And you find yourself wondering, is the Eurail Pass worth it?

With countless options for ways to travel Europe, from budget airlines, buses, cars and tours to riding the rails, deciding the best path to take can be a challenge.

That’s where this guide comes in. Read on to learn whether the Eurail Pass is the best option for your personal priorities, budget and travel goals.

Eurail Pass & The Origins of Zero to Travel

Two decades ago, Jason, founder of Zero to Travel, was more or less your average recent college grad.

He had student debt, a fulltime job offer and had never traveled overseas.

He also had a dream of exploring Europe by train, and executing that dream not only shaped Jason’s perspective of the world, but also the course of his life.

“It was the catalyst for me basically revolving my entire life around travel,” said Jason, who has now visited dozens of countries across the globe along with founding a travel website, podcast, and online community focused on helping others to make travel a reality.

“Even my mom will tell you, when I came back she said I said something like, ‘What would you think if I lived in Europe?’”

Jason now lives in Norway, and it all began with a mind-opening two-month long adventure through Europe by way of Europe’s elaborate train system, traveling with an open ended ticket known as the Eurail Pass.

“Needless to say I was charmed, and a huge part of that charm was because of the way I traveled,” he said. “I don’t think it would have been the same experience if I was just flying from place to place.”

Table of Contents

1. What is the Eurail Pass?
2. Is the Eurail Pass right for you?
3. Breakdown of the Eurail Pass ticket options
4. Other transportation options to consider
5. Deciding on your Travel Strategy
6. How much does a Eurail Pass cost?
7. Hidden costs and discounts
8. How to Get The Most from your Eurail Pass
9. How to decide if the Eurail Pass is right for YOU

What is the Eurail Pass?

A Eurail Pass provides access to more than 10,000 destinations and 115,000 miles of interconnected railways, allowing travelers to build their own itineraries as they go.

“Eurail has been providing multi-destination train travel in Europe since 1959,” said Nienke Geudeker, Eurail Communications Officer. “Today, with just one rail pass, travellers have the ability to travel in and through up to 28 different European countries.”

“Traveling by train brings you in an efficient and convenient way from country to country and from city to city, while enjoying the landscape passing by. The trip itself makes it unique and is incomparable with travelling by car or plane for example. Europe is packed with amazing places, be it world-famous cities or off the beaten path charming villages, there really is no better and more comfortable way to visit it all than by train… Eurail is the ultimate way to experience Europe, and a Eurail Pass offers more than train travel,” she said.

So, is the Eurail Pass for you?

Let’s start by noting that the Eurail Pass is not your only option.

And, right upfront, you should know that the pass is likely not the cheapest option.

Europe is home to numerous competitive budget airlines, robust bus systems, popular group tours and rideshare options, not to mention you can also utilize the rails network without buying a Eurail Pass, so you’ve got lots of options for your travels that all have their pros and cons.

But, depending on your overall travel goals, despite its costs, the Eurail Pass could be your best option.

Here are some questions to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your trip:

1. How long is your trip?

If you have a 10-day trip in Europe, your trip may be too short to experience the carefree freedom of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants (ride-trains-by-the-seat-of-your-pants?) trip through Europe that the Eurail Pass is best suited for.

In this case, you may be better off to plan out an itinerary for your trip in advance and purchase individual train tickets and budget flights to maximize your time and money.

But, if you have two weeks to two months, a Eurail Pass will provide you with a degree of freedom, comfort and a classic European experience you won’t get any other way.

2. What type of traveler are you?

Deciding whether to purchase a pass may require some personal reflection.

Do you like the idea of showing up in a city with no plans for how long you will stay or where you will go next? Can you imagine yourself meeting a group of travelers in a hostel and deciding to go with them to their next destination?

If this is the type of adventure you’re craving then, by all means, the pass will be worth it just for the sake of open-ended adventure.

In contrast, if you are the type of traveler who wants to plan a day-by-day itinerary three months in advance, and you would feel reassured knowing your exact schedule, then the Eurail Pass may not be the best value to you.

3. What region of Europe is your priority?

The value of the Eurail Pass greatly depends on where you want to go.

If you plan to visit some more expensive regions such Switzerland or France, then a flat rate for all your transportation could easily become the cheapest option.

For instance, traveler Raphael Zoren used his Eurail Pass in the Swiss Alps, where he said the average price of a ticket is at least two or three times as much as the price of a train ticket in other EU countries. “It is entirely possible to make back the entire price of the Eurail Pass in just a couple of days traveling in Switzerland” Raphael said. “How crazy is that?”

On the other hand, if you see yourself spending a solid portion of your time in Eastern Europe, or even a less pricey country like Spain or Italy, you will be able to put together a cheaper trip with individual trains and buses.

On that note, the train systems in Eastern Europe are not what they are in the rest of the continent, so regardless of price, if your trip is focused on Eastern Europe you should consider using buses instead.

Despite all the options, for Jason, the decision to purchase a Eurail Pass was a no brainer.

“I always had it in my head that I was going to do a train trip around Europe,” Jason said. “I just thought that was such a cool concept to be able to just hop on a train and one minute you’re in one country in the next minute you’re in a totally different place — and the reality of that is so incredible.”

The train ride is about so much more than just transportation, Jason explained.

“Something about taking trains is kind of romantic and also you get to share a nice space with people,” he said. “There are a lot of relaxing things about being in a train and there is something about the sound of the rails… You can still get up and move around but you also have the countryside going past you.”

For Jason, choosing the Eurail Pass as opposed to individual train tickets was all about the freedom.

“When you purchase the Eurail Pass, you feel like you’ve purchased the key to Europe,” Jason said. “The key unlocks all of Europe and you can go pretty much anywhere, whenever, and that’s a great feeling.”

A Breakdown of the Eurail Pass Ticket Options

When it comes to choosing a Eurail Pass, you have two main options:

The Global Pass

If you want to feel like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, the Global Pass is your ultimate golden ticket.

With access in 28 countries, when you choose the Global Pass, you pick how many days you want to travel on over a certain period.

For example, you could choose to travel on five days within one month, or 10 days within a two month period, or you could choose a month (or another period of time) of continuous travel days to allow you the freedom to ride trains on everyday of your travels if you so choose.

The One Country Pass

Are you more interested in an in depth exploration of one country? Pick the One Country pass and choose your travel length and days for within that destination.

So, how to decide what type of pass is right for your trip? If you don’t have your heart set on delving deep on Spain, or know you want to see as many places as possible, this might feel like a tough decision, so here are a few factors to consider:

• The Eurail Pass experience is all about freedom, so if you want to leave your travel plans open and not be locked in to a certain country or set of countries, consider the Global Pass.While the cost of the passes will vary based on the flexibility, if you can imagine yourself getting to Europe and regretting being restrained to a certain region, it is worth forking up a few extra dollars now.
• However, if you are settled on mainly exploring one country but think you may want to add on a couple others once you arrive, remember that just because you own a rail pass doesn’t mean you are limited to only traveling with that Pass. If you can use up your 10 travel days within one country, but also want to see another country in another part of Europe, consider — for example — purchasing a One Country Pass for the majority of your travels but incorporating a budget flight to Eastern Europe and traveling by bus in this region.

Other transportation options to consider

From budget airlines to online ride sharing networks, Europe has a huge variety of options when it comes to ways to travel. So, before you decide whether the Eurail Pass is right for you, take a look at what else is out there.

• Budget Airlines – Affordable and efficient for long distances but you’ll miss what’s along the way
• Buses – Cheaper and a better option than trains for Eastern Europe travel
• Ferries or Cruises – Some destinations can only be reached by boat or underground by train
• Individual train tickets – Good for short Europe vacations and travelers who like to plan far in advance
• Group tours – Expensive but great for travelers who don’t want to plan or make decisions
• Rideshare – Good for travelers who have ample time and flexibility
• Driving – Efficient but stressful and potentially isolating

While the options for traveling Europe are as varied as the costs associated with each means of travel, choosing your means for travel will ultimately need to be based on the type of trip you want to take and what you want to get out of your Europe adventure.

