Travel Tips & Travel Answers

 Your cellphone is an incredibly powerful tool, especially when you’re traveling in another country. The maps, directions, translations, restaurant reviews, “things to do” searches, and call capabilities make it pretty essential. But using a cell phone abroad can be expensive, especially if you don’t know your options. With a little knowledge and planning, you can be sure to save money on your international cell phone bill. Here’s how.

Your cell phone provider will have an option for you to add temporary, daily international coverage, which is what most people do. It’s convenient, but it can get very expensive. You can also enroll in a plan that will include some international data. Let’s take a look at the major providers in the U.S. and what they’re charging. 

Verizon

Verizon has an International Trip Planner, which will ask you questions about your destination, planned travel dates, and device before suggesting a plan. You’ll have a set amount of talk, text, and data for international use under the monthly International Plan.

The pay-as-you-go plan is called Verizon TravelPass. Verizon charges an access fee of $10 per day per line, which doesn’t sound bad until you add up all the days on two or more phone lines. A vacation to Europe that is 10 days long, for example, adds up to $200 for two phones—and that’s on top of your regular cell phone bill. You’re also limited on the amount of data you can use.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile has a number of plans with data and texting already included. The Magenta, Simple Choice, New Classic and Select Choice plans provide unlimited 2G data and texting while traveling internationally. Calls are $0.25 per minute. This is an unlimited data plan for customers in the U.S. that costs $70/month. However, you might feel bogged down by the 2G network. If you want faster speeds, you can purchase the International Pass for $5 per day, $35 for 10 days for $50 for the month.

Sprint

All Sprint plans offer free texting and basic data in more than 200 destinations. Calls are $0.25 per minute. Like T-Mobile, the data is available on a 2G network and you’ll need to pay more if you want high-speed data. The cost will depend on your location. If you’re in Mexico or Canada, the charge is $2 per day. Other destinations will incur a $5 or $10 charge per day. If you want to take a deeper look at your options, you’ll want to look here.   

AT&T

AT&T offers the International Day Pass for $10 a day for the first device and $5 a day for each additional device. 

If you want to enroll in the Passport plan, you can buy 2 GB of data to use internationally for $70/month or 6 GB of data for $140/month. You’ll also have unlimited texts, but calls will cost $0.35 per minute. 

Google FI

Google FI is technically a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means it doesn’t own the network infrastructure, but still provides network service. Google FI also smartly connects to a network of public Wi-Fi networks with a VPN (virtual private network) to reduce data consumption while keeping your data private. What’s unique about Google FI is you can use it in over 200 countries. There’s no need to buy a SIM card or pay expensive access fees to foreign carriers. Google FI is your program and will work when you land in another country. 

Google FI will cost $20 for basic service with an additional $10 for every GB of data used up to 5 GB ($20+$50=$70). You can also opt for an unlimited program. It’s quite different from a traditional cell carrier, so if you want to read more about it, this article from Computer World can help. Your phone does need to be unlocked and not every phone has full functionality with Google FI, but if you’re interested, you can look into the details here. 

The SIM (subscribed identity module) card is the small memory card in your phone. Replacing it with one from the country you’re visiting will give you a phone number from the country and the ability to access their network. Often, this is a cost-effective way to communicate.

Here are the basics:

Step 1: Make sure your phone is unlocked. If you need help unlocking it, this article can guide you. You can also bring an older phone that is unlocked if you’re unable to get your current phone unlocked. 

Step 2: Buy a SIM card when you reach your destination. You can usually find them at a kiosk in the airport, a cell phone store, a general retailer, or even a convenience store. Costs vary, but you can expect to pay around $10-30 for a prepaid SIM card. You need to make sure you buy the correct size SIM card for your phone—most will take a micro or nano size SIM card.

Step 3. Take out the old SIM card. If you have an iPhone, there’s usually a small hole on the side of your phone you can stick a paperclip in to get your SIM card out. If you have an Android device, the SIM card is often found behind your battery. The process is pretty straightforward, but if you’re unsure of how to remove and replace your SIM card, this video illustrates the process for a number of different phones. 

Step 4: Place the new SIM card in the slot. Your phone will look as it did before. From here, you’ll follow the instructions of the new provider you bought the SIM card from. If you didn’t load credit on at the store, you’ll do it here.  

