ics travel insurance

Do you need travel insurance this summer? It’s complicated, experts say

Travel troubleshooter.

If you’re planning to travel somewhere this summer, you’re probably thinking of buying travel insurance.

Kingsley Hopkins is. He’s headed to Portugal and Iceland with his girlfriend, and he wants to make sure he’s covered for things like medical emergencies or trip disruptions, “or if a volcano erupts,” he says.

But getting the right travel insurance can be complicated. There’s no one-size-fits-all policy, and Hopkins, an assistant editor at a book publishing company in New York, has been spending a lot of time thinking about how to protect his summer vacation.

Chances are, so have you.

more Summer travel tips

• 6 pro travel tricks for an affordable, stress-free summer vacation
• Summer travelers beware: Hidden fees are everywhere

Why finding the right travel insurance is so hard

Most surveys suggest this will be a record summer for travel. How much of a record? Demand is so high that some airlines are afraid they will run out of planes. Now that’s busy.

At the same time, danger and uncertainty are lurking everywhere — wars in Europe and in the Middle East, the usual slate of natural disasters like hurricanes and maybe a volcanic eruption or two. It’s no wonder people are giving some serious thought to insurance. 

Older travelers are particularly worried. And they should be, says PK Rao, CEO of INF Visitor Care . Claims by travelers over age 50 spike during the summer months.

“According to our claim data, medical emergencies tend to uptick during the summer, especially for those going on trips that involve outdoor activities,” he says.

But there are so many choices out there, including credit card coverage, medical evacuation membership programs and stand-alone travel insurance. What should you get?

More Travel Troubleshooter

You need peace of mind .

But don’t just reflexively start shopping for a travel insurance policy this summer. Instead, look for peace of mind — knowing that if something goes wrong, you’ll be taken care of.

“Knowing you’re protected from unforeseen travel mishaps — like delays, lost baggage and even medical emergencies — can make the trip that much more enjoyable,” says Daniel Durazo, a spokesperson for Allianz Partners USA .

As it turns out, there are several ways to get the peace of mind you need. And there are times when you can safely skip travel insurance.

This is when you don’t need insurance

Here’s when you can skip travel insurance, according to experts:

• If you already have coverage. “You may already have travel coverage through your benefits at work, your credit card or through group benefits with an organization,” says Jiten Puri, CEO of PolicyAdvisor.com. If you do, there’s no need to buy more coverage. You’re all set.
• If you’re not traveling far. If you’re taking a driving vacation and staying in a place where lodging is free, like a relative’s sofa, then there’s not much to insure. “If you already have health insurance, it may cover you for a domestic trip, so you don’t need to think about health insurance coverage,” says Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance .
• If your trip isn’t insurable. Traditional travel insurance covers conventional trips with prepaid, nonrefundable components like airline tickets and hotel stays. You might find that you either already have coverage through your medical insurance, or the trip is essentially uninsurable.

So think twice before saying “yes” to optional travel insurance that your online travel agency may offer you when you’re booking a trip. You might not need it.

Here’s when you need travel insurance

But most travelers should consider some kind of travel insurance coverage this summer. Here’s when you need the extra coverage:

• If you have travel expenses that insurance would cover. “If you have many prepaid, nonrefundable expenses, it’s best to take out travel insurance,” says Lauren Gumport, a spokesperson for Faye Travel Insurance . “This includes things like flights, hotel rooms, tickets and activities.” The more conventional your vacation, the likelier travel insurance is to cover almost every aspect of your summer vacation.
• If you’re leaving the country. “Your regular medical insurance might not extend coverage beyond your home borders,” says John Rose, chief risk and security officer at ALTOUR . Also, many countries require travel insurance for entrance. They include Bermuda, Qatar, Sri Lanka and some European countries.
• If you can’t afford to lose your trip. “When considering travel insurance for your summer trip, evaluate whether you can afford to lose your vacation investment due to unforeseen circumstances like illness, weather disruptions or emergencies,” explains Robert Gallagher, president of the US Travel Insurance Association . “Can you afford the financial risk if you miss your cruise departure because of covered flight delays? What if you have to cut your trip short because of illness?”  

One of the most common mistakes travelers make is assuming their credit card will cover them. For example, I found that my credit card only covered my rental car as secondary insurance, which made it completely useless when I rented a car in Tampa, Fla., recently. I had to buy a stand-alone policy from Allianz to cover the vehicle.

How one traveler insured his summer vacation

So how did Hopkins handle his travel insurance needs? Well, as I already mentioned — it’s complicated.

Hopkins says he always buys some travel insurance before he takes a trip, “but how much, and what I cover, varies,” he explains.

He decided that his path to peace of mind in this case was to spend a few extra dollars: He made fully refundable flight and hotel reservations, just in case something goes wrong. That would eliminate a lengthy claim with his travel insurance company or credit card.

But he still needed at least $50,000 in medical coverage with emergency evacuation because of his active schedule.

“We’re going to be doing a lot of hiking in Iceland,” he says. “And you just never know.” 

At the beginning of the year, he decided to buy an annual MedjetHorizon plan, a membership that would get him from a hospital in Portugal or Iceland to a hospital at home, in case something happened. 

Most Read Life Stories

• 32 new Seattle restaurant openings to know about
• Seattle Pride 2024: History, events and more for the 50th anniversary
• Coming out was Cheryl Chow’s last gift to Seattle | Seattle Pride at 50
• Q&A with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, Seattle Pride 2024 grand marshals
• Vote here to help us crown Seattle’s best pizza

For insurance, Hopkins checked TravelInsurance.com to find an affordable travel insurance policy. He found coverage through Trawick International that pays up to $50,000 in medical expenses and up to $200,000 for an evacuation.

“I’ve heard good things about them,” he says. “Hopefully, we won’t need any of it.”

How do I insure my trips?

I’m on the road about 360 days a year, so I’m always thinking about peace of mind. I currently use a Wells Fargo credit card with lots of travel benefits, and I have long-term policies through Faye and Cigna, which have worked fairly well. I also am a longtime MedjetHorizon member. If I rent a car, I turn to Allianz for my primary coverage.

I know — that’s a lot of peace of mind. 

But I’ve also run into trouble and had to use many of those benefits. Medjet got me back home during the pandemic. Cigna covered me after a serious ski accident in Switzerland. My old Allianz policy took care of my medical expenses when I had to see a doctor in Santa Fe, N.M., a few years ago.

Like I always say, when it comes to having enough insurance, better safe than sorry.

Related pacific northwest travel

• WA’s 10 most popular state parks in 2023 — plus some hidden gems
• Visiting Mount Hood this summer? Here’s where to stop on the way
• White Rock, B.C., is the best beach town on the Salish Sea

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Insured Cash Sweep Accounts: Pros, Cons and Top Options

Kelsey Sheehy is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She started at NerdWallet in 2015 and spent six years as a personal finance writer and spokesperson before switching gears to cover the financial decisions and challenges faced by small-business owners. Kelsey’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nasdaq and MarketWatch, among other publications. Kelsey has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC’s "World News Tonight" and has been quoted by the Los Angeles Times, CNBC, American Banker, NPR and Vice, among other publications. Prior to joining NerdWallet, Kelsey covered college (and how to pay for it) for U.S. News & World Report. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Ryan Lane is an editor on NerdWallet’s small-business team. He joined NerdWallet in 2019 as a student loans writer, serving as an authority on that topic after spending more than a decade at student loan guarantor American Student Assistance. In that role, Ryan co-authored the Student Loan Ranger blog in partnership with U.S. News & World Report, as well as wrote and edited content about education financing and financial literacy for multiple online properties, e-courses and more. Ryan also previously oversaw the production of life science journals as a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan is located in Rochester, New York.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

What is Insured Cash Sweep?

Best insured cash sweep accounts, how to open an ics account, benefits of an insured cash sweep account, drawbacks of an insured cash sweep account.

Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) accounts extend Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage well beyond the standard $250,000 per depositor, per institution. This can offer peace of mind and convenience to businesses with large operating budgets or cash reserves.

An ICS account unlocks multi-million dollar FDIC coverage by spreading funds across multiple partner banks, while you still deal with one primary bank. Sweep accounts can have a few potential drawbacks, though, including additional fees and delayed access to funds. Compare Insured Cash Sweep accounts across multiple business banks to find the best option for your small business.

advertisement

Bluevine Business Checking

Insured Cash Sweep is a service offered by banks to safeguard deposits that exceed the FDIC coverage limit of $250,000 per depositor, per institution. Sweep accounts spread funds across a network of FDIC-insured banks to provide up to $150 million in FDIC coverage (though many financial institutions cap ICS coverage to between $2 and $10 million).

You can open an ICS account with any bank that participates in the IntraFi Network or similar organization. Some neobanks also offer ICS account via their partner banks. While you deposit, manage and withdraw funds from one primary account, behind the scenes your funds are moved to deposit accounts within the network, up to the FDIC coverage limit of $250,000 per depositor at each institution.

Among our picks for best business bank accounts , the following options offer ICS accounts:

Best for: Business checking with up to $3 million in FDIC insurance coverage.

