Guiding plane at Juan Santamaria International Airport
How Necessary Is Travel Insurance?
I’ve always been a firm believer in the value of travel insurance, and my view has only strengthened in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
When flights stopped running and hotels abruptly shut down, plenty of people were stuck with bills for nonrefundable trips. Even now, catching the flu or even a bad cold can delay or cancel a trip, leaving you footing the bill.
Maybe you think the chances of getting sick during or right before vacation are slim, but the truth is that there are countless reasons your travel plans might be put at risk, from unexpected injuries and medical emergencies to more mundane yet equally aggravating flight delays and lost luggage.
Your Costa Rican vacation should be as relaxing as possible. Why let worries about your health and safety get in the way? With travel insurance, you’re prepared even when things go wrong, and you can enjoy your Costa Rica trip worry-free.
The best way to protect yourself from whatever life throws at you is to take precautions, and travel insurance lets you do exactly that.
Beach Sunset at Corcovado National Park
Why Costa Rica?
The diverse landscapes of Costa Rica form an outdoor playground. There’s no better way to feel in-touch with the great outdoors than to visit famous locations like Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal Volcano, and Tortuguero National Park. Live among wildlife and experience a vibrant culture that will have you living the pura vida lifestyle in no time.
Costa Rica is among my favorite places to travel in the world. Every time I’ve visited, I’ve gotten to experience something new, and all my stress melts away.
White Water Rafting on the Pacuare River
An Adventurous Escape
There are countless opportunities for adventure in Costa Rica, including white-water rafting down rivers, zip-lining over the jungle canopy, or simply hiking through the uneven terrain of a national park that’s been practically untouched by human hands. While these adventure activities are full of heart-pounding fun, they also carry a risk of injury.
Travel insurance is especially important if you want to take advantage of Costa Rica’s more adventurous attractions for thrill-seekers. Even daredevils know that safety is critical.
Ensure you’re covered if you need medical treatment. Since you’re out of the country, most insurance plans will not cover treatment for illnesses or injuries received in Costa Rica, which could leave you with a huge bill for even a minor accident. No one wants their vacation ruined by being saddled with debt.
The easiest solution that grants you peace of mind while you travel and embark on thrilling adventures in Costa Rica is purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance through sites like our affiliate, Faye, is available for just a fraction of the cost of your trip, and the benefits far outweigh the up-front price tag.
The Basics of Travel Insurance
No one wants an emergency to ruin their travel plans, but it’s better to be prepared. Without travel insurance, you run the risk of losing any money you’ve spent on pre-paid, nonrefundable bookings.
Travel insurance keeps you covered in case of unforeseen events. Depending on the type of coverage you purchase, this includes events such as:
- Trip Cancellations
- Health issues and injuries
- Accidents
- Delays and missed connecting flights
- Lost luggage
- Evacuations due to natural disasters
- Evacuations due to medical necessity
- Medical expenses
The most common of these reasons is someone in your family falling sick during or right before the trip. Travel insurance makes it easy and cheap to reschedule a flight and hotel stay, even in popular areas like San Jose, and ensures you aren’t out the money you already spent.
Travel insurance also reimburses you for covered events that prevent you from enjoying activities and experiences you’ve booked. If you don’t get to attend an event or make use of a part of your trip package, you will typically be eligible for a refund of up to 100% of the cost depending on the package you purchase.
Best of all, travel insurance is a nominal fee, even for international families and large families. With plenty of affordable and budget-conscious options, paying for coverage is the smart move, and it’s something I’ve benefited from myself multiple times.
Walking along the raised trail in Manuel Antonio National Park
The Case for Travel Insurance in Costa Rica
Travel Insurance doesn’t just include a refund for trip activities. It can also help cover the cost of medical care if you are sick or injured during your vacation, as U.S.-based health insurance will typically not cover expenses outside the country. If you’re traveling internationally and need to be transported elsewhere for care, travel insurance can cover that too.