Instead of buying a SIM card once you hit the ground, you can buy an international SIM card before you leave that will work in multiple countries. If you’re a frequent traveler, this can be useful as you don’t need to switch out SIM cards from each country you visit. You’ll have a single international number. It can be more expensive, but may be worth the convenience if you’re visiting multiple countries. You can read more about this option here. 

This option will cost you nothing (or pretty close to it). It’s likely your hotel and many of the attractions and restaurants you want to visit will have free Wi-Fi available. 

You’ll be able to communicate with the many businesses that use WhatsApp without having to use cellular data.

If you want to ensure you won’t be charged for using data, you’ll want to turn it off on your phone. To turn off your cellular data, go to settings —-> cellular data —->and slide it off. 

Free does come at a cost. You have to be careful not to share personal data over a public network, which is hard when you need to book things with a credit card. 

The other downside is you’re limited in where you have access. You won’t be able to look something up as you’re strolling down the road or riding in your car. If your car doesn’t have a navigation system, it’s going to be really difficult to find your way around. You also won’t be able to use the translation feature whenever you need it (unless you’ve downloaded an offline app). 

A mobile hotspot, or pocket Wi-Fi device, connects any Wi-Fi enabled device to the internet through a mobile telephone network. You’ll be able to do anything you can on a Wi-Fi signal. You won’t have local calling capabilities, but if you’re savvy on an app like Skype or WhatsApp, you’ll still have the ability to contact people. 

This is another inexpensive option, especially if you’ll need to work on vacation. You can take a look at highly-rated mobile hotspot products here.

Editor’s Note: For travel insurance information specific to the current COVID-19 epidemic, see our stories on Travel In the Time of COVID: What You Need to Know; Travel Insurance Coverage: 18 Things Your Policy Won’t Cover; and Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance, Explained.

Purchasing travel insurance is wise if you want to protect your trip against an array of unforeseen events such as natural disasters, missed flights, personal injury or sickness abroad, tour operators going bankrupt, or even acts of terrorism. But with so many types of travel insurance, lots of fine print, and complicated insider lingo to decipher, it can feel impossible to determine which kind of travel insurance is right for you.

With the right resources, however, it’s possible to pick a trip insurance policy you’ll be confident traveling with and paying for. This ultimate guide to travel insurance covers:

• Who needs travel insurance
• The basic types of travel insurance
• The most common policy needs to consider
• Little-known trip insurance technicalities you need to know in case they affect you

There are several different types of travel insurance policies available, ranging from trip cancellation insurance to emergency medical evacuation, all of which vary widely in what their coverage includes and how much it costs. Make sure you know exactly what your policy will and will not cover before you purchase anything, and always buy your insurance from a reputable company (check out our list of travel insurance providers at the end of this article).

Is Travel Insurance a Waste of Money? For some people and certain trips, travel insurance is a virtual necessity; for others, it’s probably not worth the money. The question boils down to a matter of risk, and the best way to assess that risk is by answering four basic questions.

• Are you willing to risk the loss of deposits or prepayments if your trip is canceled for any reason?
• Are you willing to pay out of pocket if you need to return home early from your trip for any reason?
• Are you willing to foot the bill for any out-of-pocket medical expenses, ranging from basic emergency care to emergency medical evacuation home, if you encounter any sickness or injury on your trip?
• Do you have a credit card or general insurance that includes bundled travel insurance?

If you answered “no” to any of the first three as well as the final question, you would probably be wise to invest in a travel insurance policy that includes TCI (trip cancellation or interruption) and/or travel health insurance.

If you need to buy trip insurance for an upcoming vacation, first look at the insurance policies you already have to see what they will cover. Some health insurance policies cover medical emergencies overseas, while others will not. Many credit cards and homeowner’s policies cover baggage loss. Also, many credit card companies (particularly gold cards) offer their members international medical assistance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance if the user simply charges their airline tickets on their credit card. 

Following is a brief description of the different types of travel insurance options available. Note that every policy is a little bit different, so be sure to read the fine print carefully before purchasing.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance covers you if unforeseen events cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip. In general, this coverage is meant for illness, injury, or death suffered by the insured or a member of the insured’s immediate family. Some policies also cover cancellation in the event of illness, injury, or death to the insured’s travel companion. Most policies exclude trip cancellation in the event of war, civil disturbance, or a change in your own financial circumstances. (Lose your job before your trip? If you don’t have job loss protection—not offered by all companies—you could be out of luck.) Some policies also exclude travel to specific destinations that are prone to political unrest.