Deciding on Your Travel Strategy

“It’s not only about cost savings when you are choosing a travel strategy,” Jason said. “For the right person, the Eurail Pass is also about the peace of mind of knowing you have your transportation and it’s all taken care of.”

Rather than wasting precious travel time figuring out your transport on the fly, or committing yourself to certain plans by booking flights weeks in advance, you can travel with the reassurance of knowing you already have your ticket to wherever you want to go.

“You’re also dedicating yourself to an amazing experience, which is a train journey through the romantic countryside, skipping from country to country,” Jason said. “It is so liberating to just be able to hop on a train and go somewhere.”

When it comes to planning the budget for your trip, it’s also reassuring to have one of your biggest costs paid for upfront and not have to worry as much about budgeting money for your transportation costs as you go.

As budget airlines get more and more popular, the ionic train ride through Europe is still an experience that is hard to get anywhere else.

Planes are a great way to get from point A to point B, but they miss everything along the way, Jason described.

In addition to not adding to your travel experience, the process can be depleting with trips to and from the airport, long lines and security checkpoints.

“On a plane the journey itself isn’t as much of experience, it’s more like ‘Hey let’s get this plane ride over with so we can get to the good stuff,’ whereas when you’re on a train, that is part of the travel experience.”

The layout on trains also tends to be more receptive to interacting with other travelers. In comparison to the rows of seats on planes or buses, trains have cars where seats face each other, common areas where you can meet others, and are conducive to walking around.

“You are in transit but you’re still having a travel experience, you’re interacting with locals and you’re still experiencing that country,” Jason said. “You’re also getting to be immersed in the scenery of that country, while sharing a physical space with other people from that country, in that culture and it really makes for a special way to travel I think.”

How much does the Eurail Pass cost?

If you decide a Eurail Pass is right for you, there are many price variables within the system.

Pass options start at under $100 and can cost more than $1000, depending on any discounts and extra charges that apply based on your age, group and the countries you are traveling in.

Here’s a breakdown of the base prices for each type of Eurail Pass ticket:

Cheapest: One Country

You can have the freedom of a Eurail Pass for under $100 — you just have to exercise that freedom within one country.

If going deep in on one location is more your style than the classic cram-in-all-of-Europe backpacking adventure, you can purchase a Eurail Pass that will get you nine travel days within a country over a one month period.

These passes start as low as $59 for many Eastern European countries as well as a few others.

In the pricier European countries, a single country pass will be more expensive, but even better value. A pass for Norway starts at $192, and individual tickets in these countries would add up to that price in as little as three train rides.

Pro Tip: Just because you buy a one country pass doesn’t mean you can’t see other countries while in Europe. Purchase a pass for the most expensive country, use up your travel days there, and then use a different mode of transport to explore cheaper European countries.

More money, more freedom: Global Pass

So you want to see as much as possible and have that ultimate freedom? Try the opposite end of the spectrum.

Global Passes allow you access to 28 European countries, and will cost you anywhere from $245 to upwards of $1000 depending on how many travel days you want and how long your trip is.

The cheapest Global Pass comes with three travel days within a one month period traveling in 2nd class, starting at $245, while the most expensive costs six times that but lets you travel continuously for three months in first class.

Travelers looking for a happy medium can get a pass that includes 10 travel days during a 2 month period starting at $600 in first class.

Note: Prices vary depending on when you are traveling and when tickets are purchased.

Hidden costs and discounts revealed

Now that you have an idea of the basic costs of a Eurail Pass, it’s time to fill you in on some of the hidden costs and discounts you should consider.

Hidden Costs

The costs listed above are the “starting” price. While you pay a flat rate upfront for your pass, that is not the only money you will be spending on your transportation.

Many of the trains require you to make reservations,, which usually costs about 8 euros per train, plus an additional seat reservation fee which on average vary from 6 to 20 euros.

If you want to avoid making reservations, you can ride regional trains, which you can usually just hop aboard with your Eurail Pass.

However, more popular trains, night trains, high speed trains, and some scenic trains will require a reservation, not only adding a cost to your trip but also taking away some of that ultimate freedom we keep talking about.

Many trains only accept reservations at least 8 days in advance.

So that will take a bit away from the train-ride-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing.

“We advise travelers to book well in advance; seats can be in high demand, especially in the peak travel season — July through August,” Eurail representative Nienke Geudeker said. “On a few trains, the number of available Pass holder seats can be limited. But most of the time you can just show up at the train station and hop on the next train.”

But, Nienke also noted that your reservation could include some perks, such as a meal and a drink served at your seat, a complimentary newspaper or free Wi-Fi, depending on the train and class.
Speaking of perks, let’s get to that good news.

Hidden Discounts

Age: Eurail has a few discounts you should consider based on your age.

For instance, children under 11 travel free, and if you are age 12 to 27, you can get a youth discount of 23% cheaper than the standard adult pass. Also, a 10% senior discount is available to adults 60 and older.

Partnerships: The Eurail Pass also offers perks and discounts on other things like European City cards accommodations, attractions and more.

How to Get the Most From Your Eurail Pass

Embrace the journey

When planning a trip to Europe, many travelers set their sights on the big name spots like the Eiffel Tower and Sistine Chapel. But when you travel by train, you get to take in all the things along the way that you never even knew you wanted to see.

“It’s great to see those big sights of course, but it’s also just these magical places in between that can make a journey great,” Jason said.

Staying flexible and being open to new places that weren’t originally on your itinerary can add depth to your trip and is just one of the many ways to increase the value of your Eurail Pass.

Travel more, save more

“With a Eurail Pass, the general rule is the more you travel, the more you save,” Nienke said. “Therefore, to make your Eurail trip a real success, we recommend including a palette of experiences as diverse as possible.”

If you only want to go on a few train rides, the Eurail Pass might not be in your best interest, but if you want the freedom to travel continuously throughout your trip, the more times you use your pass the cheaper each train ride gets. This is especially true in more expensive regions where you could easily rack up the cost of a Eurail Pass on individual tickets.

Overnight trips

Taking advantage of overnight trains, not only to maximize your travel time, but also to save on a night’s stay somewhere else.

“Not only are you not having to pay for accommodation, you’re still getting to your next place and getting a decent night’s sleep,” Jason said.

Insider tip:

“It’s very useful to know about the 7 p.m. rule if you have a Flexi Pass (e.g. Global Pass – 15 days within 2 months) as it can save you precious travel days,” Nienke said. “The rule means that you only need to use one travel day when you travel on trains that depart after 7 p.m. and arrive at their final stop after 4 a.m., even if you leave the train before 4 a.m.”

Think outside the rails

The Greek Island Pass was recently added to the Eurail Pass options and includes 6 ferry connections between Italy and Greece or between the Greek islands within one month, and can be a great addition to your Eurail adventure.

So, is the Eurail Pass worth it for you?

So how do you feel? Now that you have all this info, do you think you should you use a Eurail Pass for your European adventure?

Ultimately, the answer depends on your individual goals for your journey, but if you need help sorting out your priorities, we’re here to help.

If you find yourself aligning with the statements in the left column, it is time to order your very own key to Europe.

Yes, absolutely:

• Your priority is seeing as much of Europe as possible
• You won’t settle for anything less than the iconic Europe experience
• Extra freedom is worth paying for
• You want to be able to make last minute plans
• You have more than two weeks in Europe
• You would rather pay for transportation upfront than budget along the way

Not so much:

• You’re spending less than two weeks in Europe
• You want to find the cheapest transportation possible
• You don’t mind planning your trip in advance
• You only anticipate traveling within a small region of Europe
• You have the time to research and buy individual tickets
• A large portion of your travels will be in Eastern Europe

Pass or no pass, travel

“The most important point is, whether you get a Eurail Pass or not, go on the trip,” Jason said.