Bluevine Business Checking is a free business checking account that offers a high yield: Earn 2.00% interest on account balances up to and including $250,000. Terms apply. Account holders automatically are enrolled in an ICS account that offers up to $3 million in FDIC insurance coverage.

Live Oak Bank Business Savings

Best for: business savings with up to $10 million in fdic insurance coverage..

Live Oak Bank Business Savings is NerdWallet's pick for best business savings account , thanks to its high 4.00% APY on all balances and lack of a monthly maintenance fee. You can opt for Live Oak's Insured Cash Sweep account if you have a balance of at least $350,000. Note: The bank's ICS account earns a slightly lower yield (3.85% APY as of this writing).

Brex Business Account

Best for: business cash management account with up to $6 million in fdic insurance coverage..

Brex Business Account is a great option for venture-backed startups. The business cash management account has no monthly fees and offers free domestic and international wire transfers. Account holders get a business checking account for operating expenses, a Treasury account that invests funds in a money market fund (4.90% APY as of this writing) and an ICS account, or "Vault" account, that offers up to $6 million in FDIC insurance coverage.

Other Insured Cash Sweep accounts:

Mercury Business Bank Account : Up to $5 million in FDIC insurance coverage.

Relay Business Savings : Up to $2.5 million in FDIC insurance coverage.

Holdings High-Yield Cash Account : Up to $5 million in FDIC insurance coverage.

You can also explore other banks that are part of the IntraFi network on its website .

1. Find a participating institution. Sweep accounts are typically only available at banks that are part of the IntraFi network, which includes nearly 3,000 local, regional and national FDIC-insured banks. Several online banks, including Axos, Grasshopper and Live Oak, are also members of the IntraFi network. And some neobanks — financial technology companies that offer banking services — partner with FDIC-insured banks that are part of the network.

2. Opt in to sweep services. You usually have to opt in to a sweep account, though Bluevine Business Checking and some other accounts offer ICS accounts as the default option. Either way, you’ll sign an agreement when you open your ICS account that allows the bank to move your money to other partner banks. Keep in mind that sweep accounts may have additional fees.

3. Choose your sweep preferences. You can typically select between two sweep options: demand or savings. Demand accounts allow for unlimited withdrawals, whereas savings sweep accounts place funds in money market accounts that cap withdrawals (often at six per month) but often offer a better interest rate. Demand accounts are best for operational funds that you need to draw on regularly, while savings sweep accounts are better suited for emergency savings and cash reserves.

Some banks also offer a third sweep option — Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service or CDARS — which places funds into business certificates of deposit . These accounts typically have a higher, fixed interest rate, but you’ll pay a penalty if you withdraw funds before the CD term matures. Your sweep account options may vary from one financial institution to the next.

4. Let the account do its work. Your Insured Cash Sweep account will distribute your funds across a network of partner banks behind the scenes per your preferences. No bank account will have more than $250,000 within it — the maximum covered by FDIC insurance at one financial institution.

5. Access funds as usual. Despite having funds spread across potentially dozens of banks, you’ll still only deal with one financial provider and be able to see and access all of your funds through that primary bank. Large withdrawals could be delayed a day or two depending on the amount needed, with CDARS funds likely locked up even longer in line with the CD’s term.

Even if you use a sweep account, NerdWallet still recommends using separate banks for your main operating account, payroll account and emergency fund. This minimizes potential disruption to your business if your account is frozen or closed, or if one of your primary banks fails.

Unlock millions in FDIC insurance. The FDIC insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution and per ownership category, which is likely sufficient for many small businesses. But companies with larger operating budgets may be exposed if their bank fails . Insured Cash Sweep accounts offer a solution by placing your deposits, in $250,000 increments, across a network of FDIC-insured banks. Combined, those partner banks can provide several million dollars in FDIC coverage.

Manage funds through one account. Business owners may want multiple business bank accounts to protect themselves from unexpected interruptions like an account freeze. But if you’re manually spreading opening and managing accounts across dozens of financial institutions just to ensure FDIC coverage, Insured Cash Sweep accounts simplify the process. Account holders open an account through one primary bank that acts as a custodian and automatically moves money to partner banks so that you don’t exceed $250,000 (principal and interest) at any one bank.

Additional fees apply to some sweep accounts. Sweep accounts require some additional overhead for financial institutions, and that cost may be passed down to account holders. Some ICS accounts charge a monthly fee, while others simply take a portion of the interest earned on your sweep account.

You may not earn interest on your full deposit (or at all). If your business has millions of dollars in deposits, ideally you’re putting it to work in a high-yield account. While most ICS accounts earn interest, some pay lower rates or cap what you can earn.

Bluevine Business Checking , for example, offers up to $3 million in FDIC insurance coverage through its sweep account. But you only earn interest ( 2.00% APY) on balances up to and including $250,000. And Mercury’s Business Bank Account, which is eligible for up to $5 million in FDIC insurance coverage, does not earn any interest.

On a similar note...

• Search Search Please fill out this field.

What Is Travel Insurance?

Understanding travel insurance, how travel insurance works, comprehensive travel insurance.

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption

Damage and Baggage Losses Coverage

Rental insurance, travel health insurance.

• AD&D Coverage

Other Travel Insurance Coverage

How to get travel insurance, the bottom line.

• Personal Finance

What Is Travel Insurance, and What Does It Cover?

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia.

Jackyenjoyphotography / Getty Images

Travel insurance is a type of insurance covering financial losses associated with traveling, and it can be useful protection for domestic or international travel. Whether you missed your flight to Florida, lost your bags in Berlin, or broke your ankle in Ankara, the best travel insurance companies can help remedy all kinds of travel mishap costs.

Key Takeaways

• Travel insurance can be purchased online, from your tour operator, or from other sources.
• The main categories of travel insurance include trip cancellation or interruption coverage, baggage and personal effects coverage, rental property and rental car coverage, medical coverage, and accidental death coverage.
• Coverage often includes 24/7 emergency services, such as replacing lost passports, cash wire assistance, and rebooking canceled flights. 
• It's important to understand what's covered and what's not, and any limitations on coverage amounts and coverage requirements.

Travel insurance helps cover financial losses associated with surprise circumstances that could ruin a trip, including illness, injury, accidents, flight or other transportation delays, and other issues. This insurance costs 4% to 10% of a trip's price. So, for a $10,000 trip, trip insurance could cost between $400 and $1,000.

Premiums—or the price you pay for coverage—are based on the coverage type, your age, destination, trip cost, and more. Specialized policy riders focus on the needs of business travelers, athletes, and expatriates .

You may already have travel insurance coverage from your homeowners or renters insurance or your credit cards. Call your insurance agent to find out about your current travel coverage, and your credit card company to find out about any benefits you get when you purchase air or train tickets, rent a car, or book a hotel using the card. Many travel rewards cards come with built-in travel insurance and other travel benefits.

Travel insurance may be sold online by travel agents, travel suppliers (airlines, cruise lines), private insurance companies, or insurance brokers when booking your flight, accommodations, or car.  Travel insurance companies include AIG Travel, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Generali Global Assistance, GeoBlue, Nationwide, and more.

Typically, you'll purchase coverage shortly after initial bookings for lodging, flights, or other transportation, activities, and rental cars. Some policies may require you to do so to retain full coverage. Here are some terms to know for travel insurance.

Primary and Secondary Coverage

If you buy travel insurance, you may have concurrent insurance coverage , meaning you're covered under more than one policy. When the travel coverage is primary, the travel insurance reimburses you first without needing to make a claim through another company—and sparing you potentially increased policy rates.

If the travel insurance coverage is secondary, you'll first need to attempt to file a claim with other coverage, such as an airline (lost baggage) or your own auto insurance (damaged car).

Coverage Requirements

There are usually stipulations spelled out on how you qualify for coverage. Your claim must fall under the types of coverage offered. For example, lost baggage insurance might include coverage for personal items, prescriptions, credit cards, and your passport or visa. You may also need to take extra steps to qualify for coverage, such as reporting the loss or theft to the police.

Policy Coverage Limits

This is the maximum amount you can receive for the claim. For example, you might only receive $500 per bag. You may not even receive more for expensive items such as jewelry or electronic devices. You might need to provide receipts for items over a certain amount. Without receipts, the insurer may only pay for repairs.

Some coverage might require you to pay a deductible, or flat amount, before covering the remainder of your claim up to the limit.

These are the conditions under which your coverage will not cover the loss. Each policy differs. For example, your baggage damage coverage may not cover losses caused by animals. It may exclude coverage of bicycles, hearing aids or other medical devices, keys, and tickets, or seizure by a government or customs official.

Pre-existing conditions may not be covered by travel medical insurance, or may only be covered if you buy a travel insurance plan within one to two weeks of booking your trip.

Comprehensive travel insurance includes many types of coverage listed below, bundled into one plan. Most commonly, comprehensive travel insurance bundles a 24-hour assistance line to help find doctors or get assistance in an emergency, reimburse you for trip cancellation , interruption and delay, baggage loss or delay, and medical expense and medical evacuation coverage.

Alternatively, you can purchase each coverage type separately. This may be wise if you already have coverage through other insurance or can cover your losses in many cases.

Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage

This insurance reimburses a traveler for some or all prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, and comes in the following forms:

• Trip cancellation : Reimburses you for paid travel expenses if you can't travel for a preapproved reason.
• Travel delay : Reimburses you for expenses if you can't travel because of a delay.
• Trip interruption : Reimburses you for travel costs if your trip is cut short.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) : Reimburses you for a portion of costs if you cancel the trip for any reason; typically more expensive than the other types listed above.

With most of the above, acceptable cancellation and interruption causes and reimbursement amounts vary by provider. Acceptable reasons for a claim might include the following:  

• Your illness
• Illness or death in your immediate family
• Sudden business conflicts
• Weather-related issues
• Legal obligations such as jury duty

You may need to pay more or meet more requirements to file a claim for a cancellation due to financial default, terrorism in your destination city, or work reasons.

When traveling, register your travel plans with the State Department through its free  travel registration website , the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The nearest embassy or consulate can contact you if there is a family, state, or national emergency.

Baggage and personal belongings being lost, stolen, or damaged is a frequent travel problem—and can quickly ruin a trip as you must shop for replacements. Baggage and personal effects coverage protects lost, stolen, or damaged belongings during travel to, in, and from a destination.

However, many travel insurance policies pay for belongings only after you exhaust all other available claims. Baggage coverage may have many restrictions and exclusions, such as only covering up to $500 per item and $250 for each additional item. You may be able to increase or decrease amounts, shop around for coverage, or increase limits by paying more.

For example, the insurance may not pay for lost and damaged luggage due to airline fault. Most carriers, such as airlines, reimburse travelers if baggage is lost or destroyed due to the airline's error. However, there may be limitations on reimbursement amounts, so baggage and personal effects coverage provide an additional layer of protection.

Vacation rental insurance covers costs from accidental damage to a vacation rental property. Some plans also offer trip cancellation and interruption to help reimburse costs when you can't use your vacation rental. Some of these reasons could include the following:

• Lost or stolen keys
• Unsanitary or unsafe vacation property
• Vacation rental wasn't as advertised
• The company oversold your vacation rental

Rental car insurance covers a rental car's damage or loss while on a trip, taking the place of the rental agency's collision damage waiver (CDW) or your regular car insurance policy. Policies vary and may cover collisions, theft, vandalism, and other incidents. Rental car insurance may be a secondary policy to your own car insurance. However, it doesn't cover your liability or legal responsibility for damage or injury you cause to others.

Medical coverage can help with unexpected international medical and dental expenses, and help with locating doctors and healthcare facilities abroad. As with other policies, coverage will vary by price and provider.

• Foreign travel medical coverage : These policies range from five days to one year or longer, and cover costs arising from illness and injuries while traveling.
• Medical evacuation: May cover airlift travel to a medical facility and medical evacuation to receive care.

Consult with your current medical insurers before purchasing a policy to determine whether a policy extends its coverage outside the country. Most health insurance companies pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs if you become sick or injured while traveling, but few will pay for a medical evacuation.

The U.S. government doesn't insure citizens or pay for medical expenses abroad . Before purchasing a policy, read the provisions to see what exclusions, such as preexisting medical conditions, apply. Don't assume that the new coverage mirrors that of your existing plan. Routine medical care is typically excluded unless you buy a long-term medical plan intended for expatriates, missionaries, maritime crew members, or others abroad for extended periods.

Medicare or Medicaid generally don't cover medical costs overseas unless you have specific Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans covering emergency overseas care.

Accidental Death and Dismembership (AD&D) Coverage

If an accident results in death or serious injury, an AD&D policy pays a lump sum to surviving beneficiaries or you for an injury. The insurance usually offers three parts, providing coverage for accidents and fatalities:

• Flight accident insurance: Occurring during flights on a licensed commercial airliner. 
• Common carrier: Resulting from public transportation such as train, ferry, or bus travel.
• General travel: Occurring at any point during a trip.

Exclusions that may apply include death caused by drug overdose or sickness. In addition, only some injuries may be covered, specifically hand, foot, limb, or eyesight. There are stated amount limits per injury.

Accidental death coverage may not be necessary if you already have a  life insurance  policy. However, benefits paid by your travel insurance coverage may be in addition to those paid by your life insurance policy, leaving more money to your beneficiaries. 

Depending on your plan or package selected, you may be able to add the following travel insurance types:

• Identity theft resolution services
• School activity coverage
• Destination wedding coverage
• Adventure sports coverage
• Pet health as a reason for cancellation or delay
• Hunting or fishing activities as a reason for cancellation or delay
• Missed flight connections

Travel insurance varies in cost, exclusions, and coverage. Coverage is available for single, multiple, and yearly trips. To get travel insurance, you fill out an insurance company's application about your trip, including the following:

• Travelers going
• Destination
• Travel dates
• Date of first payment toward your trip

The insurance company reviews the information using underwriting guidelines to guide issuing a policy and the rate. If it accepts your application, the company will issue a policy covering your trip. If the company rejects your application, you can apply with another insurer.

When you receive your policy, you'll typically get a 10- to 15-day review period to review the contract's fine details. If you don't like the policy, you can return it for a refund. Read through the document and ensure the plan you purchased doesn't apply too many loopholes, and that it covers:

• Emergency medical care and transport back to the U.S.
• High enough limits to cover your costs or damages
• Regions you're traveling to
• Your trip duration or number of trips
• All activities you plan to enjoy
• Preexisting conditions and people of your age

Also, read through for any exclusions. For example, types of property covered, and whether property lost or damaged by the airline is covered, and how.

Do I Need Travel Insurance?

You might consider travel insurance if you can't afford to cancel and then rebook an expensive or long trip. You might also consider travel health insurance if your health insurance doesn't cover international costs. An alternative is to book an easily cancellable vacation—look for a pay-later hotel room and car rental options, flexible cancellation terms, and the ability to rebook without a fee.

What Is Not Covered by Travel Insurance?

Review the travel insurance policy to discover exclusions. According to NAIC, common travel policy exclusions are:

• A traveler's pre-existing health conditions
• Civil and political unrest at the traveler's destination
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Coverage for those engaging in adventure or dangerous activities.

Pandemics may also be excluded from coverage.

How Can I Get Cheap Travel Insurance?

Your  homeowners  or renters insurance may provide some protection for personal belongings, and airlines and cruise lines are responsible for loss and damage to your baggage during transport. Also, credit cards may provide automatic protection for things like delays and luggage or rental car accidents if used for deposits or other trip-related expenses.

The main types of travel insurance include trip cancellation or interruption coverage, baggage and personal effects coverage, medical expense coverage, and accidental death or flight accident coverage. Before buying a policy, check to see if you already have coverage through your own health or car insurance or a credit card.

Mass.gov. " Travel Insurance. "

Minnesota Department of Commerce. " Travel Insurance ."

U.S. Travel Insurance Association. " Frequently Asked Questions ."

Texas Department of Insurance. " Should You Get Travel Insurance? "

National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “ Taking a Trip? Information about Travel Insurance You Should Know Before You Hit the Road .”

U.S. Department of State. “ Your Health Abroad. ”

Medicare.gov. " Medicare Coverage Outside the United States ." Page 4.

Medicare.gov. " Medigap & Travel. "

NAIC. " Travel Insurance ."

• Terms of Service
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices

• Best overall
• Best for trip cancellation
• Best for medical-only coverage
• Best for families
• Best for value
• Best for reputation
• Why you should trust us

Best Cheap Travel Insurance of July 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

In an ever-evolving world, emergency medical and evacuation travel insurance coverage is essential, especially if you're traveling internationally. However, sports equipment coverage, pet protection, and cancel for any reason coverage are among the increasingly popular coverage options that are changing the way we travel. We've gathered the best cheap travel insurance plans to help you protect your trip while on a budget.

Best Cheap Travel Insurance Plans of 2024 Summary

• Best overall: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance
• Best for trip cancellation:  Aegis General Travel Insurance
• Best for medical-only coverage:  GeoBlue Travel Insurance
• Best for families:  C&F Travel Insured
• Best value: Nationwide Travel Insurance
• Best for reputation: Trawick International Travel Insurance

Top Cheap Travel Insurance Company Comparison

The best travel insurance meets your needs at a price you're willing to pay. Sometimes, you're just not willing to pay that much. The following companies offer decent coverage for low prices. To determine which companies made this list, we compared quotes across the travel insurance industry for the same trip, making a note of which companies offered particularly good coverage in certain areas and which companies were well reviewed.

Here are the best affordable travel insurance companies picked by Business Insider editors in 2024.

Best Affordable Travel Insurance Overall

Hth worldwide travel insurance.

The HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance Economy plan offers the most comprehensive coverage across major categories of all the providers in this guide.

You'll have some peace of mind with up to $75,000 of financial protection for eligible medical emergencies, and up to $500,000 per person for medical evacuation costs. For more everyday expenses, you can also relax with baggage loss and delay, trip interruption, cancellation and delay coverage that will help you recoup many, if not all, of your costs.

However, this plan falls short on missed connection benefits and accidental death coverage, both of which are not available under most circumstances (missed connection coverage only applies to cruises, and will only cover up to $500 per person after a three-hour delay).

Read our HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance review .