Many comprehensive travel insurance policies now include coverage if your tour operator defaults; however, it is important to understand exactly what is covered by your policy. If you buy a policy directly from a tour provider, usually it does not cover the default of that provider—so it’s generally a good idea to purchase your policy from an independent company. Some policies only cover tour operator default if the operator ceases operations entirely, which it may not do even if it files for bankruptcy.

When considering trip cancellation insurance, take time to think about how much money you’ll be putting down before your trip. Are you purchasing expensive airline tickets that can’t be refunded? Are you putting down a large nonrefundable deposit on a cruise or tour? If the answer is yes, or if you might cancel for any reason, then buying trip cancellation insurance is a prudent idea. Some travel insurers also offer comprehensive “cancel for any reason” policies.

Medical insurance encompasses several types of coverage. Emergency medical evacuation insurance covers the cost of transportation if a qualified physician determines that you must be evacuated for treatment to the nearest medical facility or to your home country (if it’s warranted), due to injury or sickness. This insurance is highly recommended for cruise passengers and travelers visiting remote areas or developing countries.

For example, if you fall and are injured while trekking in the Himalayas, you might need to be evacuated by private helicopter, then airplane—which can get quite expensive. Emergency medical evacuation back to the United States without insurance can easily cost $35,000 or more. Check to make sure you choose an insurance provider that does not exclude adventure travel from its coverage. If you’re an adventure traveler who has paid $3,000 up front for a white water rapids package deal in a remote area of South America and you won’t receive any refund if you cancel, then you might want to consider both trip cancellation and emergency medical evacuation insurance. 

Other types of medical insurance coverage include:

• An app, or service you can call, that will direct you to English-speaking doctors while you are overseas. In some cases the policy will also provide a physician monitoring service, where a qualified physician from the U.S. will monitor the treatment you are receiving by a local physician via telephone.
• Cash payment to the insured or beneficiary in the event of accidental death, loss of sight, or loss of limb.
• Expenses for repatriation of the insured’s remains in the event of death.

Keep in mind that you may need to pay up front for your medical services, and then your insurance company will reimburse you later, once you’ve filed a claim. On the other hand, some services provide “proof of direct payment” to the healthcare provider, who may require one before treatment occurs. Talk to your insurance provider about the process upon purchasing the policy.

Before purchasing a travel insurance policy with medical coverage, be sure to check what your regular medical insurance does or doesn’t cover, particularly when traveling overseas. You should also consider the medical care offered at your destination. Many Western countries have excellent socialized medical care available, and you may not even be charged for the care you receive. On the other hand, if you are in a remote area of a developing country and need to be evacuated for adequate medical care, the expenses can mount quickly.

Read the fine print regarding coverage or lack thereof for pre-existing conditions. Generally any medical problem that arises within 60 days prior to purchasing the policy is not covered; however, there are some exceptions to this. (See below for more information on pre-existing medical conditions.)

Baggage loss and delay coverage protects you in the event that your luggage is lost, delayed, or stolen. This often includes a cash payment if your bags are delayed for more than 12 hours after you arrive at your destination.

(sometimes called “travel delay”) typically pays for accommodations, meals, and new travel arrangements once you’ve been delayed a certain amount of time (often six to 12 hours—read your policy carefully).

Travel document protection can kicks in to help you replace a passport or other travel documents when they’re lost or stolen.

If you travel many times a year (particularly internationally), it may be more economical to purchase annual insurance instead of individual policies for each trip. Annual insurance may also be a good idea if you regularly travel to developing countries, even if it’s only a few times a year.

Most annual policies provide medical evacuation coverage, benefits in the event of loss of life or limb, as well as minimums for lost luggage and treatment costs for illness or injury. These policies typically do not include trip cancellation coverage, but in some cases you may add this for an additional fee.

Now that you know what kind of insurance you might need, you can read more here about how to buy travel insurance before your trip.

When buying trip insurance, it’s important to keep in mind the situations that might arise that call for insurance help—and to make sure they’re covered as part of the policy you purchase. The most common incidents that travelers hope are covered on their travel insurance policy are weather-related delays and cancellations, including both winter weather conditions and hurricane-season natural disasters.

Winter weather issues typically covered by travel insurance include:

• Missing your flight due to weather problems that prevent you from physically getting to the airport on time
• Flights being canceled because of winter weather conditions preventing take-off
• Flights to or from your destination being delayed because of winter conditions either in your destination or at home, which may incur lost deposits and/or extra hotel stays
• 
  

Generally, you shouldn’t wait until bad weather hits or is in the forecast to purchase insurance—it won’t cover known events.