Sometimes wading through information, making decisions and building a plan for your trip can become such a big burden that trips never get off the ground — or on to the rails.

Don’t miss this opportunity for a life-changing experience.

“The trip that opened up the world to me was a Eurail trip through Europe,” Jason said. “I just remember this buz of energy and feeling high for 2 months straight. It was a spectacular feeling. I met so many people on the way that were travelling the world in all these different ways and I realized, this doesn’t have to be a one time thing — I can keep doing this. I realized I could make seeing the world my life, and essentially, that’s what I’ve done.”

The post Eurail Pass: Is It Worth It? (An In-Depth Guide) appeared first on Zero to Travel.

An around the world ticket (also known as an RTW ticket for short, or “Round the World”) is a special type of plane ticket that allows you to circumnavigate the globe.

When done right, booking an RTW ticket can save you a lot of money.

That being said, around the world trip planning isn’t your ordinary Google Flights search for a few sweet deals. This is a whole different way to travel.

Stringing together multiple flights across several continents requires strategic planning, skillful budgeting, a lot of knowledge about international travel, and hours and hours of research. It’s a daunting task, but almost every RTW trip starts by answering one simple question:

Should you buy an Around The World ticket or book each leg of the trip as you go?

The answer to this question will impact your budget, timeline, destinations, and even how you travel. Booking an around the world ticket (or not booking one!) is a big deal, and honestly, RTW trips aren’t for everyone.

So let’s dig into the pros and cons of Around The World tickets with a look at the average price for one, common rules and restrictions, how to make changes and cancellations to RTW flights, and a few pro tips to help you add more stops, score free layovers, and get the best bang for your buck on your RTW ticket.

Here’s what will cover…

Around the World Ticket FAQs

What is an Around The World Ticket and How Does It Work?
How Much Does an Around The World Ticket Cost?
What is an Air Alliance and How Do They Work?
What’s the Difference Between Booking with Airline Alliances and Travel Agents or Booking Sites?
What are the Rules and Restrictions of an Around The World Ticket?
Can You Change Dates or Destinations While Traveling on an RTW Ticket?
How Long is an Around The World Ticket Good For?
How Many Stops Can You Book on an Around The World Ticket?
Do You Always Have to Start and End in the Same City on an RTW Ticket?
Why Can’t You Backtrack with an RTW Ticket?
Can You Use Budget Airlines in an RTW Ticket?
Can You Redeem Points or Miles for Around The World Tickets?
Tips, Tricks, & Travel Hacks for Around The World Tickets
When is the Best Time to Book an Around The World Ticket?
The Pros and Cons of Around The World tickets
Podcast Episode Show Notes

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Listen to the full Zero to Travel podcast episode featuring around the world ticket expert Dale Vaughn from AirTreks as he shares his tips and advice for booking an RTW ticket.

What is an Around The World Ticket and How Does It Work?

An RTW ticket is an around the world one-way ticket with a bunch of stops along the way. You can tailor your trip to however many destinations and continents you like, but there are (generally) only three rules for an RTW ticket:

1. 1. You have to book every stop and destination in advance
   2. You always have to fly in the same direction (always flying east to west, for example)
   3. RTW tickets are good for up to 11 months from start to finish

The specific rules and restrictions of your Around The World ticket can vary based on if you book with an airline alliance vs. a third-party travel company like AirTreks or STA Travel.

We’ll get into all the pricing, red tape, and RTW travel hacks down below, but that’s the nuts and bolts of an RTW ticket. Or as AirTreks Marketing Director, Dale Vaughn puts it:

“An around the world ticket is exactly what it sounds like. You go in one direction around the world—circumnavigating it—with a handful of stops along the way.”

So if Around The World tickets are just a string of flights on different airlines, what’s the advantage of buying an RTW ticket upfront vs booking each leg of travel separately as you travel?

The answer is simple—it costs a lot less when you buy everything in advance. And the reason why has to do with what happens when you buy multiple flights at once and the weird world of airline alliances.

How Much Does an Around the World Ticket Cost?

Obviously, it’s impossible to give an average price for an Around The World ticket. Every RTW ticket varies based on your starting city, the number of stops, when you fly, the duration of your trip, and flights and airlines you choose.

“It all depends on where you are and where you want to go,” argues Vaughn from AirTreks. “But, it would be very easy to plan an around the world trip with four or five stops for around $2000 or less,” he continues. “We have a travel planner, named Nicola, who lives in London. She planned an RTW trip from London > Chicago > LA > New Zealand > Bangkok > London for less than $2000.”

Again, that price is just one example of a common RTW route. Don’t be surprised if your dream Round The World trip costs closer to $5000—or even more. And that difference is largely based on who you book your RTW ticket through (an alliance vs a travel agent or booking site) and how the three big airline alliances work when you buy an Around The World ticket.

What is an Airline Alliance?

Almost all Around The World tickets are air alliance flight passes. That means that you’re basically buying a “pass” to use multiple airlines within a single alliance. And almost every major airline belongs to one of three airline alliances:

• Star Alliance – 27 members including United, Air Canada, and Lufthansa
• Oneworld – 13 members including American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas
• Sky Team – 20 members including Air France, Delta, and KLM

Airline alliances were started in the late 90’s to make international travel easier, and more affordable by leveraging larger networks for better connections, more destinations, and competitive prices. So it’s no surprise that the three major alliances have dominated RTW ticketing for the past 15 years.

Airline alliances are why your last trip to Europe probably started on a United flight out of New York or LA and ended with a Lufthansa connection in Germany. You didn’t book with Lufthansa, but both Lufthansa and United are part of the Star Alliance network. So United works with them to get you to your final destination instead of going through the hassle of creating their own flight to a city they don’t service regularly. This is essentially how alliances book RTW tickets. But things are changing.

What’s the Difference Between Booking with Airline Alliances & Travel Agents or Booking Sites?

When you book an Around The World ticket through an alliance you only get access to the airlines in that alliance.

When you book through a third-party travel company they can mix and match flights and destinations to tailor your dream trip to your ideal budget. It’s just a larger pool to draw from.

“You can book an RTW ticket from London > Chicago > LA > New Zealand > Bangkok > London for less than $2000”

Remember that an Around The World ticket is really just one booking for multiple flights from different airlines. You can’t book your entire RTW trip through American or Delta because they won’t go to all the places you want to visit.

Instead, you create an Around The World ticket by choosing flights and destinations from within an alliance network and the end result is that your ticket is a little cheaper and the trip easier than booking every single flight on your own. At least that’s the goal.

However, the benefits of airline alliances don’t always go to the customers, and alliance RTW tickets can come with a lot of rules and restrictions.

A Guide to the Most Common Round The World Ticket Rules & Restrictions

According to Vaughn, Around The World tickets through an alliance usually come with a fair bit of red tape:

“The alliances are basically a partnership between airlines that give each other better rates, although you don’t typically see the benefits of these better rates,” explains Vaughn. “When you book an RTW ticket through an alliance or try to book the entire trip yourself you’re typically restricted to major hub cities and major airlines.”

Vaughn argues that alliance RTW tickets usually aren’t as flexible as something from a professional travel service like AirTreks. And for most people, flexibility is kind of the whole point of booking an Around The World trip.

Here are some answers to the most common questions concerning rules and restrictions on Around The World tickets.

Can You Change Dates or Destinations While Traveling on an RTW Ticket?

When you change your ticket (if that’s possible through your RTW provider), you’ll almost always have to pay a change fee. Altering your Around The World ticket is like changing any other flight. You’ll usually have to pay the difference between your old flight and your new flight and you’ll likely pay some kind of admin fee.

The same goes for changing dates and pushing back a connection. “It all depends on the airline,” explains Vaughn.

