can be a cold reality if your adventure turns into a skiing accident, or if your Christmas trip surfing at Bondi Beach turns into a nasty wipe-out. World Nomads’ plans provide cover for more than 150 adventure activities from snow sports to beach sports and a lot in between but not all activities are covered under every plan – you can find out what is available for your country of residence here. You may need to pay an additional premium for higher-risk activities or choose a different plan. Many activities also have specific conditions and exclusions such as altitude limits and diving limits.
- Book ahead: On top of the usual peak season crowds looking for tickets, restaurants and equipment to hire, nowadays health and safety requirements can mean fewer tickets and less capacity or equipment are available than usual. Booking in advance not only saves you from walking extra miles looking for that last remaining item, but also locks down prices in a time when skis at Banff or scuba gear in Indonesia are in high demand. Of course, sometimes you’ll want to take your own equipment and some of our policies may cover your sporting equipment if it is delayed or damaged in transit by a common carrier. Check your policy as benefit limits, terms and conditions apply.
- If you get sick while traveling: If you’ve sanitised in hourly rituals yet the New Year’s celebration in Rio still leaves you with a mystery illness, follow any local isolation requirements and contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team as soon as possible to help you find medical support and treatment. You can submit a claim for prescriptions, doctors’ visits and hospitalization. Remember some countries require proof of travel insurance or payment upfront before receiving medical treatment. A doctor will need to certify that you are medically unfit to continue with your original travel plans to support your injury or illness claim. Keep all documents and receipts to submit with your claim.
Things to look out for when considering travel insurance
- Make sure you correctly choose the right trip dates, ages of each traveler, and level of cover.
- Ensure all your destinations are covered.
- Make sure you understand what a pre-existing medical condition is under our policy, as we do not cover these conditions unless noted otherwise in the policy wording terms and conditions.
- Some activities and sports may require an extra level of cover or may not be covered.
- Make sure you clearly understand the benefit limits and the excess as per the level of cover you’ve selected.
- Understand that there will be General Exclusions in your policy for which you won’t be covered under any circumstances.
- Make copies of travel documents and keep receipts in case you need to make a claim.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
About World Nomads
World Nomads polices are designed by travelers for travelers to provide simple and flexible travel insurance – and it’s often cheaper than you might think! Featuring coverage for more than 150 activities, quotes are fast, free and you can do it all online at www.worldnomads.com. All of the information we provide about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.
Did you know travel insurance covers...
- Trip cancellation
- Emergency medical
- Evacuation and repatriation
- Lost or damaged gear
- Delayed baggage
- Death overseas
- Terrorism
- And more...
You can also buy away from home or buy more cover if you extend your trip. Plus, you can claim online anytime, anywhere in the world.
True Claims Stories
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 or tech 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)
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 teamTravel Insurance for Hiking and Trekking
Simple and flexible travel insurance to take you trekking around the world.
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Whether it’s the trek or the view you’re chasing, the world’s great hiking destinations will leave you breathless. From Europe’s alpine trails to the mist-soaked rainforests of Costa Rica, hiking has a magic all its own.
Preparation is paramount to any hiking adventure abroad; learning about the area, checking the route and making sure you have the right gear in case bad weather rolls in. Along with a trusty map, it helps to pack travel insurance if hiking accidents stop you in your tracks.
What’s covered for hiking and trekking?
Are you an experienced Irish hiker looking for your next big challenge or are you happier on a relaxed family hike? No matter how adventurous your hiking plans, World Nomads plans may offer cover (up to the benefit limits) for:
- Emergency medical: overseas emergency medical expenses at a hospital or medical centre if you suffer an unexpected injury or illness while hiking. You’ll first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider, if applicable, and follow their emergency procedures and claims procedures. Where your PMI provider cannot assist, contact the 24-hour Emergency Medical Assistance team. Expenses must be medically necessary and agreed by the insurer in order to receive reimbursement of your covered expenses.
- Evacuation: we offer approved overseas emergency medical evacuation to the most appropriate medical facility for treatment or repatriation back to Ireland. Emergency transport is subject to approval from the 24-hour Emergency Medical Assistance team.
- Trip cancellation: has a sick or injured travelling companion put a stop to your hiking break? Your plan may be able to recover the unused non-refundable travel expenses.
- Gear protection: had your camera stolen while hiking in Thailand? Our gear coverage can help with replacing belongings that were swiped from under your nose. You’ll need a police report to submit with your claim as well as copies of the original receipts and supporting documentation.
- Lost or damaged baggage cover: have your bags or personal items gone missing? You must report all theft or loss to the police as well as to the common carrier, service provider or other local authority as soon as possible. You must also get a Property Irregularity Report or other incident report from the carrier so you can submit it with your claim, as well as a police report, copies of the original receipts and any luggage tickets.
- Delayed baggage cover: has your checked-in baggage been delayed for more than 24 hours? Your plan may cover essential items you purchase while you’re waiting for your baggage to arrive.
- Coronavirus cover: we offer cover for some Coronavirus related events.