Hurricane travel insurance coverage also has to be bought well in advance, generally before a storm is known or named. Hurricane travel insurance plans (and most travel insurance plans) typically cover three primary scenarios, with different levels of coverage: advance cancellation, trip interruption, and delay. Each is fairly self-explanatory, but cancellation covers the full canceling of your trip prior to departure. 

Other common travel insurance coverage needs include:

• Missed connections
• General weather problems, not just winter or hurricane coverage
• Cruise insurance
• 
  

Travelers with pre-existing medical conditions will need to be more careful about the travel insurance or healthcare coverage they purchase. Pre-existing medical conditions are often defined by insurance companies as: “Any injury, sickness or condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received within the 180-day period ending on your date of departure. Conditions are not considered pre-existing if the condition for which prescribed drugs or medicine is taken remains controlled without any change in the required prescription.” Meaning: The insurance may only cover health problems that are proved to be unforeseen. 

Since September 11, 2001, and many headline-making tragedies since then, many are looking to travel insurance to safeguard their trip against any unforeseen terrorist attacks at their destination, whether it be cancellation, delayed departure, or an emergency flight home. Many policies now have an “Acts of Terrorism” clause that will reimburse you if you miss or are delayed in getting to your destination because of acts of terrorism. Check to make sure acts of terrorism are included before purchasing; some policies specifically exclude them. 

And then there are the seemingly random things that travel insurance policies simply will not cover. Among them are some inconspicuous healthcare categories, like dental care and pregnancy complications, as well as some topics you should now know better than to try getting covered—like named hurricanes and other natural disasters that have already made the news. 

Flights purchased with miles also might not be covered, among other items. 

Checking the specific terms of your agreement is also generally a good idea, as technical jargon could be the difference between your policy covering that nightmare situation you bought it for and the insurance company dodging responsibility. For example, some policies list supplier “bankruptcy” as a covered reason; others say supplier “default.” Default protection is stronger: Companies often fail without ever officially declaring bankruptcy, and insurers can cite that as a way to weasel out of coverage. 

Here are several established travel insurance companies and comparison sites from which you can consider buying a policy:

• Allianz Travel
• GeoBlue
• SquareMouth
• Travel Guard
• TravelInsurance.com
• World Nomads
• 
  

Be sure to read all terms and conditions carefully to be sure the policy provides the types of coverage you’re looking for and is valid in the countries you’ll be visiting. And don’t be afraid to ask an expert there to help you choose a policy—you are paying for it, after all. Read more here about the best independent sites for comparing and buying a travel insurance policy.

 More than a quarter of the population of the U.S. has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination as of this week, and all those shots in arms seem to be directly correlating to a surge in travel.

In fact, the number of passengers in U.S. airports reached their highest numbers in more than a year last week according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Whether you’re vaccinated or not, concerns about new strains of the coronavirus are high, so it’s not surprising to hear that inquiries about travel insurance have also hit their highest level since the pandemic began, according to InsureMyTrip.

However, “there is a big misconception about what travel insurance does — and doesn’t — cover,” said Meghan Walch, pandemic travel insurance expert for InsureMyTrip. In the company’s latest poll of travel insurance agents, the vast majority of questions (a whopping 97%) from would-be travelers are regarding how travel insurance may or may not cover COVID-19 related travel concerns.

So, does your travel insurance cover a pandemic? Here’s everything you need to know.

In general terms, regular travel insurance policies cover the “unknowns” — for example, an accident you couldn’t have anticipated in advance, such as falling while you were hiking and breaking your leg — and not losses caused directly or indirectly by known or foreseeable events (in this case, an epidemic complete with government travel advisories).

Similar to a weather event, once something becomes “known” it may not be a covered reason for cancellation if a traveler purchases insurance after that date.

In other words, if you purchased travel after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, you’ve entered “known” territory, the same as deciding to fly into the eye of a hurricane.

“Essentially, travel insurance covers unexpected events during your travels and pre-departure starting the effective date of your policy,” said Christina Tunnah, general manager of the Americas of travel insurance company World Nomads.

According to Tunnah, regular travel insurance breaks down into three main categories:

• The protection of your pocketbook (investment in flights, delays, interruption, cancellation)
• The protection of yourself (emergency medical and evacuation)
• The protection of your belongings (delayed and lost bags, theft)

Many credit cards also offer travel protection. Covered situations, maximum coverage amounts and eligible expenses vary across the cards that offer this benefit. Covered situations typically include accidental bodily injury; loss of life or sickness; severe weather; terrorist action or hijacking and jury duty or a court subpoena that can’t be postponed or waived.