Change fees can add up regardless of who you use. So while it’s nice to have some flexibility built into your RTW ticket through a travel agency or booking site like AirTreks, you should really put some time and thought into your timing and destinations. Or, as Vaughn cautions, it pays to work with a person instead of a booking site:

“When you plan a trip and you know that you’re gonna be creative on the ground, it helps to be involved with a person instead of a search algorithm because algorithms can’t help you with that kind of flexible creative travel planning.”

Pro Tip: Budget for short roundtrip flights or bus trips from select hubs instead of adding stops or making major reroutes to your Around The World ticket.

How Long is an Around The World Ticket Good For?

Most RTW tickets have a time restriction of 11 months to complete your trip. But that’s changing. AirTreks offers RTW trips that can last for years. According to Vaughn, the timeline is up to you:

“If you want to break the Guinness World Record and see all 197 countries in less than two years, you’d contact us. We’ve helped multiple people break the record, and that takes two, three years for people to do.”

But the catch is that AirTreks (and almost every airline search engine in the world) can only book flights up to one year at a time because flights just aren’t released that far in advance, let alone pricing. That’s the main reason that Around The World tickets typically “expire” within 11 months—you can’t book tickets more than a year in advance.

How Many Stops Can You Book on an Around The World Ticket?

The short answer is: as many as you want. The whole point of an Around The World ticket is to take you around the world. That can include as few as three stops or more than 20. It’s your call. The only difference is the price.

An RTW ticket with only three destinations can cost as little as $1500 while a more extravagant RTW ticket with a dozen destinations can be upwards of $10,000. It’s all about customizing your ticket to your ideal trip and finding the budget that works for you.

Do You Always Have to Start and End in the Same City on an RTW Ticket?

Yup. You can book all kinds of trips and all kinds of combo flights, but if you book an RTW with an alliance or a third-party vendor you have to start and end in the same city.

Image Credit: AirTreks

Why Can’t You Backtrack with an Around The World Ticket?

One of the core restrictions for most Around The World tickets is the rule against “backtracking” or traveling in more than one direction (i.e. always east to west). For whatever reason, it’s just cheaper to fly in the same direction for all your flights. It’s just one of those things, even among airline alliances. That’s the main reason Around The World booking agents don’t typically allow switching directions—it just costs them more.

However, AirTreks says they don’t have any restrictions on the direction you can travel. “There are some ways to save money by going in the same direction,” argues Vaughn, “but that’s flexible. You can go in any direction, you can go in loops, you can go back and forth.”

Can I Book Budget Airlines in an Around The World Ticket?

You can always book a budget airline like Spirit or RyanAir, but it’s not always worth the savings. Most budget airlines charge extra for checked and carry on bags, have small cramped seating, and don’t provide the same in-flight amenities as other airlines.

Work with your booking company (or price out other options) to see if that Spirit Airlines flight from NYC to Costa Rica is really worth saving $40 (spoiler alert: it isn’t).

Can You Redeem Points or Miles for Around The World Tickets?

You can always book legs of your trip with miles, but not typically through booking sites. You usually have to handle miles and points booking directly with the airline. So that’s an added hassle. Also, many travel agents don’t make any money off of trips or RTW legs booked with miles, so they’ll typically offload that responsibility to you.

If you’re a can-do person, you can use miles and points to book parts (or all!) of your RTW ticket.

Tips, Tricks & Travel Hacks For Around The World Tickets

When is the Best Time to Book an Around The World Ticket?

You’ve probably heard that the sooner you book your ticket, the better, but that’s just not true.

“The sweet spot for the best prices for flights is typically between four and six months out,” argues Vaughn. “The only exception is the holidays (December).”

And he has the data to prove it: “We measured this over thousands of different trips and we found on average you’re going to save between 30-40% on the price of the ticket when you book 4-6 months ahead of time.”

Look for Free Stopovers

A lot of people don’t know that they can get free stopovers and layovers in multiple destinations with the right carriers. Use the airline booking system to your advantage. As of January 2019, Turkish Airlines does a free hotel stopover in Budapest if you fly with them. So you not only get a free stopover in a fantastic destination, you get a free hotel if you book with them. You don’t even have to add it as a separate destination.

Pro Tip: The AirTreks trip planner will even give you suggestions for free stopovers at certain destinations.

Fly in the Same Direction

Yes, you can backtrack on RTW trips with AirTreks or other travel agents, but it’ll cost you. Fly in one direction and help keep costs down.

Crossing the Equator Costs Money

According to Vaughn, “Crossing the equator adds a couple of hundred dollars to your trip. If you can bunch your southern and northern hemisphere trips together it helps with cost-cutting.” Try to only cross the equator twice.

Get Travel Insurance

C’mon. You’re going around the freaking world. Get travel insurance. We love World Nomads travel insurance.

Tell People You’re Going to Travel the World

“When you say I want to travel the world in your diary, that’s one thing. But when you tell Facebook or your friends, it’s real,” argues Vaughn. “You can’t go back after that,” he adds.

Commit to Yourself

Vaughn adds that saying “yes” to yourself is a huge part of planning a successful RTW trip:

“Have you given yourself permission to take the trip of your life, or are you gonna let this be a dream? After that, it’s just a matter of planning.” AirTreks even offers free tools to help you talk to your boss about your RTW trip. So that’s awesome.

RTW Pros and Cons: Should You Buy an Around The World Ticket?

RTW travel really is for anyone and everyone, but AirTreks has found that many of their trips are popular with certain types of travelers.

Around The World Tickets are great if you’re a:

• Gap Year Traveler
• Taking a Career Sabbatical
• Family Traveler (especially if you’re buying lots of flights for the kids!)
• Senior & Retiree
• Solo Traveler & Digital Nomad

And Around The World Tickets are great if you:

• Like sticking to a schedule
• Have the budget to pay for changes
• Want those frequent flier miles
• Hate budget airlines
• Plan to go to off the grid destinations

Airtreks has an awesome flight booking tool to help you see if an RTW ticket is right for you.

Podcast Show Notes

Since 1987, AirTreks has been a leader in multi-stop international travel and is the leading expert on RTW plane tickets. You’ll love that their team is made up of experienced independent travelers who truly care about your trip.

In this podcast you’ll learn:

• Differences of round the world tickets vs. normal plane tickets
• Advantages and disadvantages of a RTW ticket
• How to create a blank canvas for travel
• The general cost of RTW tickets (and how to keep the cost low)
• How to learn about hidden costs for trips
• How you can get incentives to hang out in certain cities
• Specific travelers that benefit from round the world tickets
• The best way to plan your route
• And so much more!

Resources:

• Tortuga Backpacks
• AirTreks
• Round The World Travel + GAP Year For All! With Sean Keener

* Tortuga and Airtreks references contain affiliate links – if you decide to purchase anything through those links I’ll receive a small commission at no extra charge and you’ll be supporting my work. Thanks!

The post Around The World Ticket: Is It Worth It? appeared first on Zero to Travel.

You may have landed here because you’re looking for a World Nomads Travel Insurance review to help decide if this company (or any travel insurance for that matter) is really worth it.

Even though you know that travel insurance is the best way to protect yourself and your stuff while you travel, when it comes to buying travel insurance…

via GIPHY

Comparing endless plans, entering your information 30 times in those little search windows, and obsessing about all the things that can go wrong aren’t how I like to spend time before my next adventure.

And that’s just the start. What about reading through pages of legal jargon and arbitrary exclusions, and oh yeah—paying $200 for a trip that won’t happen for three months.

No one wants to buy travel insurance. I get it.

But shopping for travel insurance doesn’t have to be that way. This guide will help you:

• Find a plan you can afford
• Compare popular budget insurance providers
• Understand confusing jargon that can save you hundreds of dollars if you ever have to make an insurance claim.

So get excited, because this dive goes deep. 