Additionally, if you’re planning on visiting during the green season, or the rainy season, travel insurance is always a good idea in case of inclement weather. Traveling during the off-season is a great way to save, but you don’t want to miss out, making travel insurance a cost-effective compromise.
Tabacon Hot Springs Waterfall & Bridge, Arenal Volcano
The Cost of Peace of Mind
The greatest benefit of travel insurance is the peace of mind it provides. Vacation should be relaxing, so who needs unnecessary stress? With travel insurance, you’re covered for any accidents or misfortunes. This takes a load off your mind, letting you enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
Front view of Grano de Oro Hotel & Restaurant in San Jose
Understanding Coverage: What’s Included?
The benefits included with travel insurance vary depending on the type and cost of the insurance. While you can generally expect travel insurance to refund you for the cost of trips you don’t get to take for qualifying reasons, it’s important to check the specific details of your plan when purchasing insurance.
I personally have used Faye and I suggest buying your insurance from Faye, I’ll use their plans as an example of what you can expect.
Faye’s travel insurance covers you if you are injured, fall ill with COVID-19 or another disease, or even if a pre-existing medical condition flare-up prevents you from traveling. Recoup the costs of otherwise non-refundable bookings and any medical costs up to the covered amount. Travel insurance also covers emergency medical evacuations out of Central America if they are necessary.
Travel insurance also comes in handy if you experience any inconveniences during travel, like flight delays, missed connections due to delays, and cancellations. Assistance with real-time flight alerts is also available through Faye’s insurance packages.
In addition to these items, you can purchase add-ons to cover costs that won’t apply to everyone, like pet insurance and rental car care.
Last year I used Faye for one of my trips to Costa Rica. Before I even left my house I learned that my flight was delayed, it ended up being delayed until the next day. Faye not only reimbursed me for my first hotel night in San Jose, but they gave me coverage for my flight being delayed. I didn’t realize that this was part of the plan and they just added to the reimbursement when I submitted it for the first night hotel stay!
The Domestic Terminal at the San José Intl Airport in Costa Rica
The Best Benefits for Costa Rica Travelers
Make sure your Costa Rica travel insurance covers all the most important aspects of your trip. For international travelers, I always suggest making sure your coverage includes Costa Rican medical expenses or transportation back to the United States if necessary.
If you’re planning on taking a domestic flight from a Costa Rican international airport in San Jose or the Guanacaste Province, coverage for missed connections is important. This is especially true if you’re visiting during the rainy season, as inclement weather could interfere with your plans.
Costa Rica is full of adventurous activities, and the feeling of ziplining over the jungle canopy is like no other, but safety comes first. For those who plan on participating in daredevil activities while in Costa Rica, Faye also offers insurance add-ons for injuries received during adventure & extreme sports.
Depending on the plan, Costa Rica travel insurance can include reimbursement for valuable items that have been lost, stolen, or damaged in transit. If you’re someone who wants to take photos of Costa Rica’s lush rainforest and native wildlife with a professional camera, spring for this coverage.
Amazing view at Juan Santamaría International Airport
Real-life Scenarios: The Importance of Being Covered
Imagine the following scenario: you’ve been planning your Costa Rican vacation for months, but just days before your trip, you or a family member ends up sick and bed-ridden. This is an unfortunate enough event under normal circumstances, but when you have a trip coming up, it’s a nightmare.
Or is it?
When you’re covered with travel insurance, getting sick doesn’t have to mean you lose all the money you sunk into the trip. You can reschedule for a different day and put all your energy into getting better rather than worrying about your vacation.
Additionally, many people have found themselves sick or injured while on vacation, as we can’t predict the future. While this is sure to put a damper on things no matter what, knowing you’re covered is much better than scrambling to find and pay for treatment in a foreign country without assistance.
Finally, frequent flyers have all had a story about lost or delayed luggage bogging down their trip. Reimbursement from travel insurance goes a long way toward easing the sting in these cases.
Imperial bar and souvenir shop at the San José Intl. Airport
Financial Aspect: Is it Worth the Investment?
