Travel Insurance

As with any and all travel, we strongly recommend that you purchase a travel insurance policy in your home country that covers your cost due to cancellations. Though I’ve never had to cancel a tour, you may have to cancel your travel reservations in case of accidents, illness, job loss or anything else that may come up. In some cases, we make every attempt to replace you on the tour and accommodate you with a refund, but our general policy (as stated in the terms & conditions) is that Explore With Spike is not responsible and does not offer refunds for cancellations due to medical emergencies, death in the family or any other reason. That’s why we strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance to protect yourself.

Standard travel insurance gives you the peace of mind by reimbursing you if unexpected events disrupt your travel plans. Whether it’s a sudden illness, flight cancellation, lost luggage, or an emergency that forces you to return home early, travel insurance can help cover the costs so you don’t lose the money you’ve invested in your plans. It acts as a safety net, ensuring that unforeseen problems don’t turn your vacation or business trip into a costly setback.

When choosing a travel insurance policy, start by considering what coverage matters most for your trip, such as trip cancellation, medical expenses, baggage protection, or emergency evacuation. Compare different providers and read the fine print to understand exclusions, coverage limits, and whether pre-existing health conditions are included. Look for 24/7 assistance services, and if you’re traveling internationally, prioritize strong medical and evacuation coverage. 

Standard coverage usually costs 4 to 8 percent of your trip’s total amount. Buy your policy soon after booking your trip to maximize protection and ensure eligibility for benefits like “cancel for any reason” add-ons. How much should you cover? Add up the total cost of the Explore With Spike tour and your flights/transportation. (But then don’t buy the trip protection that the airline sells – you don’t want to insure your flight twice.)

As a reference for finding good travel insurance, one of these websites will always be my first stop:
 

https://www.insuremytrip.com/

 
After answering a few questions, these sites will give you multiple insurance quotes side by side so you can compare different policies. The best policy is the “cancel for any reason” policy which cost a little more. Any of the policies listed on these sites are usually great.

Some companies I’ve used and had a great experience with…

 
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL COSTS: For some international adventures, medical insurance may be necessary. For some, your health insurance plan or credit card may give you some coverage. But for most, supplemental travel insurance is needed to cover medical expenses in foreign countries. (Getting sick or injured in certain foreign countries can be expensive for non-citizens! A travel insurance policy is much cheaper than an emergency.)
 
COVID-19 CANCELLATIONS: Most travel insurance policies do not cover COVID-related disruptions so if another variant wave interrupts our lives in the future, you may want “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage which reimburses for events that standard insurance doesn’t. It generally costs 40 percent more than a standard policy and reimburses up to 75 percent. You can buy standard insurance almost until departure, but you must buy CFAR coverage typically within 14 to 21 days of booking.
 
Cover your butt then pack your bag!