And if you’d more information while you’re reading you can listen to my interview with travel insurance expert Phil Sylvester:

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

But first, I’m going to read your mind. Here’s a real-life example to answer the question I know you’re wondering right now:

Do I really need to pay for travel insurance?

Why You Need Travel Insurance

“I just need to send a few emails then I’ll be finished, it’ll only take five minutes,” I said to my girlfriend and travel partner at the time.

This internet café pit stop was intended to be a quickie. After all, who wants to stare at a screen for more than 10 minutes when you’re in one of the most gorgeous places on earth?!

We’d been traveling through Argentinian Patagonia for roughly six weeks, hiking our brains out. Since we spent our northern hemisphere summer working, we decided to head south of the equator in November for a summer of fun.

I didn’t know I’d get this close to a volcano in Patagonia, good thing I had travel insurance.

It was an elegant cycle: go on an epic multi-day trek in pristine wilderness, return to civilization, eat good food, drink some beer, relax, travel some more (or not), go on an epic multi-day trek in pristine wilderness…

Rinse and repeat.

Nature was our top priority. Hiking trips were often supplemented with adventure activities like biking, rafting, kayaking or whatever else fit our mood.

Biking on a dirt road in Argentina

Back in the café, I set our daypack next to my leg and began firing off emails. As promised, around ten minutes later I reached down to grab my pack.

NOTHING!

I thought I was imagining things, but nope; it was all gone.

A crafty someone had crawled under the desk across from me and discreetly removed the bag from right next to my leg.

Our camera—gone.

Six weeks of memories–gone.

Vanished like an ice cream cone on a humid day.

Not to mention our fancy-pants polarized sunglasses, books, journals, and many more personal items. I don’t remember the exact value of the stolen goods, but all told, it was a surprising dollar amount.

We’d never be able to get our memories back, but we could get reimbursed for our stolen items. Thanks to our travel insurance, we did.

Bottom line: Travel insurance is important, and you need it. In some cases, it’s even mandatory (work and holiday visas or studying abroad).

So to understand this shifting minefield of fine print, obscure providers, insurance…y words, and who covers what, Zero to Travel presents…*blaring trumpet sound*

The Ultimate Guide to Travel Insurance!

Too Many Plans to Choose From

Contrary to the popular myth, there are a lot of travel insurance companies to choose from besides World Nomads.

A 2-minute search for travel insurance for a one-month trip to Italy this summer yielded 46 different travel insurance plans from more than a dozen companies—most of which I’d never heard of.

To save you time, I’ll give you my recommendation upfront. Then, keep reading to find out what travel insurance really covers and for an honest comparison of three other insurance options.

Disclaimer: It’s impossible to give 100% accurate quotes for every type of trip and traveler. You’re all unique snowflakes. In the examples provided below, I used the following super sensitive personal information to generate sample quotes and rates. Please don’t steal my hypothetical identity:

Case Study: Travel Insurance Quote Example (rates calculated for an American citizen)

• • Name (Shawn)
  • Age (33)
  • Location (Boston, MA)
  • Destination (Italy)
  • Trip Cost ($2,000)
  • Trip Length (1 month)
  • Existing Health Insurance? (Yes)

Why World Nomads is the Best Travel Insurance

Honestly, I hate worrying about my stuff while I travel. World Nomads gives me the peace of mind I need when it comes to gear. When my bag got stolen in Argentina, we took the proper steps by filing a police report and submitting our paperwork and they covered our losses. No muss, no fuss. It was great.

Plus, their One-Call 24-Hour Assistance Services offer multilingual pros to help you find a local doctor, dentist, or hospital abroad, and they can even arrange transportation to get you there.

World Nomads Insurance Price Quote Case Study

Standard Plan: $120.07

Explorer Plan: $211.51

Standard Plan vs Explorer Plan

• Medical coverage is the same ($100,000) and trip cancellation is pretty similar (Standard: $2,500 / Explorer: $10,000). The biggest difference is how much gear is covered.
• Standard Plan covers $1000 of gear, while Explorer goes up to $3000. Again, if you have expensive camera gear, laptop or smartphone, it’s worth upgrading to the Explorer plan.

Pre-existing conditions aren’t covered on either plan, and Standard doesn’t include rental car coverage, but my Chase Sapphire credit card does so no worries there.

Plus Side: World Nomads is known for its adventure sports coverage. Explorer covers 100+ activities like: skydiving, scuba diving, base jumping, and even shark cage diving. So that’s sweet. Standard covers almost as many including, climbing and canoeing. Both plans also include dental coverage ($750), which is way better than nothing.

When you travel you never know what adventurous activities you’ll end up doing. I LOVE that I am covered for adventurous travel.

Here I am trekking in Nepal and feeling at ease knowing I’m covered by travel insurance.

To read more about what World Nomads covers, jump ahead here.

To compare World Nomads with 3 other budget options, jump ahead here.

Buying World Nomads travel insurance is simple. I’ve been using World Nomads travel insurance relentlessly over 15+ years of travel while trekking in Nepal and Patagonia, backpacking through Central America and living in Norway among many other adventures. Plus, its trusted by established brands we all recognize like Lonely Planet and Eurail, so you know you’re in good hands.

You can get a quote for your trip right here:

World Nomads Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.

Or watch this video to learn how to get a quote on the World Nomads Travel Insurance website:

How to Make a Claim with World Nomads

You can make a claim online from anywhere

The part we all dread:

Actually having to make a claim when something goes wrong on a trip.

Luckily, World Nomads makes this simple as well. They list ten straightforward steps to guide you through the claims process:

1. Gather your receipts.
2. Sign-in to your World Nomads account.
3. Make a new claim.
4. Tell them what happened.
5. List your expenses.
6. Send supporting documentation.
7. Upload your documentation, receipts, invoices or other proof of your expenses.
8. Review your claim.
9. Submit your claim.
10. Communicate with the claims team

Keep in mind that saving your receipts is the real first step, as you’ll need them to begin making a claim.

So, what events can you submit a claim for?

What Does Travel Insurance Really Cover?

First things first: Travel insurance is not medical insurance.

Medical coverage is an important part, but “travel insurance” breaks down into three broad areas of coverage:

1. Medical Expenses—Hospital bills
2. Property—Luggage and their contents
3. Travel—Accommodation and trip expenses

That’s it. You could add a fourth category—emergency evacuation fees and repatriation expenses (shipping your body home if you die)—but those typically fall under medical and they’re super depressing to think about.

Even though we fixate on the medical expenses side of travel insurance—and it can be the most costly emergency expense while you’re abroad—you are far more likely to use your insurance (make a claim) for lost or stolen items and trip interruptions.

Medical Expenses

While travel insurance isn’t medical insurance like you get at home, many plans do cover some medical expenses for accidents that occur on your trip. Here are some of the most common.

Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Treatment

The keyword here is an emergency. This will be better defined in each policy’s fine print, but this covers medically necessary (a bit open to interpretation, I know) treatment for an accident or illness that occurs during the trip.

Here’s what you can typically expect from World Nomad’s (including dental coverage).

Coverage for medical emergencies

Coverage for travel accidents

Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

Is it super depressing to think of your accidental death on a trip? Yep.

But it’s also naive to think it couldn’t happen, and it’s better to be prepared. This covers expenses for return home if you become extremely ill or pass away abroad.

Fun fact:

It may also cover the cost of bringing a relative to see you or to send your children home if you get stuck in a hospital abroad for a longer stay.

As stated on their website:

“If our medical teams believe it’s necessary to bring you home for treatment or ongoing care, there’s cover in all of our policies for:

• Air Ambulance
• Sea Level Aircraft
• Helicopter evac
• Ground Ambulance
• Flight changes, upgrades or just more space
• Flight upgrade + medical staff.