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Trip Cancellation

Aegis general travel insurance.

The Aegis Trip Cancellation Plan is exactly that: a cost-effective plan that offers protection in the event that your trip is canceled for a covered reason. The plan we priced out for our hypothetical trip cost just 1.16% of our total travel expenses — a very small amount of money to pay for the guarantee of our money back in the right circumstances.

The benefit is that this plan can supplement other coverage you already have, or give you a little bit of protection for a trip where you might not otherwise have opted for insurance altogether. On the downside, you won't get any protection for medical emergencies, trip interruption or delays or lost bags from this plan.

Read our Aegis Travel Insurance review .

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Medical Coverage

Geoblue travel insurance.

GeoBlue is a travel insurance provider that specializes in travel medical insurance. Because it doesn't offer much trip protection or travel inconvenience coverage, it can charge cheaper premiums. A 30-year-old from California would pay as low as $20.55 for a policy that covers a two-week trip.  GeoBlue plans can cover medical expenses up to $1 million with several multi-trip annual plans available. It offers coinsurance plans for trips within the U.S. and 100% coverage for international trips. It also has a network of clinics in 180 countries, streamlining the claims process. It's worth noting that coverage for pre-existing conditions comes with additional costs. Read our GeoBlue travel insurance review .

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Families

C&f travel insured.

There's a lot to like about C&F Travel Insured. For one, it is one of the only travel insurance companies that offers CFAR coverage for annual travel insurance plans . Additionally, C&F is widely praised for its customer service, offering quick reimbursements for claims. Claims that don't reimburse within 30 days begin to accrue interest at 9% APY.

When it comes to affordability, C&F remains on the lower end of travel insurance costs. Policies for younger solo travelers are generally around 4% of total trip costs, which isn't bad considering average costs for travel insurance is around 4-8% of total trip costs. However, C&F excels at insuring families as children are heavily discounted with the Edge plan and completely free with the Protector plan. 

Read our C&F Travel Insured review .

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Value

Nationwide travel insurance.

Nationwide is a well-rounded alternative to HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Economy. This plan offers solid protection for both travel-related snafus as well as situations that might call for emergency medical and evacuation, making it a good choice for trips where you have cause to worry about potential interruptions or delays. However, it does not offer protection for missed connections or accidental death.

Read our Nationwide Travel Insurance review .

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Reputation

Trawick international travel insurance.

The Trawick Safe Travels Explorer plan has been purchased by more than 36,000 travelers since 2020, and it has great reviews to boot. And no wonder: Trawick offers generous trip delay coverage of up to $2,000 per person, although hopefully you won't need to reach that reimbursement amount because the daily limit is $150.

You'll also be able to rely on a $200 reimbursement per person for lost baggage - one of the higher amounts amongst these affordable plans, although this amount pales in comparison to the baggage loss coverage offered through the best travel credit cards .

Read our Trawick Travel Insurance review .

Types of Affordable Travel Insurance

Comprehensive coverage.

This type of insurance offers extensive protection, covering everything from medical issues to trip cancellations. While it's more expensive up front, it can save you a lot in the long run.

Medical-Only Coverage

As the name suggests, this policy focuses solely on medical emergencies, dropping trip cancellation coverage and travel inconvenience coverage. It's a cost-effective option for travelers who are primarily concerned about health-related expenses.

Evacuation and Repatriation

In extreme cases where you need to be evacuated due to a medical emergency or a natural disaster, this coverage ensures that you can return home safely without incurring huge costs.

Benefits of Opting for Cheap Travel Insurance

Cost savings.

Cheap travel insurance can significantly reduce your travel expenses, ensuring that you're not overpaying for coverage you might not need.

Adequate Coverage for Less

Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's lacking. Many affordable policies offer substantial coverage, giving you peace of mind without breaking the bank.

How to Pick The Best Cheap Travel Insurance Plan for You

No single travel insurance plan will meet the needs of every single traveler. By nature, we are diverse and evolving meaning travel insurance should be equally so. Travel insurance for a week-long trip to a big city shouldn't be the same as the coverage for a backpacking expedition in the mountains. A splurge to purchase comprehensive insurance coverage may also be worth it for international ventures or other large expenditures.

In most cases, the cost difference between a basic and comprehensive travel insurance plan isn't as significant as you might think. Regardless, it's generally a good idea to choose a trusted travel insurance provider known for exceptional customer service and coverage. (For this roundup, we looked at traveler reviews shared through the travel insurance aggregator SquareMouth .)

• Assessing Your Travel Needs: Consider the nature of your trip, the destination, and your own personal needs when choosing a policy. This ensures that you're not over-insured or underinsured.
• Comparing Different Policies: Don't settle for the first policy you find. Compare different options, looking at their coverage and prices, to find the best fit for your budget and needs.
• Reading the Fine Print: Always read the terms and conditions carefully to understand what's covered, what's not, and the process for making a claim.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Cheap Travel Insurance

To determine the best insurance plan for travelers on a budget, we evaluated dozens of products using a hypothetical trip to Australia for a single traveler, age 26, with a total cost of $2,500 for flight, hotel and other incidentals. We then compiled the plans that covered the essentials at the lowest costs.

Of note: All of these plans include COVID-related medical coverage and 24-hour assistance, and pay at least 100% of your trip cost for eligible trip cancellations. None include rental car coverage.

The four winning plans cost between $29 to $74 — significantly below the average cost of comprehensive travel insurance , which can range between 4-8% of total travel expenses, according to the US Travel Insurance Association. But these affordable plans also come with comparably low ceilings for various aspects of coverage such as emergency medical, trip cancellation, or delay — and do not include rental car or " cancel for any reason" (CFAR) protection . So if you think you might need these benefits, it may well be worth upgrading to a comprehensive travel insurance plan for a few more dollars, just for the peace of mind.

Convenience and Flexibility

Each of the plans in this list include 24-hour assistance worldwide from reputable insurance providers. And despite being on the lower end of insurance plans, each of these options includes refunds for up to 100% of your total trip cost for eligible reasons. Each of these plans also includes medical coverage for COVID-related issues that may arise during your travels, which may come in handy as the pandemic continues to evolve worldwide.

Sufficient Coverage in Essential Categories

The cheapest travel insurance plan will rarely cover every scenario that could go awry on your trip. However, each of these plans can at least help you get your money back in the event that your travel is canceled for an eligible reason, and most of them include travel medical insurance if you incur emergency medical bills while traveling. We also factor in what travelers are most concerned about now. 

You can read more about how Business Insider rates insurance here.

Best Cheap Travel Insurance FAQs

You can reduce the cost of travel insurance by opting for simpler coverage with lower coverage limits. You may also consider companies that offer medical-only travel insurance policies. You can also consider annual travel insurance , which will save you money in the long run if you take multiple trips over one year.

Yes, many affordable policies offer comprehensive coverage suitable for international travel. It's crucial to compare policies and understand your needs. You can find our guide on the best international travel insurance here.

Travel insurance is relatively cheap because it only covers you for a set period of time and the level of coverage you get may not be particularly high. Your premiums will rise with higher coverage limits and add-ons like cancel for any reason coverage . Travel insurance for older travelers can also be quite expensive.

If you just want trip cancellation protection, go with the Aegis Trip Cancellation Plan. For more robust coverage that won't break the bank, consider HTH Worldwide's TripProtector Economy, Trawick's Safe Travels Explorer, or Nationwide's Essentials plan. Families should consider a C&F Travel Insured policy.

Unfortunately, many travel insurance companies that cover pre-existing conditions reserve coverage for its more expensive plans. That said, you'll find some providers that cover pre-existing conditions with their value plan, such as C&F Travel Insured and Berkshire Hathaway .

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

• Main content

ARTICLES / SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Travelers v. ICS underscores need to respond carefully to cyber insurance application questions

A recent federal case out of Illinois has thrust the issues of misrepresentations on an insurance application and rescission of a cyber policy into the spotlight.

On July 6, 2022, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America filed a complaint in federal court for rescission and declaratory relief against its insured, International Control Services, Inc. (ICS). On August 26, 2022, the lawsuit was dismissed, with judgment entered in favor of Travelers, after ICS agreed to allow the court to issue a judgment rescinding the policy.

Although the Travelers v. ICS case is over, the message it sends to organizations buying cyber insurance will resonate for a long time to come.

Travelers’ allegations

Travelers alleged in its complaint that ICS made material misrepresentations in connection with its application for a Travelers cyber insurance policy. Specifically, Travelers alleged that ICS made misrepresentations regarding the extent to which it utilized multifactor authentication (MFA).

The alleged misrepresentations came to light when ICS suffered a ransomware attack in May. After being notified by ICS of the ransomware event, Travelers alleged that it learned the following during its investigation that at the time ICS completed and submitted its insurance application:

MFA was not being utilized to protect a server.

ICS only utilized MFA to protect its firewall and did not use MFA to protect any other digital assets.

Travelers contended that because MFA was not being utilized to protect the server and various other digital assets at the time ICS applied for the policy, various statements that ICS made in its application were misrepresentations that warranted rescission of the policy.

What is policy rescission?

