Travel Insurance for a Multi-Destination Trip: 2024 Guide (2024)

Opting for multi-destination travel insurance for your next trip can cover nonrefundable and prepaid trip costs, valuables and personal effects across each destination you visit. We’ve highlighted the main benefits of choosing a multi-destination travel insurance plan for your next trip below.

Easier Shopping Process

By only having one policy for your multi-trip plans, especially if you’re traveling with family members or travel companions, you compare quotes for one centralized policy rather than multiple at a time. As a result, you can more closely review one plan rather than buy several single-trip plans to cover each location on your list.

Offers More Convenience

A multi-destination trip insurance plan covers all your destinations under one policy so you don’t have to concern yourself with purchasing multiple policies for one trip. You can also file claims through one policy, rather than having to worry about navigating multiple at a time.

You Don’t Have To Change Your Itinerary

You will not have to make any sacrifices to your itinerary with a multi-destination trip. If you want a beach break, safari and cultural retreat to the heart of a capital city, you can choose all three and have peace of mind with multi-trip travel insurance.

A multi-destination policy should include the same protections as standard travel insurance, whether you choose single-trip coverage or an annual plan for frequent travelers. We’ve detailed what multi-destination policies typically cover below:

Trip Cancellations, Interruptions and Delays

Trip cancellation coverage offers reimbursem*nt of nonrefundable, prepaid costs if your trip gets canceled for a covered reason, typically before departure. Trip interruption coverage will reimburse costs if your trip is cut short due to an incident outlined in your insurance policy, such as a flight delay. In both cases, you would receive partial or full reimbursem*nt for flights, accommodations or other costs.

Travel delays coverage offers protection if you miss booked transport for reasons outside your control, including flight connections. Often if you experience a trip delay, your insurance providers may reimburse you for lost costs plus additional expenses incurred due to the interruption. For example, your provider may pay for food or lodging you book while delayed, or cover the cost of a new airline ticket.

Cancel For Any Reason Coverage

Also known as CFAR, cancel for any reason coverage allows you to cancel your trip for reasons outside those specified in your travel insurance plan. You will receive a refund of any prepaid costs up to a certain limit, as outlined in your policy. Providers often set a minimum period of time in which you can use CFAR coverage to receive a refund.

Most standard insurance policies do not automatically include CFAR coverage, but rather offer it as a policy add-on for extra money.

Emergency Medical Coverage

Multi-destination insurance with travel medical coverage will help cover the cost of emergency medical expenses you incur while traveling. Covered costs may include the following:

• Emergency medical expenses, such as staying in a medical facility, ambulance fees or emergency assistance
• Medical care or treatment for an injury or illness
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage
• Repatriation of remains

Insurance providers may also offer add-on coverage for accidental death and dismemberment. Keep in mind that U.S.-issued health insurance may not work on an international trip. Without travel insurance, you would have to cover health care expenses out of pocket.

Lost, Damaged or Delayed Baggage

Baggage coverage is included in multi-destination insurance plans to offer reimbursem*nt if your luggage is lost, damaged or delayed. Your policy will allow reimbursem*nt up to a certain limit, which will vary depending on the insurance plan you select.

Other Travel Insurance Benefits

In addition to standard protections, more comprehensive policies may include other coverages such as rental car damage, travel assistance services and sporting gear rentals. While some policies include extra coverage in the total cost, other companies may offer benefits as policy add-ons.

There are a few factors to consider when shopping for multi-destination trip insurance to ensure a policy is well suited to your travel needs and budget.

Check the Coverage You Already Have

Before purchasing travel insurance, check your credit cards and health insurance to see what coverage you already have. Some credit card companies offer levels of travel insurance and your health insurance plan may extend abroad. You may be able to save money by utilizing existing coverage rather than purchasing a comprehensive travel policy.