Property Coverage: Insuring Your Gear

Even a small number of electronics can add up to big dollars. As a media producer and digital nomad, I carry a lot of expensive gear with me when I travel. This could include: a DSLR camera, Rode microphone, laptop, external hard drive, iPhone —the list goes on. I want to know that if my bag is lost in transit (I usually fly carry on, so that’s not gonna happen), or I get robbed, that I’ll get some money back for the tools I use to make a living.

That’s why I always choose travel insurance with solid coverage up to $3,000.

Here’s what World Nomads typically offers according to their website:

“There’s cover to claim up to the policy limits if:

• Your luggage and personal effects are stolen, accidentally damaged or lost on your trip.
• Your checked-in luggage is stolen, lost or damaged by a common carrier (like an airline or bus company).
• Your travel documents, traveler’s checks or passport are stolen, accidently lost or used fraudulently.
• Sporting equipment when lost by the carrier or if it’s damaged (while not in use) or stolen.

The maximum amount you can claim for all your luggage and personal effects is $3,000 per insured person with a maximum claim amount of $500 per item for an Explorer policy, or $1,000 per insured person with a maximum claim amount of $500 per item for a Standard policy.”

It’s Ok to be Basic…Sometimes

Typically, most “Basic” packages have a claim limit of $1,000, which just isn’t enough for all my stuff. But it all depends on you. If you’re a t-shirt and paperback traveler, skip the spinning rims and stick with Basic—the medical coverage is usually about the same ($50,000-$100,000), and you’ll save a few bucks not insuring gear you don’t even have.

Per Article Limit: You Sneaky, Bastard

If you do opt for more coverage, make sure you watch out for one insidious insurance term:

Per Article Limit.

I can’t stress this enough: Baggage loss/damage sections are super complicated and at the same time brutally specific. Know the wording of your policy.

A low per article limit—say, $100—means that even though you may be covered up to $5,000 (a very high limit), you can only claim $100 for each lost or stolen item:

• $1,500 MacBook Pro? You get $100
• $2,500 Canon 5D Mark III: You get $100

Watch out for per article limits!

Trip Coverage: Cancellation, Interruption, Delay, and Missed Connection

Nothing ever goes as planned. Planes are late, cabs get lost, and donkeys wander off. Most travel snafus are logistical—especially if you’re stupid inexperienced enough to plan the entire trip in advance.

The right travel insurance can reimburse you thousands of dollars for pre-paid accommodation and travel, but only if you know the difference between these three important terms:

• Trip Cancellation
• Trip Interruption
• Missed Connection

Trip Cancellation

“Cancellation” occurs before you travel, and usually involves sickness, injury, death of a family member, or inclement weather and natural disasters (your Fiji hotel gets hit by a hurricane, for example).

A good cancellation policy ($10,000) is the best reason to buy insurance months in advance. However, if you’re looking to save a few bucks, and have flexible travel dates, you can get low (or no) coverage in this section without it affecting your trip at all because the second you start your trip, this section becomes worthless.

Here’s what World Nomads typically offers according to their website:

“For US residents, there’s coverage in both Standard and Explorer plans for the transport and accommodation expenses you’ve already paid for if you can’t travel because:

• The doctor certifies that you’re medically unfit to travel
• You, your travel buddy or a close relative is hospitalized or dies

But we know more than illness can stop you from traveling, so we also provide coverage in cases like these:

• You or your travel buddy are required to serve on a jury
• Unforeseen weather stops all services for at least 24 hours and keeps you from reaching your destination
• A terrorist attack occurs in your scheduled destination within 30 days of your departure date”

Trip Interruption

This is when your trip hits a snag during your travels, and coverage is related to natural disasters.

Benefits related to other things you might consider “interruptions” like medical emergencies and accidents are listed in their website.

Trip Delay

A flood carries your ferry away. A tornado closes your airport. With Trip Delay coverage, you’re all good. 

This covers expenses like unused, prepaid accommodations when you get delayed 6 hours en route to or from your trip.

You’ll want to read the fine print on this one like your plan’s exact definitions of “hazards” or the Maximum Daily benefit-the limit they’ll payout per each day you’re delayed.

In their words

“If you experience delayed or missed flights, your reasonable and necessary additional expenses – such as local taxis and transport and accommodation costs  during your delay – are covered up to the plan limits if:

• The missed flight is not any fault of yours. For example, when en route to a departure you’re delayed by a traffic accident in which you or a traveling companion are not directly involved.
• Your flight is delayed at least six hours or canceled due to severe weather, natural disaster, hijacking or strike, including if it causes you to miss a connecting flight.”

Missed Connection

This one is also super tricky, so read the fine print. Often times the only missed connection reimbursements are for cruises, with rare air travel thrown in. Seriously. Cruises are apparently quite unreliable.

A missed connection claim typically only works if the reason you miss your flight/cruise is because of bad weather. So if you oversleep, you’re probably S.O.L.

Types of Coverage

It might seem like travel insurance companies offer a wealth of options, but travel insurance typically falls into two simple categories: Basic or premium. That’s it.

Companies add a lot of bells and whistles—like 24-hour emergency assistance support lines—but the difference is almost always a bigger monetary limit for damage (to your gear) and trip interruption claims as well as more medical coverage that you might not use ($100,000 vs. $250,000).

Basic Coverage

This varies between providers, but basic travel insurance policies typically cover:

• $1,000 Baggage
• $2,000 Trip cancellation
• $1,000 Trip interruption
• $50,000 Medical care
• $50,000 Medical evacuation

Basic plans typically don’t cover:

• Rental car collision waivers
• Missed connections
• Delayed baggage
• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Dental

Premium Coverage

No matter what they call it—’Luxe, Preferred, Platinum, or “Special Little Someone”—premium coverage offers all the same protections as basic plans, with increased limits in nearly every category.

Premium coverage often includes:

• $3,000 Baggage
• $10,000 Trip cancellation
• $10,000 Trip interruption
• $1,000 Missed connection
• $100,000 Medical care
• $500,000 Medical evacuation/repatriation
• $50,000 Dental
• $35,000 Rental car collision waiver

Pay attention to wording, but the biggest difference between upgrades is usually your total trip cost (your estimated trip value). Most providers ask for your best guess when you’re browsing, and the number you come up with will definitely affect your quote.

If you’re a hostel backpacker traveling by bus, basic is almost always the way to go. Be honest about your low trip cost. A higher trip cost won’t give you better coverage; it’ll just cost you more money.

Adventure Activities Exception

The one big exception is if you’re an adrenaline junky. Adventure sports and the inherent medical risk they entail require customized travel insurance plans. Don’t rely on a quick online quote. Consult an insurance expert, or contact the company directly to get all the details just right.

Here are a few things that can affect adventure activities coverage:

• Countries visited (Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa-wherever you adventure, you’ll want to make sure you’re covered)
• Particular sports or activities
• Are you competing in a sponsored event?
• Are you a pro athlete?
• Are you traveling with a tour company or going solo?

Each variable matters and it only takes one wildcard to void even premium coverage.

Remember:

World Nomads has you covered better than any other travel insurance company when it comes to adventure sports.

Check out a pdf list of World Nomad’s covered adventure activities for each plan (note: these results are for US citizens).

Hidden Benefits: Your Credit Card

Credit card insurance is an extra bonus that some travelers don’t even know about. Your credit card company may cover things like trip cancellation and rental car insurance, making those unnecessary travel insurance benefits. Take a look at your credit card policy before you travel.

For example, I carry the Chase Sapphire Preferred card because I love Chase Ultimate Rewards points. However, Chase also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and they cover car rental and trip cancellation! You can learn more about my favorite travel credit cards here.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance

There is no one perfect insurance plan. Every traveler is different. So the best way to buy travel insurance that actually covers you (and your stuff)—for an affordable price—is to simply decide what one thing is most important to you.

Medical Matters

If medical coverage—hospital bills, medical evacuation, and zero deductible emergency care—is all that matters, get a well-reviewed insurance package with at least $250,000 in medical coverage. There are plenty of options. If you break your arm, good medical coverage will keep you from breaking the bank.