Under U.S. law, an insurer can seek to rescind a policy if it discovers, after the policy has been issued, that the insured misrepresented or concealed material facts in applying for insurance. A rescinded policy ceases to exist for all purposes.

Rescission generally is permitted when a representation is materially false and when the insured intentionally or unintentionally conceals material information from the insurer.

For an insurer to rescind a policy, the concealed information must be material to the risk insured under the policy, although not necessarily material to a particular claim tendered to the insurer.

Critical to the question of materiality is whether the underwriter would have accepted the risk if the information had been disclosed to the insurer. In Travelers v. ICS , Travelers alleged that had it been aware ICS was not using MFA to the extent represented in the application, it would not have issued the policy.

The rescission of the Travelers policy issued to ICS may be a harbinger of future litigation by cyber carriers. Increasingly, Lockton has seen cyber insurers raise misrepresentation and concealment issues on the basis of incorrect answers in policy applications.

Underwriting scrutiny to continue

Cyber insurance applications have become longer and more complex than they were in the past. Completing them accurately requires great care and focus, and a thorough understanding of what is being asked. Where answers prove to be incorrect, insurers are not hesitating to raise those as a defense to coverage for a claim or, in more extreme situations, rescind a policy, as Travelers did.

The underwriting process for cyber insurance policies is rigorous, with a sharp focus on essential controls that can help mitigate overall exposure to data breaches and ransomware events. While MFA was critical to the Travelers v. ICS case and will remain a vital control for organizations, other controls are pertinent to policy applications and the underwriting process. These include:

Conscientious and regular patch management;

Regular backups;

Isolating cloud backups;

Recognizing and replacing unsupported software;

Email scanning and filtering;

Email authentication;

The use of secure remote access solutions;

Encrypting sensitive information; and

Restricting administrative privileges.

It is essential that organizations accurately convey the current status of their controls in response to relevant questions in policy applications. As ICS discovered, the failure to do so can be costly. While legal remedies available to insurers may vary from one country to another, organizations should assume that incorrect answers in applications will have significant and unfortunate consequences.

For more information about the Travelers v. ICS case or help completing cyber policy applications, contact your Lockton adviser or [email protected] (opens a new window) .

by    Meredith Ponce

Vice President, Insurance and Claims Counsel, Lockton Pacific

[email protected] (opens a new window)

For more info

Brian Pfund

SVP - Cyber Technology Team Leader

• Follow Lockton on Twitter
• Follow Lockton on LinkedIn
• Follow Lockton on Email

You are about to leave geico.com

When you click "Continue" you will be taken to a site owned by , not GEICO. GEICO has no control over their privacy practices and assumes no responsibility in connection with your use of their website. Any information that you provide directly to them is subject to the privacy policy posted on their website.

Travel Insurance

Get a travel insurance quote and protect your next trip

For flight insurance protection:

Aircare Flight Quote

For all-in-one trip insurance protection:

ExactCare Travel Quote

Manage Your Travel And Flight Insurance

Manage your policy online

Need a travel insurance quote?

Existing policyholder?

Take the worry out of your travels with affordable flight or trip insurance.

Looking to plan the vacation of a lifetime or flying home for the holidays? Trip insurance and flight insurance can provide the peace of mind you need for your next journey. The GEICO Insurance Agency, with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP), offers comprehensive travel insurance coverage, with prompt service and global assistance. Get an online travel insurance quote today and confidently protect your next adventure.

AirCare Flight Insurance

If you only need to protect your travel costs for a flight, AirCare may be what you need. With affordable coverage for both domestic and international flights, AirCare flight insurance helps you plan with peace of mind.

ExactCare Travel Insurance

If you want to cover your flight and other trip arrangement's ExtraCare can help. An ExactCare Travel Insurance policy can help with the unexpected like:

• Trip Cancellations/Interruptions/Delays
• Lost/Stolen travel documents
• Unexpected medical expenses

What's the difference between flight insurance and travel insurance?

The main difference is that a flight insurance policy only covers your airfare. On the other hand, a travel insurance policy helps protect your flight as well as other parts of your trip. While you're planning your next trip, think about where you're going and what you'll be doing. Once you have that, it'll be easier to choose which policy works best for your trip.

What does a flight insurance policy cover?

AirCare Flight Insurance has a variety of benefits including emergency travel assistance, 24/7/365. Some common flight coverages are:

• Airfare incase flights are cancelled or you miss a connection
• Personal items like lost or delayed luggage
• Flight delays in your departure (at the gate or on the tarmac)

AirCare Quote

What does a travel insurance policy cover?

ExactCare Travel Insurance provides all-in-one travel protection, with family friendly pricing and worldwide emergency travel assistance 24/7/365. Common things covered by travel insurance are:

• Trip cancellation or interruption
• Personal items like passports and luggage
• Medical costs like hospital and doctor expenses, medical evacuations, and more

ExactCare quote

What is not covered by travel insurance?

Your coverage is based on the plan you choose. However, in general some things that aren't normally covered by travel insurance are:

• Action and team sports, for example auto racing, pro sports travel, or other extreme sport activities
• Travel to get medical care
• Trip Cancellation because you changed your mind

For more information, please check your policy.

Is travel or trip insurance worth the cost?

Travel insurance can help protect your vacation or trips from unexpected things happening. You can travel without trip insurance but doing so brings greater risk if something goes wrong or you encounter unexpected delays. Flight insurance or trip insurance coverage can include things like flight cancellation, lost luggage, trip cancellation, emergency medical transportation, and more. Learn more about travel insurance and why you should get a travel insurance quote today!

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance typically costs 5 to 10 percent of your total trip cost, though that can be influenced by several things.

• The cost of the trip
• The length of your trip and destination
• The amount of coverage selected
• The number of travelers covered under the policy

Worldwide service and claims information.

It's easy to manage your travel insurance..

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) has made it easy to manage your travel insurance. You can:

• Visit Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's website
• Email [email protected]

Is travel insurance worth it?

Yes. Things happen that are out of your control. Whether it's your flight being cancelled or delayed to a family emergency. Life happens and that's how travel insurance can help. Plan for the unexpected with a travel insurance policy so you can rest easy knowing you're covered.

Travel Insurance: Get the answers you're looking for.

• What travel insurance plans are available? BHTB offers AirCare (flight only) and 3 main plans: ExactCare Value, ExactCare, and ExactCare Extra. ExactCare Value provides great traveling insurance coverage for budget minded travelers. You can rest easy knowing you're covered for things like trip cancellation, trip interruption, and medical expenses. The main difference is the maximum amount that will be covered. ExactCare and ExactCare Extra's insurance cover the same things as ExactCare Value and add coverage for missed connections and accidental death & dismemberment. The overall amount covered is also increased for each plan respectively.
• Can I get trip insurance for an extended overseas stay? Yes. We can help you with getting insurance for overseas. Please visit our overseas insurance page for information about all the options we have for you!
• Is there travel insurance that can cover my vehicle while traveling to Mexico? Your US auto insurance policy won't cover your vehicle when you drive into Mexico. We're here to help you find the Mexico car insurance you need to insure your car.
• Tips for saving money on your next vacation. No one wants to overpay things. We're here to help. Check out our 5 ways to save your money on your next family vacation.
• Where you're going
• Number of days you're traveling
• Cost of your overall trip
• Coverage you pick
• Number of people covered under your policy

If you choose to get a rate quote or service your policy online, you will be taken to the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection website which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, not GEICO. Any information that you provide directly to Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company on its website is subject to the privacy policy posted on their website, which you should read before proceeding. GEICO assumes no responsibility for their privacy practices or your use of their website.

ExactCare is provided through Berkshire Hathaway Global Insurance Services, LLC. ExactCare and AirCare are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Both coverages are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, LLC.

Benefits may vary by jurisdiction. Please contact a representative to confirm availability.

Please note:

The above is meant as general information and as general policy descriptions to help you understand the different types of coverages. These descriptions do not refer to any specific contract of insurance and they do not modify any definitions, exclusions or any other provision expressly stated in any contracts of insurance. We encourage you to speak to your insurance representative and to read your policy contract to fully understand your coverages.

Colorado Language Preference

Are you a resident of or looking for insurance in the State of Colorado?

We are temporarily unable to provide services in Spanish for Colorado residents. You will now be directed to an English experience.

Estamos encantados de ofrecer nuestra nueva version del sitio web en Español. Apreciamos su paciencia mientras seguimos mejorando su experiencia.

Coverage that goes where you go: Travel worry-free with Blue Cross Blue Shield

Planning to hit the road this travel season?   You’ve got a lot to do!   You’ll have to book your travel, lodging and activities, pack and be sure your home is looked after while you’re gone.   That’s a lot to think about, and the list goes on. With so much to do, it’s easy to overlook one item that might prove crucial: ensuring that you will be covered if you need medical care while traveling.

Most Blue Cross Blue Shield members can rest easy since Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage opens doors in all 50 states and is accepted by over 90 percent of doctors and specialists.   And if your extended travel plans take you abroad, you can ensure you have access to quality care through GeoBlue .

