The information below applies to Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip policies.
If you have purchased a CoverForYou Backpacker policy, please contact us to check your specific cover, as different terms and conditions may apply.
For the purposes of your policy, a package is a pre-arranged combination of at least two of the following:
Transport.
Accommodation.
Other tourist services that are not simply part of the transport or accommodation, such as car hire or airport parking, where they form a significant part of the package.
The services must be sold or offered at an inclusive price and the trip must last more than 24 hours or include an overnight stay.
Independent travel is where you arrange the different parts of your trip separately.
For example, you might book:
Your flights directly with an airline.
Your accommodation separately with a hotel.
Your transfers or car hire with another provider.
Because the bookings are separate, different providers may be responsible for different parts of your trip if something goes wrong.
If your package holiday is cancelled by the travel provider, you should contact the provider or tour operator first.
Your policy does not cover costs for a package holiday where:
The package is cancelled by the travel provider; or
You are unable to travel because of a change in FCDO travel advice.
You should always seek any refund, alternative arrangements or compensation available from the travel provider before making an insurance claim.
Where your tour operator or another travel provider is responsible for resolving the disruption or refunding your costs, you should contact them first.
Your policy does not pay costs that are recoverable from:
Your accommodation or transport provider.
Their booking agent or travel agent.
A compensation scheme or ATOL.
Your credit or debit card provider.
PayPal.
Travel insurance may still respond where you suffer an insured loss that is not recoverable elsewhere, subject to the policy terms and conditions.
With independent travel, there may be no single provider responsible for your whole trip.
For example, if your flight is cancelled, the airline may be responsible for the flight but not necessarily for a separately booked hotel, transfer or other travel arrangement.
Whether your travel insurance can help with those additional costs depends on:
What caused the disruption.
Which section of your policy applies.
Whether the cost is recoverable from another provider.
Whether you purchased any relevant optional cover.
Whether you booked a package holiday or travelled independently, your policy can still provide cover for insured events such as:
Illness or injury preventing you from travelling.
Redundancy.
Other cancellation or curtailment reasons listed in your policy.
Certain missed departure or travel delay events.
Emergency medical expenses while abroad.
You should first seek any refund or compensation available from your travel provider. Insurance can then consider eligible irrecoverable costs, subject to the policy terms and limits.
Travel Disruption Cover (TDC) is an optional upgrade available for an additional premium. If purchased, it will be shown on your policy schedule.
It can provide additional protection for certain disruption scenarios, including:
Reasonable additional accommodation and public transport costs where a qualifying disruption means you need to continue your trip.
Certain delays or cancellations where no suitable alternative public transport is provided within the required timeframe.
Certain catastrophe-related cancellation or curtailment claims.
Certain insolvency-related claims involving accommodation providers or their booking agents.
Other extended cancellation and disruption benefits shown in the policy wording.
This can be particularly useful for independently booked trips, where there may be several separate travel providers rather than one tour operator managing the whole journey.
Important: All cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, cover limits and any applicable excess.
