Trip insurance with a substantial pre and post side trips

[Grifdog22]

It's been awhile since I've seen much on the trip insurance postings on these boards. I've also noticed a number of folks are doing more than just a pre or post day at the arrival/departure city. I'm curious about trip insurance that also covers substantial side trips. As I understand it, the ABD insurance only covers bookings made through ABD, and perhaps the airfare if at the start/end of the trip.

We are going to Australia with ABD in June of 2017 and plan on a 3-5 day side trip to New Zealand while we are over there. We haven't determined if we are flying to/from New Zealand and then on to Australia or will take a hop to/from New Zealand from Australia. I am interested to hear from others that may have done a similar multi-day separate country trip as to how they handled trip insurance.

My twin DD really want to visit the New Zealand glaciers and fjords (it will be the dead of winter there) and I have visions of snowbound issues...tied with their tandem skydiving at the Gold Coast while with ABD. My parents are also in their late 80's and not in good health. As long as we have insurance, nothing goes wrong, right?

I would appreciate input and suggestions on companies, coverages, and any good or bad experiences.

 

[sayhello]

I'd check out a couple of the insurance comparison sites. It would almost certainly cost you less to cover your entire trip with an outside policy than just the ABD portion with the ABD policy. insure my trip and www.tripinsurancestore.com are good starting places. The first has many more choices, whereas the latter has a few it concentrates on, but is also a font of knowledge on how the whole trip insurance thing works.

One thing I'll mention is if they are doing something like tandem skydiving, make sure the policy you buy covers activities like that. Some won't, as they are inherently dangerous, and some will charge you extra to add that kind of coverage on.

Let me know if you have any specific questions; I've done a *LOT* of research on trip insurance and how it works (and doesn't work!)

Sayhello

 

[Rapunzellover]

Do you use ABD policies Sayhello? I'm not this year. My trips are paid off and I'm looking elsewhere for insurance. I was disappointed in ABD. It did not cover my delay in Italy.

 

[Bobo912]

I purchased trip insurance through ABD for our Ireland trip and I added coverage to the same policy for pre days in Edinburgh. I got the run around from ABD, but eventually got it worked out. Here is the thread with the whole story: http://www.disboards.com/threads/eu...-flights-and-insurance.3180312/#post-49719731

 

[sayhello]

Do you use ABD policies Sayhello? I'm not this year. My trips are paid off and I'm looking elsewhere for insurance. I was disappointed in ABD. It did not cover my delay in Italy.

I did buy ABD's policies a couple of times, when their policy was less expensive and covered more than what I could get with outside insurance. I also wasn't doing extensive pre-post days. Like with Greece. I booked the entire thing with ABD, and their insurance was priced the best.

But ABD has changed their pricing, policies and rules, and I no longer use them. I've purchased my own insurance for my last few trips.

I've purchased from Travelex, Travel Insured, CSA and recently purchased from April Travel Protection. They've all worked well for me.

Sayhello

 

[BluesTraveler]

We had Travelex when we traveled (independently) to Costa Rica several years ago. We ended up with crazy travel delays due to weather, and Travelex could not have been better to work with. Our out of pocket expenses ended up being $2700 and they covered every penny, and quickly. They were responsive the entire time. I can't remember how much the policy was to begin with, but I would definitely go with them again.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have found the insure my trip website (all one word) to be helpful when comparing policies and you can call with questions. I do not recommend Travelguard; I used to, but had to put in two valid claims within the past two years and it has been nightmarish getting them to pay. A claim I made a year ago is still unresolved. They have really gone downhill.

 

[sayhello]

I have found the insure my trip website (all one word) to be helpful when comparing policies and you can call with questions. I do not recommend Travelguard; I used to, but had to put in two valid claims within the past two years and it has been nightmarish getting them to pay. A claim I made a year ago is still unresolved. They have really gone downhill.

Wow! Thanks, that's good to know. I've used them before, it's a shame when service deteriorates!

Sayhello

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I definitely recommend insure my trip dot com. I have used them for the last 5+ years. I only put in a claim once when my mother suddenly passed away while we were in London (within days of starting our London / Paris ABD). They were easy to deal with. I had my money back in a very reasonable time frame (sorry I don't recall exactly -- I only spoke to them once, completed some paperwork, sent a copy of her Death Certificate, then received a check). I've also called them a few times with questions about various policies and coverages and they are extremely helpful.

We did go back to London later in the summer at dh's insistence (during the Olympics!), then went on to Paris on our own. It was a bad summer for travel as my mom's sister (14 years her junior) passed away a few days after we arrived in London. Luckily for us they delayed her funeral and we were able to complete our trip.

After that summer I swore I would never travel without insurance. You just never know what is going to happen, so it's best to be as prepared as possible.

 

[Woodview]

A Thought on your Trip to New Zealand

Would you try and Stretch your time to New Zealand by at least another 4 days .

Why ..... well your travel time between Australia & New Zealand & back will take time out of your 3 to 5 day trip.