Buying travel insurance is an additional expense, but in my experience, it’s been well worth it every time. Even if I don’t end up using it, I feel much better knowing that if something does go wrong, I won’t have to foot the bill or make arrangements by myself.
There are also many ways to make back the cost of insurance by finding other deals while you travel, like following our tips for finding cheap flights, watching for deals from our newsletter, and booking affordable hotels. Depending on the length of your trip and the type of coverage you purchase, saving just a few hundred dollars elsewhere can turn travel insurance into a net zero expense.
Even if you’re on a budget, you can often find travel insurance plans for less than $100 that still cover the basics. Typically, travel insurance is priced at about 5% of your total trip costs. Let’s say you spend $2,500 on your trip, which would bring your insurance cost to $125.
Now, let’s say that you end up having to reschedule your flight and rebook your hotel room, both of which were nonrefundable. Without travel insurance, you’d certainly pay more than $125 on these expenses alone, not to mention any experiences and tours you may have already paid for too. I think that’s well worth the upfront cost!
Navigating Travel Insurance Options
Traditionally, travelers used to buy insurance through their travel agent or other trip planning services. Nowadays, however, more and more people are planning their own vacations. As a result, many travel insurance providers have shifted to independent online work, though some still partner with travel agencies.
If you’re booking your trip through a travel agent, you’ll likely have to use the insurance company they’ve partnered with. On the other hand, if you’re flying solo, it’s good to know your options so you can select the right provider for your needs and budget.
Tips for Choosing the Right Insurance
You’ve got plenty of options when selecting travel insurance, but finding the right option is easy once you know what you’re looking for. Here are a few criteria to keep in mind during your search.
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
You may not always need the priciest insurance option, but picking the cheapest one isn’t always the best idea if it doesn’t sufficiently cover the cancellation costs of your trip. Always check the coverage limits and make sure your expenses fall within them.
What Optional Add-Ons Interest You?
Some travel insurance providers offer add-ons on top of their basic travel insurance packages. These cover additional incidents that don’t apply to everyone, such as vacation rental damages and pet care, and allow for greater flexibility with options to cancel a trip for any reason. Make sure your chosen insurance company offers the add-ons you need.
Flying over the mountains of Costa Rica
Why I Recommend Faye for Travel Insurance?
Faye’s travel insurance is one of the most comprehensive plans out there at an affordable price, which has made it my go-to recommendation for travelers.
Not only does their insurance cover all the basics, including flight delays, medical considerations, and lost luggage protections, but they also offer a range of add-ons addressing the concerns mentioned above. Quality for up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in reimbursement for medical fees and emergency transportation when you need it most, all for a nominal fee.
Whether you’re headed to Costa Rica or a number of other domestic and international destinations, Faye has you covered.
FAQs About Travel Insurance for Costa Rica
Still on the fence, or looking for more info? Here are a few answers to common questions about travel insurance.
Can You Buy Long-Term Travel Insurance?
Most travel insurance is offered on a single-trip basis. However, for world nomads who travel frequently, it may be more cost-effective to opt for long-term policies, which cover multiple trips per year.
Does Your Credit Card Offer Benefits?
Some credit cards, specifically ones geared toward travel and air miles, provide no- or low-cost travel insurance if you book flights and hotels with them. Check your benefits to see if you qualify for cancellation and delay coverage.
Arenal Volcano reflection on lake at Arenal Volcano
A Final Word
You wouldn’t go through life without health insurance, so why go on vacation without travel insurance? No one wants to believe they’ll end up sick or injured in a foreign country, or delayed during their flight, but if it ever does happen to you, you’ll be glad you came prepared!
Surfer walking out to blown out surf
Explore Travel Insurance Options
Travel insurance is only useful if you purchase it before you need it, so I always suggest buying insurance as soon as you have your trip dates and plans locked down. Start researching options as soon as possible to ensure you get the best benefits and deals.
Looking for somewhere to start? Head click here to go to Faye for more information about your options when building your insurance package.