Fear for Your Gear

If you work on the road (like me), and your stuff is your livelihood, find a plan with no Per Article Limits and high Baggage Loss/Theft coverage($3,000-$5,000). Then you can swing your camera over your shoulder and hike out to the middle of nowhere with a bounce in your step, secure in the knowledge that you’re covered against theft and damage.

I don’t know many photographers worth their salt that don’t have at least $3000 in gear coverage.

Itinerary Idiot

If you’ve pre-booked your entire trip, and some connections are tight, or monsoon season is on the horizon, make sure you have an ironclad Trip Cancellation clause (some companies even reimburse you for more than 100% of your trip if weather ruins things)!

Trip Interruption is also clutch. And don’t forget good Missed Connection coverage if you’re taking a cruise.

Your journey is one-of-a-kind; make sure your travel insurance is the same. There really is a travel insurance plan for everyone, and it can cost as little as $2 a day.

What Does Travel Insurance Really Cost?

Finally, down to the nuts and bolts. What is travel insurance going to cost me?

This is where most travelers start and end their travel insurance search, and while the price is a huge consideration—especially for budget travelers—you really do get what you pay for with travel insurance.

Shop. Around.

Hopefully, you never have to use your insurance, but if you break your arm, smash your camera (like the time I dropped a brand new lens hiking in the Italian Riviera), or get marooned in Bangkok for three weeks by a monsoon, the extra $2/day for real coverage will save you thousands in medical bills, replacement costs, and cancellation fees.

World Nomads vs 3 Budget Travel Insurance Options

Travel Insurance Price Comparison

While World Nomads is my go-to travel insurance provider, it may not fit for everyone. To help you decide, I crunched the numbers for a one-month trip to Italy (January 2020) using three other recommended budget travel insurance providers I could find (you might even recognize a few of them, so that’s cool).

Below are the price breakdowns and some notes about coverage.

HTH Travel (or GeoBlue, if you’re eligible)

Choice Option:

$50,000 limit/$500 deductible: $40.92

$100,000 limit/$100 deductible: $55.80

$1,000,000 limit/$0 deductible: $70.68

Essential Option:

$50,000 limit/$500 deductible: $36.58

$100,000 limit/$100 deductible: $49.91

$1,000,000 limit/$0 deductible: $57.66

• Standard Trip cancellation (sliding scale from $5,000 up to $50,000)
• No “missed connection” reimbursement for the economy package
• Only Preferred provides car rental insurance coverage, so you’ll need to provide your own on the other two packages.

Plus Side: Each option includes more than 100% reimbursement (125%, 150%, and 200%) for “trip interruption.”

That basically means, that HTH understands that missing out on an activity is about more than just the money out of pocket—it’s about putting a price on missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Also, the minimal cost difference it takes to drastically lower your deductible and limit almost make it a no-brainer to go with the full-on coverage, unless you’re on a really stringent budget.

Well done, guys.

Allianz

OneTrip Premier: $148

OneTrip Prime: $110

OneTrip Basic: $84

The Difference Between Premier, Prime, and Basic

• Medical emergency coverage slides from $10k – $50k (a little low)
• Baggage loss/damage is on the low side as well ($500, $1,000, and $2,000). If you travel with a laptop, DSLR, etc. consider an upgrade
• Basic coverage doesn’t provide reimbursement for missed connections, and travel delay coverage is low ($300)

Plus Side: Pre-existing conditions are covered on every plan.

Generali Global Assistance (formerly CSA)

Standard: $97.57

Preferred: $122.89

Premium: $156.80

The Premium option is built for more expensive, high-end travel including cruises and guided tours, stuff that costs a lot upfront. This is good news for backpackers – there’s no need to feel cheap or unprepared by choosing the cheaper options. The Preferred option includes stuff like outdoors gear (skis, camping equipment, etc.) and is ideal for adventure travel.

Plus Side: Their plans include dental in the medical coverage (up to $50,000), which is a big deal if you chip your tooth on a Red Bull can. That being said, I’ve got my teeth cleaned in Hanoi Vietnam for around $20 USD – a fraction of the cost for a cleaning back in the states. Paying out of pocket is always an option but with serious dental damage insurance is key.

Travel Insurance Tips & Best Practices

Now that you have a feel for the cost of travel insurance—typically $2-$6/day—and what it covers, as well as the pitfalls and jargon, the final question is:

How can I hack buying insurance to get the sweetest deal?

Be Honest

Surprisingly, honesty helps save money on travel insurance. Really think about how much your gear is worth today (not what you paid for it five years ago). A 4-year old laptop is worth $100, even if it was $899 back in the day. A point and shoot camera might not even be worth that much, even though it retailed for $229. If you go through your stuff item by item, you might discover that you really don’t need premium coverage. And that’ll save you money every day.

Don’t Insure Your Entire Trip

Warning: This is a “break glass in case of emergency” kind of hack and isn’t for the faint of heart, but a great way to save money is to only insure half of your trip. Let me finish.

Flexibility

I travel on one-way tickets all the time—I like the flexibility to stay put, go somewhere spur of the moment, or even call it a day and head home. I’ve headed out for what was originally a 3-month trip, only to have it go south and be back home after a month. I’ve also had the same trip extend into a two-year RTW romp. Isn’t travel awesome!

World Nomads Travel Insurance makes is incredibly easy to extend your insurance with just a few clicks, so save money up front and only purchase what you know you’ll use. You can always extend as you go. The last thing you want is to pay for travel insurance while you’re safe and sound on the couch at home.

Split the Cost

In the hypothetical trip to Italy this June, I might stay on for an additional month to hike the Camino de Santiago in Spain. That’s a totally different trip than photographing idyllic cafes and vineyards in Tuscany. It requires different medical coverage, less gear coverage (I don’t hike with a laptop), and possibly extreme adventure coverage for mountain climbing.

So instead of paying for two months of very expensive comprehensive coverage for the whole trip (Italy and Spain), I’ll insure my first month of travel with World Nomad’s Basic Plan, then extend the basic plan if I stay in Italy sunning myself, or re-up with a new provider, or expand on my existing coverage for my Spanish hiking expedition.

Here’s an insider travel secret from the pros: Travel Insurance companies want you to buy more coverage.

Extend Your Coverage As You Go

Generally, insurance companies make it easy to extend your coverage, and they’ll drool if you want to up your protection mid-trip.

World Nomads Travel Insurance even sends you an email reminder when your travel insurance is a week away from expiring so there’s no lapse in coverage if you forget. It’s awesome.

The one thing you can’t do is downgrade your plan.

If penny-pinching is a huge concern, or you haven’t nailed down your budget and the thought of spending cash upfront bums you out, get Basic coverage for the first leg of your trip and see how it goes.

Try before you buy. You can always get more.

Travel Insurance Is Important: Don’t Skip It!

Travel insurance is part of how we travel today. Everyone has a smartphone worth hundreds of dollars, cameras worth even more, laptops, hard drives, and gizmos. Everyone is a rock climber or spelunker (which is kind of awesome), and everyone has plans that fall through from time to time.

It sucks to travel in fear that something might go wrong, because, spoiler alert: it totally will.

Travel is all about the unexpected and unpredictable. If you get the right coverage you won’t sweat it when things go wrong and you can go back to enjoying what an amazing, wonderful, exciting world we live in!

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links which means I’ll earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase with no additional cost to you. I recommend products I use and love and any money earned goes back into supporting this website and community and keeping the content ad-free. Thank you!

The post World Nomads Travel Insurance: Is It Worth It? (Updated 2020) appeared first on Zero to Travel.

Have you heard of medical tourism?

As a traveler, would you look at healthcare in another country?

My guest today has spent the last two decades of his life working in international health care; helping consumers gain access to global options for affordable, quality care.