Choose a plan that suits your needs
Both our Standard Plan and Explorer Plan may offer many of the same benefits including cover for hiking or trekking up to 6,000 metres, you just need to select the maximum elevation you’ll be hiking to at the time you get your quote.
If you’re lucky enough to have some extra adventure or sport activities planned such as kayaking or mountaineering, check out our article on covered sports and activities, which will help you select the optional upgrades you’ll need to add to your plan when you buy your policy, you can’t add them afterwards. Terms and conditions apply, please read your Policy Wording carefully or contact us if you have any questions.
What’s not covered for hiking?
Sorry – we won’t cover you if you do something reckless (such as tackling an extreme hiking trip into a remote area when you’re only a beginner). Some things we don’t cover include:
- Pre-existing medical conditions as explained in your Policy Wording
- Free mountaineering, climbing in remote or inaccessible regions, exploratory expeditions and new routes, high altitude climbing over 6,000 metres, mountaineering expeditions or expeditions to the Arctic or Antarctica.
- Search and rescue operations to find or rescue you as per your Policy Wording.
- Any adventure or sport activity you did not specify on your policy.
- If you refuse to be repatriated or evacuated.
- If you don’t follow your doctor’s instructions or what we or the 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team advise you to do.
- If you do not follow the local safety advice and warnings.
- Expenses that can be recovered from other sources e.g. transport carriers, accommodation providers, credit card issuers or other insurance policies.
- Medical treatment that can wait until your return to Ireland.
- If you don't keep your gear safe and secure at all times.
How to get the most out of your travel insurance
Before you head for the hills, the following tips can help you maximise your safety and validity of cover.
- Inform a local assistance company of your trekking route and policy details.
- If you require any medical treatment during your trip while outside of Ireland you first need to contact your private medical insurance (PMI) provider (if applicable) and follow their emergency medical procedures and claims procedures. Where your PMI provider cannot provide assistance, please contact our 24-hour Emergency Medical Assistance Team before incurring medical costs.
- Check which countries your trail passes through to ensure your policy covers you for that region.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You can read more about hiking and travel insurance and you should read your Policy Wording in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
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 died?
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
- Rolled your ankle?
- Bedridden after a local delicacy?
- Struggling with altitude?
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
- Road or air ambulance?
- Flight assistance?
- Medivac needed home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Go pro stolen?
- Gear damaged in transit?
- 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)
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 teamFAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about hiking & trekking insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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What’s covered when I’m hiking?
We’ve tried to give you the freedom to hike from Arizona to Zambia by helping cover some of those nasty accidents. For further info, click here
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How do I get to the medical centre if I’m injured while trekking?
If you can, contact our Emergency Medical Assistance team to help arrange the care that you need. If you have no connectivity, then contact local authorities and have them call our assistance teams once you’re in safe hands. For further info, click here.
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What if the airline loses my gear?
If your gear is lost or damaged by the airline, World Nomads can help cover some of the cost to replace them. For further info, click here.
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Does my travel insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
If you’re hospitalized because of an accident, the insurer may help cover these costs upfront. For further info, click here.
Scuba Diving travel insurance
Simple and flexible travel insurance to keep you safe on your next dive trip. Buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world.
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As featured in:
Why buy travel insurance when going scuba diving?
Calm waters, crystal clear visibility and a bulletproof dive plan might make for the perfect underwater adventure, but accidents can happen, even to the most experienced divers. Whether you're learning or you’ve done hundreds of dives, World Nomads travel insurance can help take the pressure off you and your family when the unexpected sinks your next dive trip.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?
- Dive 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
- Stepped on a stonefish?
- Got a serious squeeze?
- Need 02 or hyperbaric treatment?
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
- Sea level medical evac?
- Need an ambulance?
- Medivac needed home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Go Pro stolen?
- Bags lost in transit?
- Luggage 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)
World Nomads love Scuba Diving
As passionate divers ourselves, we’ve designed our plans to cover dives from the Great Blue Hole to The Yongala.
- Scuba diving (qualified divers to 30 meters – an additional premium may apply)
- Learn-to-dive courses or discover scuba dives (with qualified instructors)
- Shark cage diving
- Snorkeling, island escapes, live-aboard trips, and more
*Note: All plans are different and may require an upgrade to go scuba diving. Conditions and exclusions apply. Read the policy wording carefully to choose the right plan and/or adventure sport option for your trip.
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 teamFAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about scuba diving insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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What’s covered when Scuba Diving?
We’ve tried to give you the freedom to learn or hone your diving skills by helping cover some of those nasty accidents. For further info, click here.
-
How do I get to the medical centre if I’m injured underwater?
Contact our emergency medical assistance team so that they can help to the care that you need. For further info, click here.
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What if the airline damages gear?
If your diving gear is damaged by the airline, World Nomads can help cover some of the cost to replace them. For further info, click here.
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Does my travel insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
If you’re hospitalized because of an accident, the insurer can help cover these costs upfront. Contact the Emergency Medical Assistance team where urgent medical assistance is required. For further info, click here.