BCBS Coverage Travels with You

If you aren’t sure what’s covered, it’s a good idea to call your Blue Cross Blue Shield company to find out what your benefits are if something goes awry while on vacation. When traveling within the United States, most Blue Cross Blue Shield members will be covered under the BlueCard program, which connects all 36 individual Blue Cross Blue Shield companies so that members can enjoy access to the savings the local Blue Cross Blue Shield plan has negotiated with its doctors and hospitals.

For example, if a member of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, whose Plan includes the BlueCard program, falls and breaks his arm while hiking in Yellowstone, he will be charged the rate Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming has negotiated with the local hospital rather than paying the steep fees he would otherwise encounter.   Likewise, a BCBS Wyoming member who falls ill in Dallas would be charged the rate BCBS Texas has negotiated with its local providers.   It’s one of the many benefits of belonging to the nation’s oldest and largest health insurance system.

If your plans include international travel, GeoBlue   has an extensive network of options to meet your needs when living or working abroad for an extended period of time.   Though many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans cover international care in emergency situations, GeoBlu e  plans offer the most complete set of benefits and access to services like emergency medical evacuation, which might not be covered by your regular plan.

Insurance Tips for Travelers

Here are a few steps you can take to take charge of your health while traveling:

Traveling Within the United States

• Call your BCBS company to find out what your benefits cover while traveling.
• Always carry your current BCBS ID Card .
• To find nearby doctors and hospitals, call BlueCard Access at 1-800-810-BLUE (2583) or visit the Blue National Doctor & Hospital Provider Finder .
• Call your Blue Plan for precertification or prior authorization if necessary. Refer to the phone number located on your Blue ID card.

Traveling Abroad

• Verify your international benefits with your Blue Plan before leaving the United States, or purchase a GeoBlue  plan.
• Always carry your Blue ID card.
• If you need to locate a doctor or hospital, or need medical assistance services, hotlines are available 24/7. You can reach the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center at 1-800-810-BLUE (2583) or call collect at 1-804-673-1177. If you’re a GeoBlue member, call collect at 1-610-254-8771, or 1-800-257-4823 from inside the U.S.

To learn more, visit BCBS.com or the GeoBlue website.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of 35 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield companies.

We’re Here to Help

By providing your email address, you agree to receive our exclusive trip announcements, travel inspiration and expert tips. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Protect Yourself and Your Investment with Trip Insurance

Our exclusive travel insurance.

To protect your travel investment against the unexpected and give you greater peace of mind, we partner with Red Point Insurance to offer a best-in-class trip insurance program available exclusively to guests on our group jet expeditions. Learn more about our program’s unique benefits that you won’t find anywhere else in the insurance market.

Premier Benefits for TCS Jet Guests

• Insurance for your entire trip cost in a single streamlined plan
• Ability to purchase the plan and waive pre-existing conditions up to within 21 days of the initial deposit
• Flexibility to pay in installments or insure your entire trip cost in a single payment
• Ability to purchase standard coverage, without CFAR, no later than the day before trip departure

Additional Features for Peace of Mind

• No-risk guarantee—cancel your plan within 10 days of purchase and receive a full refund
• Coverage for trip cancellation/interruption, baggage loss, emergency dental and more
• Cancel For Any Reason (“CFAR”) coverage for up to 75 percent of your trip cost
• Coverage for both U.S. and non-U.S. residents
• Ability to purchase standard coverage, without CFAR, no later than the day before trip departure.

To learn more about our insurance program, please contact our Guest Relations team at 800.454.4149 or send us an email.

You can unsubscribe at any time

Search Travel Market Report

• Packaged Travel
• Hotels & Resorts
• Destinations
• Retail Strategies
• Niche & Luxury
• Training & Resources

How to Find a Great Independent Contractor for Your Travel Agency

Finding and having a team of good indepdendent contractors (ICs) can help travel agencies succeed. Photo: Shutterstock.com.

Finding the perfect person to represent your company is not an easy task. But for Witte Travel, hiring an IC was easy as pie. Melissa Feenstra was an employee in their brick-and-mortar office in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and she wanted to go out on her own.

With more than 20 years of industry experience and consistent sales of over $1 million a year, Feenstra started thinking about building her own brand about five years ago. Eighteen months ago, she took the leap.

Feenstra Travel uses Witte’s IATA number and splits the commission; in a typical contract, the host keeps 10%-20% in return for marketing and IT support, E&O insurance, and higher commissions than a single agent operating alone could get.

For Feenstra, being an IC “allows me flexibility in my schedule; I can sell what I want to sell; I can be more unique and I can choose my customers. I feel like I’m not an order taker, I’m an expert planner, and I like that very much.”

And what makes a good host agency? “Staying current with the times; this is an ever-changing industry, so you have to have a good web presence; be up to speed with technology; and just be open for conversation, be a good listener to your independent contractor,” she said. “If you are not working for and with your IC, she will leave and go somewhere else.”

Use social media to find candidates Jeni Chaffer, owner of Journeys Travel Inc., found a dozen potential ICs through a Facebook ad — and then developed her own training program for them. She expects “probably half” to turn out to be good, and will start the best three in the program this month.

In the past, training was more hit-or-miss and took an inordinate amount of time; the new program covers topics like how to implement a group, how to work with suppliers, and how to market effectively. There are weekly calls for three months and homework assignments “to let me see if they can think through the process,” Chafer said.

You might say that Kevin Cabe’s newest IC was heaven-sent. He noticed a lot of social-media posts about Disney by a friend he knew from church. With four young children, she is active in youth sports and in the community, and people were asking her for advice in planning their Disney trips, “so I asked her if she would like to get paid to do that.” She sold two spring break trips to Disney in her first week, and a $50,000 Disney multigeneration cruise in her second.

Jennifer Walker, meanwhile, finds that ICS come to her rather than the other way around. “It’s not unusual for an existing client, or someone who follows my Facebook business page, to reach out and inquire about working for my agency and what it takes to become a travel advisor. I guess I make it look like fun by posting pictures and blurbs from all of my trips!” 

At Cary Travel Express in Cary, Illinois, Neelie Kruse agreed that for a large and well-known agency like hers, with 19 employees and ICs and a reputation for being a great place to work, finding good ICs is easy. Her agents spread the word and candidates appear; she signed up two ICs last year to help handle the agency’s $11 million in volume. And Tricia Horick Kelly met her star IC on a fam trip, representing AAA Travel; months later, ready to go out on her own, she called Kelly to sign up.

David Holman finds the best ICs for his host agency, Bridge & Holman Worldwide Travel, from consumer-facing Facebook groups. “You can really see who has both the knowledge and passion to sell travel. A little more investigation reveals their employment status and prior experience in sales/customer service. Then, it’s a simple matter to message them with, ‘Hey, have you ever considered being a travel agent? I run a host agency, and can help you set up your own business and get the training you need to succeed.’”

But Geoff Millar, of Ultimate All Inclusive Travel Inc., likes to hire ICs with a formal sales background. “One of our top ICs ever was an existing client who was a top salesperson in toxic waste disposal. Within two years, she was selling $1 million-plus. We feel we can teach someone an industry or a product, but being a top salesperson is very hard to teach.”

In the end, he said, “we turn down more requests than we accept. We would rather have a handful of good producing ICs rather than 400 ICs where only 10% are producing anything. We have a great, very small group of ICs that really help and produce for our agency.”

Be clear about your vision Like all business decisions, the search for a great IC should start with a solid plan. “It’s really important to be super-clear on your vision for the business and your motivation for bringing on ICs,” said Jen Cochrane, co-founder and COO of host agency Gifted Travel Network. Then, it’s about picking the right person.”

Often when things go wrong, it’s because the advisor has an established brand, but the IC sells in a way that’s not consistent with the brand. Issues may arise if your message and site are luxury-focused, for example, but your IC wants to do a lot of mass-market business; or your focus is families and your IC wants to sell wine-oriented river cruises. That “can become really confusing for the customers.”

If you are an established agency with a good reputation for ICs, finding someone should not be difficult. “When you are very clear about your vision and how ICs fit into that, and have a compelling brand they can articulate, the right ICs will find you.” Even if this is your first foray into the world of ICs, “if you already have a platform and are out there in the community and have a robust newsletter list and a platform, often all it takes is an announcement that you are growing and accepting ICs to get interest.”

More tips from the experts Here are more tips that Cochrane suggested: Get your paperwork in order. Build a checklist of what you will need and follow it. Consider including a signed agreement, a way to track and pay commissions, the ability to issue 1099s, insurance that covers the ICs, first-level sellers of travel licenses if applicable, a shared drive for documents and templates, a virtual phone number with extensions, a marketing policy that outlines which pieces of your branding ICs will share and what they can develop under their own brand.

Do a national background check. Always.

Find the right personality. Great ICs are unique in what they do; an outgoing personality or a background in travel or sales is helpful, but not necessary. More important is a love of travel, organizational skills and an attention to detail. Look for someone who can pick up different software systems quickly, and has a professional and articulate demeanor.

Make sure they have skin in the game. Of course, you hope your ICs will add to your revenue — but first they will be a cost center, in terms of your time and your money. Understand the value you are providing in terms of a successful brand and guidance in building their business; it’s absolutely reasonable to charge for that — and a fee will weed out those who are not really committed.