Say a half day flying from Australia & a Half day flying back ( Check in time & security etc )

There is so much to see

You will have travelled a long way from USA & spent a lot of money ... so try and extend your time there .

 

[Grifdog22]

Just a word of thanks to all for the information on trip insurance. It took a lot of time, as there is a lot of information out there...and until we were able to lock in exactly what and where we are going, the insurance purchase would have been useless. Really was surprised with insuremytrip.com as to how helpful it was, and to see that several policies with identical coverage, ultimately underwritten by the same carrier but sold by others had such a price differential. Obtained price quotes directly from companies as well as using insuremytrip, and today after reading every review on the appropriate policies, finally purchased. Unfortunately, we could not make New Zealand work.

Sayhello, you were right on for this with things like coverage for the skydiving. Very different coverages as add on packages, ranging in price for four of us from $49 to $839.00 The $49 package provided the same coverage as the $839.00 package....We couldn't make this work for the longest time within the confines of the ABD program, but with some TERRIFIC help from our vacationista Lisa at ABD we were able to determine that the day we fly into the Gold Coast, and then had a 90 minute drive up to the hotel, the airport was a local airport rather than an international one, and the group we wanted to use for skydiving is based 5 minutes away. So we'll depart the flight, hop over to skydive onto the beach, and they will return us to the hotel that evening.

EDIT 3 1/2 years later...we now discover that many of these premium "comprehensive coverage" from companies like Berkshire Hathaway are in my opinion GARBAGE...we now know that Buffet became rich not because of his investing acumen, but off the sweat of others. With the corona virus causing trip cancellations, they cover NOTHING. NOTHING! It's not listed as an exclusion, and Berkshire Hathaway says its not listed as a covered loss. Not much is....and for my money from now on, I'll stick only with ABD coverage again.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Sayhello, you were right on for this with things like coverage for the skydiving. Very different coverages as add on packages, ranging in price for four of us from $49 to $839.00 The $49 package provided the same coverage as the $839.00 package....We couldn't make this work for the longest time within the confines of the ABD program, but with some TERRIFIC help from our vacationista Lisa at ABD we were able to determine that the day we fly into the Gold Coast, and then had a 90 minute drive up to the hotel, the airport was a local airport rather than an international one, and the group we wanted to use for skydiving is based 5 minutes away. So we'll depart the flight, hop over to skydive onto the beach, and they will return us to the hotel that evening.

Just be sure the $49.00 package covers trip cancellation. That is the most expensive portion of any travel insurance policy and I would have serious reservations about a company that would write that for such an incredibly low price. Last year for our Whistler ski trip we bought health insurance coverage only for around $60.00 for a week but didn't purchase trip cancellation coverage, thus the low cost.

The lowest amount I've paid for trip cancellation and overseas health insurance coverage is around $500.00 for 2 people.

You have brave dds! I used to want to skydive but have lost the desire as I've aged. I'd probably get up to the jumping altitude and be too afraid to jump. Even hot air ballooning seems dangerous to me now lol.

 

[sayhello]

Just be sure the $49.00 package covers trip cancellation. That is the most expensive portion of any travel insurance policy and I would have serious reservations about a company that would write that for such an incredibly low price. Last year for our Whistler ski trip we bought health insurance coverage only for around $60.00 for a week but didn't purchase trip cancellation coverage, thus the low cost.

The lowest amount I've paid for trip cancellation and overseas health insurance coverage is around $500.00 for 2 people.

You have brave dds! I used to want to skydive but have lost the desire as I've aged. I'd probably get up to the jumping altitude and be too afraid to jump. Even hot air ballooning seems dangerous to me now lol.

I *think* @Grifdog22 was talking about the price for a policy *add-on* costing $49. (Am I correct, Grifdog22?) You're correct, there is NO way that a $49 policy is covering his trip cancellation at that price!

No way I'm ever jumping out of a perfectly good airplane! I have a friend who came extremely close to dying doing a tandem jump, when their parachutes would not open. The emergency chute opened at the *last* minute. He was white as a ghost for days.

Hot air ballooning I still think I might do, as long as I can't see through the floor of the basket!

Sayhello

 

[Grifdog22]

Sorry - yes the add on was $49 for the extreme sports package, the total cost of the package is much much higher! We included coverage for many add on things we are doing which are not refundable - from a full scale opera at Sydney Opera House, to the Bridge Climb to a 1/2 day whale watching trip - none of which are refundable.

The skydiving lands on the Gold Coast Beach...and my wife who is almost at the legal retirement age says she'll do it too as long as she doesn't have to do anything but be strapped to a jump master....

 

[AquamarineSteph]

This is a good thread. I usually purchase my trip insurance for ABD through ABD, but I also buy separate trip insurance for my flights. I usually go with Travelex as they seem to have reasonable prices and are easy to use. I hadn't really thought about insuring my pre or post stays otherwise. Thanks for the idea!