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Wednesday, February 12th
World Nomads was started in 2002 to protect independent travelers while they explore the world. Promising simple and flexible travel insurance policies, World Nomads helps you with every step of your journey. You'll find trip guides, travel insights, and a community Q&A for world travelers. World Nomads is a standalone provider that offers pre-built plans that are underwritten by Collinson Insurance Europe Limited.
Get a quote for single or multi-trip travel
To get started, you can either browse the plans page or hit the "Get a quote” button to fill out the obligatory travel form. The form will start by asking you about where you live, whether you want a single trip policy or an annual plan, where you are going, and the dates of your trip. You'll also need to provide the date of your deposit and the number of travelers (as well as their ages). From there you'll be recommended one of three single-trip plans or shown the price for the annual plan if you're going on multiple trips.
Four plans to choose from
There are four total plans available at World Nomads: the Standard Plan, the Explorer Plan, the Epic Plan, and the Annual Multi Trip Plan. When you book a single trip, you'll be shown options for all three single-trip plans (Standard, Explorer, and Epic). If you want to see the details for the Annual Multi Trip Plan, you'll have to specify that in your forms. Here's what you can expect:
Compare side by side, but only World Nomads' plans
You can easily compare the different plans side by side once you get your quote, but since all of the plans are provided directly by World Nomads, you won't be able to compare prices to other brokers or providers from the World Nomads site. This is something you might want to do as the prices at World Nomads are particularly high for the level of protection.
Pricing starts at $91.86
To price out the plans at World Nomads, we created a fake persona to go on a trip. Our traveler is 35 years old, traveling alone for one week within the US and booked her trip four months in advance of the actual vacation. For this $2,000 trip, World Nomads quoted us the following prices:
These prices were noticeably much higher than most competitors.
High prices with mid-tier coverage
Considering that the baseline plan is $91.86, and it's missing total coverage for cancellations (only up to $2,500 per trip), you may not be happy with your coverage here if your trip costs more than $2,500 in total. To get more robust coverage, you have to pay over $100. This feels a bit like World Nomads might be trying to upsell you, and the prices are high even at the starting point.
Concerning ratings for not meeting customer needs
World Nomads holds an "F” rating from the Better Business Bureau, and according to poor reviews on the BBB, customers were unable to get a full reimbursement from World Nomads during the claims process. While the news is a bit better for World Nomads on Trustpilot, where the company holds a 4.1-star average rating for its ease of use, reviews still complain that prices are high for the coverage you get. Many recent reviews from customers also complain about the coverage not meeting their needs when things go wrong.
Too many red flags for us
There are quite a few red flags at World Nomads that keep this company from being one of our recommended picks for travel insurance. Unfortunately, the prices are very high and with repeated comments from travelers about World Nomads not meeting their needs, it may be better to try more popular sites instead. With an "F” rating from the BBB to also consider, World Nomads earns a lower rating in our review.
Planning the vacation of a lifetime, or your next cross-country road trip? Whether you're hopping on a plane to a distant country or just crossing state lines for a family reunion, it's worthwhile to consider the importance of protecting yourself and your belongings. Travel insurance is a helpful safety net designed to safeguard you against any risks or losses you might worry about while traveling.
You can find protection for everything from minor issues like missed connecting flights and lost luggage to more serious concerns like injuries while abroad. So, what's the benefit of getting travel insurance? No matter where you're going, travel insurance can help you cover medical expenses. This is especially helpful for those traveling outside their home country where normal medical insurance may not apply.
Travel insurance can also help you with lost or stolen luggage. While the US Department of Transportation requires airlines to reimburse customers for lost items, you must have receipts proving the value of the lost items to get payment. Travel insurance can help you protect your items for the full amount without having to haggle with the airlines to get your money. Travel insurance will also help you if there is a last-minute cancellation for your trip. This way, if something comes up, you won't be required to pay hefty fees.
Travel insurance is usually based on the price of the individual trip and your age. Older travelers might expect to pay 5%-6% more than younger travelers. There are also different levels of coverage. You can choose cancellation coverage only or comprehensive coverage which usually includes delays, lost luggage, and some emergency medical care. In general, most coverage options cost between 4%-10% of your total trip cost.
Keep in mind, there are some restrictions. You don't want to add insurance at the last minute or travel to a known dangerous location. For example, if you're booking a trip to Florida during hurricane season, make sure to get your travel insurance well in advance. Your travel insurance may not help you with any damages incurred during that trip if you try to purchase it after a storm is named. The best approach is to always read your policy thoroughly to be sure that any concerns you have about your next trip are covered.
If you're ready to get jet-setting, we're right there with you. To help you find the best provider for travel insurance, we've put together a list of factors to help you narrow the field:
With your travel insurance at the ready, you can start booking your next getaway ASAP. To help you get going on your well-deserved vacay, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top travel insurance providers out there today. This way you can see all your favorite sights, try out some new cuisine, and pack as heavy as you need with the knowledge that your travel insurance will protect you every step of the way. Bon voyage!
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