He is the founder and CEO of Patients Beyond Borders; which he has described as the “lonely planet of medical tourism.”  And it is the most trusted source of consumer information about international medical and health travel.

Please welcome Joe Woodman to the show!

Tune In To Learn:

• Where you can get quality care in other countries
• Misconceptions around medical tourism
• Important tip when surgery is involved
• How to deal with follow up visits
• How to get better care than most US hospitals
• Why building community wealth is so important
• Where you can find 300 dental clinics
• And so much more!

Resources:

• Pimsleur Learning – free 7 day trial (for those based in the USA)
• Patients Beyond Borders
• Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody’s Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Travel
• Joint Commission International (JCI)
• Dental Departures
• Medical Departures
• Bumrungrad International Hospital
• Vox- Emergency Room Bills

Be sure to check out the archives for more Zero To Travel Podcasts

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My spicy relationship with Visa Services goes way back to 2008.

That year, Brazil was calling my name and as you know, once the idea of a trip takes hold, it’s tough to shake.

My mind went into a travel frenzy and my buddy and I booked tickets without much planning or thought.

There was a good bit of lead-time. In the immortal words of Alfred E. Neuman, “What me worry?”

The problem was that we both got busy and procrastinated on doing the things we should have done BEFORE we even booked flights.

We had no idea we needed a special Visa to go to Brazil and realized we might be totally screwed.

At the time I had no way of knowing that this trip would change my life forever (I’ll share how in just a moment).

Thankfully an expedited visa services company made the trip possible.

Before heading out on a big international trip, it’s important to make sure all of your documents are in order.

For US citizens planning an international trip, a visa may be required for permitted entry into the country.

When visa applications get tricky, a visa services company can make sure you’re set and ready to go.

If you hate dealing with a bunch of bureaucratic nonsense and would rather have someone else take care of paperwork so you can focus on your trip, then visa services can be an amazing option for you.

Let’s take China, for example.

Unlike many countries, which grant access with a passport and stamp, China requires US citizens to do a bit more planning and noting of what the intended purpose of their visit is.

Simply put, the purpose of a visa services company is to make the process of obtaining the most applicable visa much easier for travelers. The company’s website lists the countries they cover, and walks users through the steps of applying for and obtaining the correct visa.

For a fee, of course. Typically, travelers will pay up to $200 for professional assistance obtaining a visa.

There are a number of visa services companies available. Some are better than others, and some offer assistance with many countries while some may specialize in as few as one.

In this article, we’re going to cover four of the prominent visa services companies and why you should or shouldn’t use them for your trip. But first, let’s dive a bit deeper into what exactly a visa services company is.

Why use visa services?

Visa services essentially take most of the paperwork out of applying for a visa to visit a certain country. For example, if you find yourself unsure of how to go about obtaining a visa for an upcoming trip. Or , if you just want to make sure everything is filed correctly, visa services companies can do the work for you.

Visa services companies will make sure all required paperwork is filled out, signed, and delivered to the proper place. Passport photos will be checked for faults, and their staff is there to answer any questions that you may have.

These companies also often handle tasks such as renewing your passport and handling any international mail required for your visa.

Always research how long you’ll be allowed to stay in each specific country.

If you plan to stay longer than allowed or do things like obtain employment while in the country or go to school, specific visas are required in most cases. Visa services companies can help you identify and apply for the correct visa.

Visa services can also help expedite the visa process. If you’re crunched for time like I was before my Brazil trip, you might not have another option.

What you need for online visa services

• Quality scanned photo of your passport. Make sure everything on the photo page is showing: full name, birth date, passport expiration date, barcode, etc.
• Passport photo in digital format. You can use a mobile app such as Passport Photo Booth to take this photo. Find a plain white wall to use as background. Be sure to follow all directions specifically otherwise your photo may be rejected.
• Be prepared to mail your passport to the visa services company’s office. They will handle any domestic or international mailing and preparing of the passport that is needed – basically, you won’t have to wait in line at, or mail your passport to, the consulate of the country you intend to visit in order to obtain a visa. 

Situations when you don’t need visa services

Using a visa services business is not necessary for tourism-based trips to any country that offers a visa on arrival, or doesn’t require a visa for citizens of your country.

Visa on arrival simply means that a visa can be bought or obtained at the customs booth upon arrival at the international airport or border crossing of your destination country.

It’s important to note that the length of stay allowed on a VOA varies by country. If you’re coming for a quick visit and then moving on, a VOA (if offered) will do you just fine. In these cases, you’re safe without using a visa services company.

If you are comfortable handling the application directly through the consulate website and mailing your passport, the process can be done by yourself.

Be sure to read up on not only the consulate website but travel boards and forums as well, just to make sure you aren’t forgetting anything.

Here are the top 4 visa services companies based on our research.

VisaHQ.com

VisaHQ.com is one of the leading online visa services companies. Their network is extensive – they offer the most comprehensive collection of visa applications and information available online. They also walk users through the process for most countries, removing much stress from the shoulders of anxious travelers.

Their website is simple to navigate and generally does a good job of answering questions before they need to be asked. Anyone who’s done extensive international travel can attest to how stressful it can be to find information about certain countries. VisaHQ does a great job of simplifying information and presenting it in a way that won’t cause an anxiety attack.

For example, they have an entire page dedicated to Schengen Visas. Another features a map that outlines every country and whether or not a business visa is required for US citizens.

They also partner with World Nomads travel insurance, which satisfies the requirement of those visas that require travel insurance.

Residents of New York, Washington, D.C., Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, or Los Angeles can apply in person by visiting the VisaHQ office in those cities.

VisaHQ is, all things considered, the most thorough visa services company available.

Travisa.com

The best part of Travisa’s website is the feature right on the homepage which allows visitors to immediately check to see if they need a visa for their trip.

They provide options for tourist, business, missionary, and others with immediate answers about what is needed to enter the country. They then walk users through the application process with detailed instructions.

Generally, their offerings are comprehensive and simple. They offer much the same visa services as VisaHQ, and also can assist with obtaining a US passport in a crunch. They offer information on immunizations, weather, and any travel warnings issued by the US government.

The website is simple to navigate, and they’ve even got a mobile app (how modern!).

They have offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. for in-person services.

Passportvisaexpress.com

Passportvisaexpress.com doesn’t have the bells and whistles of VisaHQ, but their visa services are proficient and accurate. They help travelers identify which visa they need, how to go about obtaining it, and simplify the whole process from start to finish.

The site is very easy to navigate and find exactly what you’re looking for. They offer Priority Overnight shipping upgrades for free shipping via FedEx, saving users a few bucks. Their fee is $200 on top of the visa fee – it’s nice that they are straight up about that and let you know right away.

Rushmytravelvisa.com

Rushmytravelvisa.com is good at exactly what the name suggests – hurrying the visa services process. If you’re in a pinch and need a visa quick, this site gets it to you as fast or faster than anyone else on the web.

Again, you’re not getting a website with all of the extensive information that VisaHQ provides. One thing that is really nice about their site is that they prominently list the embassy fee for each visa they can assist with. This is something that takes a bit more digging with the other companies.

Their services are built around getting you, the user, a visa and getting you on the road. Tracking an order is easy, as is getting started with the application process.

Visa services: The final line

Visa services are not always necessary. But for countries lacking a Visa-On-Arrival, they make the process a lot easier.

If you are going somewhere last minute you might need a rush visa service to get things done.

Back to my Brazil trip…I am so grateful that the expedited visa service came through and I was able to secure the required documents to visit Brazil because I ended up meeting my wife on that trip!

We got married in her home country of Norway in 2014. Life is crazy like that isn’t it?

Peace of mind goes a long way in international travel. Fortunately, that’s exactly what visa services are perfect for.

Want more help planning your trip? Listen to our top-rated travel podcast packed with money-saving strategies and world-class travel advice.

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