MOST VIEWED

Why Off-Peak Travel is Booming…And How to Sell It

Those in the know, both travelers and their travel advisors alike, are well aware that venturing out in the off season has palpable advantages.

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

• Host Agencies
• Accelerator Course
• Travel Jobs
• Travel Agent Chatter
• Etiquette & Rules
• Privacy Policy

Travel Agent Contracts for ICs: 10 Things to Consider Before You Sign

⭐️ har article highlights: ⭐️.

• Sample Travel Agent/Host Agency Contract [Download]
• An overview of independent travel agent contracts [Infographic]
• 10 Provisions to look for in independent travel agent contracts
• Red flags in IC travel agent contracts
• Additional legal resources for travel agents

You’re probably here because you’re a travel agent. Not because you’re an aspiring lawyer. If you aren’t fluent in legalese, knowing what to look for in an independent contractor travel agent contract is probably not second nature to you. After all, how could you know what to look for in a contract if you don’t know what to expect in the first place?

Well, I’m here to make it a heckuva lot easier. I consulted with a few industry professionals; primarily Peter Lobasso, General Counsel for American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), and Jackie Friedman, Director of the Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH) and President of Nexion host agency. With their insights, you’ll know what you can expect in an IC/ host agency contract.

I also jump in annually to update this article with questions and concerns advisors bring up along the way!

Disclaimer: I hope it goes without saying that I am about as far from a lawyer as you can possibly get. But in the spirit of writing about contracts, I'm going to put it in writing: “I am not a lawyer.”

Have I completed law school and passed a Bar Exam? Heck no. I haven’t even watched an entire season of Law and Order for cripes sake! In that vein, this article is not in any way, on any planet, intended to serve as legal counsel.

Download a Sample Travel Agent Contract

Before I jump in, below is a sample contract you can download. This is a handy guide to keep with you as you go through the article so you can how my lay-speak in this article translates to actual legal-speak in a contract. Keep in mind that this sample contract is a boilerplate to let you know what you might generally expect with a contract. Actual host agency contracts won't be cookie-cutter like this one. Download it below:

This contract sample is brought to you by actual travel attorney, Mark Pestronk. Thanks a million, Mark! We'll hear more from Mark as you read on, so sit tight!

Independent Travel Agent Contracts [An Infographic]

Before we take a deep dive, here's the crib notes. This is a great summary of what you're about to read:

Independent Travel Agent Contracts: Big Picture Stuff

Peter Lobasso with ASTA shared a ton of great info on independent travel agent contracts. But I want to be extra clear that this article refers to contracts between independent contractor (IC) travel agents and host agencies .

Not agency contracts with suppliers. Not contracts between agencies and consortia. Not contracts between travel agencies and their employees. So if you're an IC or a host agency that’s curious to learn more about these kinds of travel agent contracts, you’re in the right place!

Independent travel agent contracts aren’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal (just like hosts!). Not all independent travel agent contracts are created equal. Just like any business, host agencies vary in size and amount of resources at their disposal. They may not be spending the majority of their time creating a pitch-perfect contract for their ICs.

This means it’s up to you to do your due diligence . . . and that’s what we’re here for. To kick it off, here's four big-picture things to consider about your contract:

1. First Things First: Yes. You Need a Contract!

Maybe it seems obvious that you should have a contract with your independent advisors. But if you’ve never sold travel as an independent contractor (IC) how would you know?

Jackie Friedman’s advice? “First and foremost, it is very important for both the IC and the “host” they affiliate with to have a mutually acceptable written agreement. As surprising as it sounds, I come across agents that have nothing in writing, and it can create issues down the road.”

Even if the host agency is owned by your best friend, you want to make sure there is a contract between your agency and the host agency (want to know who all these host agencies are? Look no further .)

2. What Is the Term of Your Contract?

There are two primary types of contracts when it comes to term agreements 1 :

• Fixed Term: A fixed term contract has a set duration. Six months? A year? Two years? Depends on the contract . . . and that’s something you’ll want to know!
• Indefinite Term: Indefinite term contracts have limit. They can go on forever. An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. Indefinite term contracts are the same way––they keep going until someone (the host or the IC) takes action to terminate (or amend) the contract.

The term of your contract should be abundantly clear. One type of contract term isn’t necessarily better than the other—it depends on what you’re looking for.

For example, if it’s the first time you’re working with this particular host and you’re not very familiar with them, Peter Lobasso suggested you consider starting with a shorter fixed term independent travel agent contract (for example, one year or less). That way, if you have a bad experience, there will be a hard stop to your contractual obligation.

3. Is the Right to Terminate Bilateral?

When considering independent contractor travel agent contracts, you have to look past the honeymoon period and think about what will happen if you want to break up with your host agency (or if you host wants to break up with you).

If things go south, do you, the IC, have the same right to terminate the contract as the host? For your sake, the answer to this should be yes. But more than that, it needs to be clearly written in your contract.

There are two kinds of terminations:

• For cause: This means that the contract terminates because one of contract parties (for our purposes, the IC or the host agency) violated the terms of the contract . . . pretty much a fancy way of saying that someone broke the rules.
• Without cause: This means there’s no “cause” except someone put in their notice to the other party.

You want to make sure you have the option to terminate your contract. In our boilerplate legalese, it looks like this, "This Agreement may be terminated by either Party in the event the other Party breaches this Agreement and does not cure such breach within fifteen (15) days after receipt of written notice of such breach."

4. REPEAT AFTER ME: "I'm AN Ic" (Not an Employee)

In legal speak, this distinction is considered defining “The Relationship of the Parties.” Is it abundantly clear in your contract that you're an IC . . . not an employee? If not, then clarify it!

On this topic, Friedman stated, “An IC is not an employee of the company and should not receive any benefits that the company may pay employees.”

To elaborate, Friedman pointed out the contract should be clear on the following details:

• There should be no taxes of any type withheld from an ICs compensation. The company must provide a form 1099 and any applicable state income reporting forms
• The contract should clearly indicate that both parties are able to contract with other business entities or individuals (more on this later!)
• There should be language that indicates that the IC is responsible for all business expenses. Many agreements outline some of these expenses.
• Duties of IC - cannot include requirements as to when and where the IC must work.

In order to protect the autonomy of your business, make sure the language of the contract recognizes you (or your agency) as an independent contractor. If you’re considered an employee in the eyes of the IRS, there may be trouble for you down the road .

How Does Your Business Model Impact Your Host Contract [VIDEO]?

Speaking of IC, during a Friday 15 episode , Steph spoke about the logistics of signing a host contract as an LLC vs. a Sole Proprietor. Take a look:

10 Provisions to Look for in an IC Travel Agent Contract

A few years back, travel attorney Mark Pestronk wrote an article for Travel Weekly that outlines 12 contract issues to watch for in independent travel agent contracts with host agencies. This info still stands the test of time!

Pestronk went the extra mile for HAR and provided us with the sample independent travel agent/ host agency contract above! Did you miss it? Download it here .

Our article will help decipher the contract's legalese, so if you're more of a visual learner, you can download it and go through the sample contract as you read the article!

We’re gonna throw a few more into the mix: Here’s a list of topics to consider and questions you should be able to answer after looking at your independent travel agent contract:

1. Commissions (in 3 parts):

Clarity on commissions is a pretty big deal . There are three main categories you want to keep in mind with commissions when it comes to your independent contractor travel agent contract:

1.1 Commission Payment Structure

How will you get paid? Your contract should tell you:

• What is your commission split?
• What is the schedule for/ frequency of commission payments?
• How are commissions paid? (Check, automatic deposit, carrier pigeon?)
• When will commissions be paid? What steps need to occur before payment is disbursed (i.e. vendor pays host, invoice is received, etc.)? When steps are complete, how many days after can you expect your payment?
• If you use a lead program, does that impact your commission split, and do the leads belong to you? ( You can read more on lead programs here .)

1.2 Commission Payment upon Contract Termination:

What happens if you or your host terminate the contract? The contract should address that hypothetical scenario:

• Will you still be paid commissions for bookings that haven’t traveled if the contract is terminated (for or without cause)?
• If so, how far out will the host continue to pay the commissions?
• Can you transfer bookings if you leave your host?

1.3 Offsets to Commissions

According to Friedman, “The agreement should include a list of any offsets to compensation. This list would include debit memos, commission recall, customer refund, chargebacks.” When it comes to deducting commission payments can you answer these questions:

• Can the host deduct fees from scheduled payments?
• If so, what for?
• How long do you have to pay back the charges if your commissions do not cover the charges?

The compensation should be very clear in your contract. How do you know if it’s clear enough? Lobasso’s tip is to, “Ask someone who knows nothing about how your business operates to review the commission plan and then explain how it works and how much the contractor would earn given a sale of a certain amount . . . If the commission can’t be calculated based solely on what appears on the printed page, that’s a pretty good indication that the structure as drafted is not sufficiently clear and revisions are in order.”

Why does it need to be so clear? Because if things go sour and you need to litigate or bring in an arbitrator, that judge or arbitrator will do just that: attempt to easily understand what is owed to you per what’s written in the contract.

Yep. It’s so important I’m bringing ‘em up again. When it comes to terms you should be able to answer:

• What is the term of the agreement?
• How much notice do you (or the host) need to give if you want to terminate the contract with or without cause?
• Is the right to terminate bilateral?