Not all the news on the COVID-19 insurance front is negative. According to Walch, many traditional travel insurance policies will cover your COVID-19 related travel concerns if you meet regular guidelines.

Examples of COVID-19 coverage in traditional plans include:

• If you must visit a doctor or hospital during a trip due to a COVID-19 illness
• If you get sick with COVID-19 and must cancel a trip
• If a physician orders you to quarantine before a trip
• If you lost a job during the coronavirus pandemic by no fault of your own

In addition, some plans are now offering higher travel delay limits in order to help with additional accommodation expenses due to a covered quarantine, adds Walch.

And, there are also some individual insurers that are simply covering COVID-19 outright. For example, World Nomads’ plans cover the diagnosis of COVID-19 the same as any other illness with benefits that could include emergency medical care, emergency medical evacuation, trip delay and trip interruption coverage if you contract COVID-19 while traveling.

First of all, you should look in the exclusion section to see if pandemics or epidemics are mentioned. If so, you’ll need to shop around for a different policy, said Tunnah.

Even though travel insurance companies may offer COVID-19 sickness coverage, they typically don’t offer benefits for every circumstance.

“Every policy is different, so you’ll want to get a good grasp of a plan’s coverage before you purchase it,” Tunnah explained. Some of the questions you should ask yourself are: Does the plan cover emergency medical and evacuation expenses if I contract COVID-19? What are covered reasons for cancellation? What if my trip is delayed or interrupted because of a COVID-19 event?

If you’re getting confused from reading the legal jargon of a policy, you can contact the customer service department of your travel insurance company, Tunnah advised. Representatives should be able to provide plain English explanations of coverage and help you identify a plan that meets your specific trip needs.

To see multiple options in one place, InsureMyTrip has a COVID-19 coverage tool that allows you to compare different policies.

Here’s what you should be looking for according to the company:

• Trip cancellation coverage: While traditional trip cancellation does not allow a traveler to cancel a trip due to COVID-19 fears, it may cover a traveler in the event they get sick from COVID-19 and must cancel a trip.
• Trip interruption coverage: In the event a traveler gets sick from COVID-19 and the trip is interrupted, this coverage may apply.
• Cancel for any reason coverage: If eligible, this protection allows travelers the option to cancel a trip due to concerns over COVID-19, whereas traditional trip cancellation coverage does not (see below for more details).

Cancel for any reason, also known as CFAR in the insurance industry, is an add-on to certain traditional trip insurance policies.

While travel insurance policies can offer a range of inclusions (think: medical evacuation, trip cancellation due to foreign or domestic terrorism or rental car damage) not every eventuality is included in all insurance policies. For example, some trip insurance plans cover employment layoffs while others do not. Some policies may have robust emergency medical coverage while competitors don’t. That’s why it’s so important for you to select a plan that meets your specific needs for each trip.

One commonality among insurance policies? A long lists of exclusions. That’s where a CFAR policy comes into play.

“InsureMyTrip strongly recommends travelers strongly consider a CFAR upgrade,” said Walch. This upgrade offers the most trip cancellation flexibility and is the only option available to cover “fear of travel” (traditional travel insurance does not offer cancellation coverage for “fear of travel,” whether related to COVID-19 or not).

If eligibility requirements are met, reimbursement is typically up to 70% of the pre-paid, nonrefundable trip cost. “Just be aware that this add-on will increase the cost of the plan,” Walch advised.

Even in pre-pandemic times, many countries required travelers to have personal medical insurance to visit (although you weren’t necessarily required to provide proof). Now, with pandemic concerns, some countries are instituting mandatory COVID-19 insurance for entry.

The Bahamas is one example. Travel health insurance is required for all incoming visitors and the cost for the mandatory insurance is included in the price of the Travel Health Visa all tourists are required to apply for before entry. Aruba is another example where COVID-19 insurance is purchased onsite at arrival and mandatory for entry.

Note that these insurance coverage policies just are for medical coverage, so travelers will still need additional coverage to cover non-health-related expenses such as travel delays or lost baggage.

If you’re planning on traveling during a pandemic, don’t assume that your usual travel insurance will cover you. Be sure to compare different insurance policies. and strongly consider Cancel For Any Reason insurance if you want to make sure your trip costs are covered.