Trip Details

Where you are going and for how long can impact the type of travel insurance you need. Be sure to include travel days so the whole length of your trip is included in your travel insurance plan. You may also need specific protections based on your destinations and what you plan to do. For example, you may want a policy with rental car coverage if you plan to rent a vehicle.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Many travel insurance plans may not cover treatments related to pre-existing medical conditions. However, your provider may offer a waiver if you declare pre-existing conditions within a certain time frame after purchasing travel insurance. Obtaining the right level of medical coverage is important in the event you have to file a claim, notably for senior travelers with pre-existing conditions.

Coverage Limit and Exclusions

Usually travel insurance plans include a maximum amount the provider will payout for each covered item. For example, your policy may include $1 million in emergency medical benefits and $500 for baggage loss. It is best to consider the amount of coverage you may need and select a plan that offers those limits. However, higher levels of coverage may cost more than standard policies.

Exclusions refer to anything your travel insurance does not cover, such as injuries related to extreme sports. Review your travel insurance policy documents to ensure you know about coverage exclusions and can purchase additional coverage if necessary.

Deductibles

Like with most insurance products, a deductible is the amount you will have to pay before your travel insurance provider will payout claims. Deductible amounts can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, so it is an important factor to consider when choosing a policy. For example, you may have a $500 deductible for lost luggage. Make sure you select a deductible amount you can afford if you have to file a claim.

To help you understand travel insurance costs, we requested quotes from multiple providers for both multi-destination and single-destination costs. You can also explore cheap travel insurance policies if you are on a budget.

As you’ll notice, international travel insurance for multi-destination trips is slightly more expensive than single-trip coverage. Based on our quotes, the difference in price between the two types of insurance is between $10 to $16, depending on the provider

We based the below quotes on a two-week single trip to Italy and a two-week multi-destination trip to Italy and another European destination for a 33-year-old traveler. Quotes reflect the cheapest option of travel protection for each travel insurance provider. Your cost may vary based on your home country and specific trip details.

You may encounter travel insurance for backpackers versus annual multi-destination travel insurance in your search for a policy. While both coverages can protect travel to multiple destinations, there are distinct differences between the two.

Backpacking typically involves weeks or months of continuous travel and carries its own set of unique risks. If you plan to trek through remote areas abroad, we suggest you consider a plan that offers generous payouts for medical emergencies. Note that backpacker travel insurance will not cover things such as wear and tear on your sports equipment, extreme sports and other activities not explicitly named in your policy, or backpacking treks through high-risk destinations.

As the name suggests, annual travel insurance covers multiple trips over a period of time, typically up to 12 months. It’s ideal for people who travel frequently but return to their home base between adventures. High coverage limits for trip delays, interruptions or cancellations are often a high priority for those needing this type of insurance.

Multi-destination single-trip travel insurance functions the same as regular travel insurance, but you select multiple countries when you’re signing up for coverage. Some providers don’t require you to include countries you’re going to be in for less than 24 hours.

The following tips can help travelers find the best coverage for their multi-destination trip:

Research Travel Insurance Providers

A good starting point before choosing a travel insurance plan is to research what options are available to you. You may find several insurance providers that offer plans to travelers across the globe or smaller companies based in your local area. Don’t discount available options before learning more about each company and the services offered.

Read Customer Reviews

There are multiple platforms and resources available online to help you evaluate travel insurance providers for multi-destination vacations. You can check whether an insurance provider is reputable by consulting platforms like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot. Consulting online reviews and business service scores can help you form an opinion about each provider and better understand the customer experience.

Make Sure You Have Enough Coverage

As previously mentioned, trip protection will have varying coverage limits that apply to each component of your insurance policy. Therefore, you should choose a plan that offers adequate coverage for your trip. For example, if you plan to travel with expensive items in your luggage, opt for a plan with a higher baggage coverage limit. Or you can select a policy that includes extra valuables coverage.

Multi-destination vacations are a great way to explore multiple countries, cities and cultures all in one trip. With multi-destination insurance, you can cover a trip to more than one destination under one central policy. Based on our research, multi-destination insurance costs between $62 to $83, which is only $10 to $16 more than single-trip policies.

While there are multiple considerations to make when choosing travel insurance coverage, investing in trip protection can be worth it. Frequent or business travelers may also opt for annual travel insurance coverage, which includes a set number of trips per year.