3. Dual Affiliation Disclosure:

Some contracts may require dual affiliation disclosure, which can be particularly important if you consider switching hosts or going with more than one host agency at the same time.

!Read up on what you need to consider with switching host agencies!

• Do you need to disclose when/if you decide to work under an additional host agency?
• Are there contractual restrictions if you choose to work with host B while you’re still contracted with host A?

4. E & O (Errors and Omission) Insurance Requirements:

In short, Errors and Omissions insurance is a policy for travel agents if a client sues you for negligence. It does not cover things like bookings errors and debit memos (confusing, considering the name). Some travel agents prefer to assume the risk instead of getting E&O insurance . It’s not mandatory, but it’s an important thing to consider.

While some hosts may provide E&O coverage, others might require that you purchase your own E&O insurance. Still, others may not provide or require E&O insurance. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but you need to know the contractual requirements surrounding E&O insurance. From your contract you should know:

• Is it necessary for you to have your own E & O insurance?
• If so, how much coverage is required?
• If the host provides E&O insurance, what is your coverage?

5. SOT (Seller of Travel) Compliance:

Five states have Seller of Travel (SOT) are state laws that regulate people who sell travel (yep, that's you!). These laws offer protections for consumers and a lot of red tape for advisors. SOT laws are complicated . . . and if you live in or sell to clients in FL, WA, HI, or CA, it’s imperative that you’re adhering to their respective SOT requirements .

From your contract you should know:

• Are you subject to seller of travel compliance for any of the 4 states with such regulations?
• Are you subject to compliance with any other local laws/regulations?

6. State of Jurisdiction:

It’s not uncommon for agents to engage with host agencies outside their state of residence. For this reason, it is important to understand what your contract provides for with respect to which state will have jurisdiction over any controversies that arise from the contract. Oftentimes (but not always, the state of jurisdiction will be where the host is located since the host is the one drafting the contract. This means if you need to pursue legal recourse against the host agency (or vice versa), the host may have the home-court advantage.

According to Lobasso, “Litigating a case in another state is inconvenient burdensome, time-consuming, and costly, especially if multiple court appearances are necessary. You’ll also more than likely need to get an out-of-state attorney to represent you, all of which create in one party—but not the other—a serious disincentive to assert his or her rights under the contract in court. Imagine for example, that the host is in New York and the IC is in California and a dispute arises. It goes without saying that the party that needs to travel cross-country to sue or defend a suit will be disproportionately burdened by the litigation.”

Long story short? If you feel your host has defaulted on commissions, the cost to pursue litigation (lost time, travel expenses, hiring an out-of-state lawyer) may very well exceed the amount of restitution you (may or may not) be awarded if the jurisdiction is out of state.

7. ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) or Arbitration Clauses:

Some contracts may stipulate an ADR/ arbitration clause in order to avoid court altogether. If there is an arbitration clause, it means that both parties are giving up their right to sue. However, this doesn’t mean that arbitration isn’t costly.

Through arbitration, you will have to hire an arbitrator (usually a retired judge) and possibly a lawyer to represent you or your agency. An arbitration clause—if included in your contract—should outline who’s responsible for the cost of arbitration.

Wondering what to do if your host isn’t paying commissions? Check out this article here.

8. Schedule of Rental Fees for Office Space or Equipment:

This may not apply to many home-based agents. But if you are the exception and not the rule (you rebel, you), the rental rate should be clearly outlined in your contract with a breakdown of equipment (desk, chair, etc.) and services (i.e. internet) included.

Lobasso mentioned that this provision is primarily a concern for the host since “charging the IC for these items supports a finding that the worker is not an employee.”

9. ICs Risk of Loss:

Starting a travel agency is like starting any business—there is financial risk involved. Your independent travel agency contract with the host agency will indicate that the IC assumes this risk. As Friedman state, “the agreement should outline the relationship of the parties and the IC’s risk of loss in the event that commissions do not cover expenses incurred.”

Red Flags to Look for in Travel Agent Contracts

Now, what you can expect in an IC travel agent contract. There are also a few things you do not want to see in a contract . . . a few qualities that should put your spidey senses on high alert. Here are a few red flags to look out for, according to Lobasso:

1. Unclear or indefinite terms

Are certain terms used that are not defined in the agreement? Are the timeframes for the performance of the parties' obligations clearly stated? (For example, when the IC receives a commission.)

2. Ambiguity

For our purposes, Lobasso describes ambiguity as, “Any inexactness in the drafting that leaves a provision of the contract open to more than one reasonable interpretation. In my experience, this sort of thing is one of the primary reasons why parties end up in court, and more often than not it’s completely avoidable.”

If something isn’t clear to you, ask your host. But it’s not enough for the host to explain or define terms to you verbally—any clarification should be reflected in the contract.

3. Compensation structures that are overly complicated.

Lobasso warns agents against complicated compensation structures, “It’s in both parties interest that the compensation structure be as simple and clear as possible . . . Disputes often arise because the commission terms were unnecessarily complicated or practically indecipherable. In some cases, it’s intentionally drafted that way in order to induce the contractor to sign it without really understanding just how unfavorable the terms were.”

4. Non-Compete Clauses

As an independent contractor, you should be exactly that . . . independent. So if there is a non-compete clause in your contract, that could be cause for some surprise.

Lobasso explained non-compete clauses in IC/host contracts like this, "While often seen in employment agreements, non-compete clauses typically don’t (and shouldn’t) appear in IC agreements. While inclusion of such a provision could be warranted under certain circumstances, generally speaking, the IC, by virtue of its status as an independent business, is free to render services to whomever it wishes. "

For a little more information on non-compete clauses (and restrictive IC/host contracts in general), you can read Mark Pestronk's article here .

5. Non-diSparagement clauses

Non-disparagement clauses are newer on our radar. Essentially, a non-disparagement clause means that an IC couldn't "say" anything negative about the host, its employees, or services in any form of communication (verbal or written, in public or private forums). Even with our stringent review integrity guidelines , as a review site, this is obviously something that sets off our spidey senses.

What does this look like in the real world? Here's one real-world example: If you sign a contract with a non-disparagement clause, and then later leave a truthful review that the contracting organization finds unfavorable, they can compel you to remove the review by withholding commission payments.

Additional Resources for IC Travel Agent Contracts

Still a little nervous about putting your John Hancock at the bottom of a host agency contract? There’s more support for you. If something is unclear in your contract, you can ask your host agency to clarify and amend the contract.

Wonder if a host is legit? Well, if the reviews on our site aren’t enough, here are two other travel organizations that can help you find out:

1. PATH (Professional Association of Travel Hosts)

there are organizations such as PATH (Professional Association of Travel Hosts) that have pretty stringent requirements for membership. One of those requirements is to provide a contract to ICs.

According to PATH president, Anita Pagliasso, “As far as what PATH requires in an IC agreement, there are sample contracts that have been published by ASTA with guidelines, which includes terms, conditions and commission details clearly stated. We have made a copy of ASTA's recommended agreement available to PATH members.”

2. ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors

You can also look to see if the host agency is a member of ASTA, which holds their members to a high standard. On that note, ASTA also provides significant support to ICs through their “Member Advantage Program.” According to the ASTA site, “As an ASTA member, you will receive a free 15-minute initial consultation, a written estimate subject to the attorney's qualifications, and fifteen percent (15%) off each attorney's regular fees. Our attorneys can provide counsel on issues such as sale, merger or acquisition of travel agencies, employment and supplier contracts, CRS negotiations, etc.”

Not too shabby, eh? ASTA's membership is $199 for independent agents who sell less than 1M in travel annually and $355 for members selling above that threshold . (Membership costs increase with sales: you can see the ASTA's full list of membership dues here). And if you're looking to dig into more legal resources on the site you can take a detour here .

Ready to become a travel advisor? We have just the thing.

The one thing that all travel agent rates, promotions, loyalty programs, and discounts have in common is that you have to be a travel agent.

HAR's free 7-Day Setup LITE course offers a daily email for a week to connect you to the resources you need in the order you need them. If you want more structured support, I recommend also checking out the free trial for HAR's 7-Day Setup Accelerator course trial as well! (Signing up below will start the 7DS with instructions on how to register for the 7DS Accelerator trial).

Phew. If you made it this far, not only am I frankly impressed by your attention span, but I’m also confident that you’ll be well-equipped to decode your host agency/ independent travel agent contract.

Like I said earlier, I’m a far cry from a lawyer. I want to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Peter Lobasso (an actual lawyer) and Jackie Friedman (president of Nexion Travel Group) who liberally offered their industry expertise! Also a special thank you to Mark Pestronk for providing us with a sample contract that you can use for your own purposes! Thank you three for sharing trade secrets (and for making me seem 100x smarter than I really am when it comes to travel agent contracts).

Do you have any thoughts? Want to share your experiences with independent travel agent contracts? Share your insights in the comments below!

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in Feb. 7th, 2019, and updated and republished on date listed.

• “Term agreement” refers to the duration of the contract ↩

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

• Agent Tools
• Infographics
• Legal & Regulatory
• Travel Agent Basics