Worldwide

War

10.10.23

At Travelex, we can’t provide coverage for trip losses caused by any act of war. Because of this, we’re no longer able to offer coverage for trips to the destinations listed below as of the effective date shown.

If you’re currently on your trip and affected by an unexpected act of war, please call our 24/7 emergency assistance team.

Destination

Effective Date

Israel

October 10, 2023

Palestinian Territories - Includes Gaza Strip & West Bank

October 10, 2023

Ukraine

March 22, 2022

Russia

March 22, 2022

Belarus

March 22, 2022

This list may not be a full representation of all events. For a summary of the coverages, benefits, limitations and exclusions of our insurance plan(s), please refer to the applicable Description of Coverage or state specific Individual Travel Protection Insurance Policy.

If you plan to travel during hurricane season, it’s important to take precautions and familiarize yourself with helpful hurricane facts and hurricane safety tips to help ensure a smoother trip.

Discover our top five tips for traveling safely during hurricane season to help you plan ahead and make smarter travel decisions:

Safety tip #1: Learn when hurricanes are most likely to occur

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricane season for the Atlantic is June to November, and for the Northeastern Pacific, it's May to November. Knowing these dates can help you plan your trip either outside of these times or plan your trip with hurricane safety in mind. 

Safety tip #2: Learn where hurricanes are most likely to occur

You may be wondering about safe places to travel during hurricane season given it’s such a popular time of year for Americans to travel. There are many areas where hurricanes can form, but you should use extra caution if traveling to areas in the Atlantic Basin, Eastern Pacific, or Western Pacific — or avoid traveling to these areas altogether during hurricane season.

Safety tip #3: Familiarize yourself with hurricane safety advice

Before a hurricane approaches, it’s important to know your destination’s evacuation routes. Don’t forget to research what to do in the event of a hurricane before you arrive at your destination.

It’s also helpful to prepare a disaster kit to take with you on your vacation, packed with things like a first aid kit, flashlight, extra clothing, canned food, and bottled water.

If you’re traveling during hurricane season, you can use AccuWeather’s hurricane tracker to keep track of hurricane activity across the United States.

If a hurricane does occur on your trip, it’s important to avoid flood-prone areas and stick to higher ground when possible. Many hotels in hurricane-prone regions have processes in place to keep their guests safe. If you have any questions, you can consult your hotel’s staff.

After a hurricane, it’s important to remain indoors, avoid tap water, and stay away from standing water until the proper personnel have deemed it safe.

Safety tip #4: Opt for a cruise vacation instead of a land vacation

If you’re looking for a tropical getaway during hurricane season, a cruise can be a great option. Most cruise liners can and will adjust course based on a storm and detour to different ports, which can sometimes mean you’ll be safer at sea than on land.

If you want to avoid hurricane hotspots entirely, consider researching the best places to travel during hurricane season and choose a destination with a low likelihood of major storms.

Safety tip #5: Consider purchasing travel insurance

At Travelex, our Ultimate, Advantage, and Essential plans offer coverage for trip cancellation and interruption and travel delay resulting from a hurricane.

Our trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits can provide coverage if your home or destination is made uninhabitable or inaccessible by a hurricane.

Our travel delay benefit can provide coverage if a named storm causes your trip to be delayed for at least five consecutive hours (six with our Essential plan).

Please note: Coverage doesn’t apply — and claims won’t be paid — if the hurricane becomes a named storm prior to buying travel insurance.

For trip cancellation and travel delay, your accommodation must be uninhabitable or inaccessible:

  • On your scheduled departure date
  • For a minimum of 24 hours
  • No more than 21 days before your scheduled departure

For trip interruption coverage to apply:

  • Your accommodation must be uninhabitable or inaccessible for at least 24 hours.
  • You must have two days, 25%, or more remaining on your trip at the time your accommodation becomes uninhabitable or inaccessible.

Want more information on our hurricane coverage? Check out our article on hurricane travel insurance.

Ready to protect your trip during hurricane season?

Get a quote now to compare our plans and pack extra confidence.

If you’re planning a vacation during hurricane season (typically June through November), it’s smart to know the risks and how you can protect your travel investment.

The last thing you want to be doing after you’ve booked a trip to the tropics is tracking a hurricane knowing you don’t have adequate hurricane travel insurance. While you can travel safely during hurricane season, we recommend being prepared for the unexpected — like a named storm. To help, here are our answers to some of the most common questions about hurricanes and travel insurance.

What coverage does hurricane travel insurance provide?

The last thing you want to be doing after you’ve booked a trip to the tropics is tracking a hurricane knowing you don’t have adequate hurricane travel insurance. While you can travel safely during hurricane season, we recommend being prepared for the unexpected — like a named storm. To help, here are our answers to some of the most common questions about hurricanes and travel insurance.

What coverage does hurricane travel insurance provide?

Travel insurance can provide coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, and travel delay in the event of a hurricane or other named storm; however, coverage can differ from plan to plan, and not all travel insurance providers provide coverage for hurricanes.

When choosing the best travel insurance for hurricane season, it’s important to consider the eligible reasons for trip cancellation, interruption, and delay to make sure you have the coverage you need.

Keep reading to understand how we can provide travel insurance coverage for cancellations due to a hurricane.

What’s the best travel insurance for hurricane season?

The right coverage depends on your travel needs, like your budget, trip length, and planned activities. At Travelex, our best travel insurance plan for hurricane coverage is Ultimate.

With our Ultimate plan, we can reimburse you up to 100% of your insured trip cost for trip cancellation (up to a maximum of $50,000) and up to 150% for trip interruption (up to a maximum of $75,000) in the event of a named hurricane after your policy’s effective date.

This means if your insured trip cost was $5,000, you could receive up to $5,000 for trip cancellation and up to $7,500 for trip interruption for any unused, prepaid trip costs or newly incurred transportation and lodging expenses because of the hurricane.

Our Ultimate plan also has a travel delay benefit that can provide hurricane travel insurance. If a hurricane causes you to be delayed for at least five consecutive hours (six with our Essential plan), you can receive up to $2,000 (with a daily limit of $250) reimbursement for unexpected additional expenses caused by your delay.

With Ultimate, the eligible reasons for trip cancellation, interruption, and delay resulting from a hurricane include:

  • Your primary residence becomes uninhabitable or inaccessible.
  • Your destination becomes uninhabitable or inaccessible.
  • A hurricane cancels flights and causes your travel delay.

If you feel our Ultimate plan isn’t right for your trip, our Advantage, Essential, and Travel Med Go plans also offer hurricane travel insurance. Compare our travel insurance plans to decide which one may work well for your vacation.

For more information, get a quote to compare and read more about our coverage or call our friendly customer service team at 1-800-228-9792.

When should I buy travel insurance to have hurricane coverage?

The best time to buy travel insurance to receive protection from hurricanes is as soon as you make your first trip payment. This will help ensure your travel insurance policy can provide protection from unforeseeable events — such as hurricanes — that haven’t occurred yet.

Important: Once a hurricane is a named storm, it becomes a foreseeable event, which means you can no longer receive coverage for that storm. To see if you’re eligible for coverage for a storm, you can check our hurricane and tropical storm travel alerts page or contact our customer service team.

When doesn’t travel insurance provide coverage for hurricanes?

Travel insurance is designed to help protect travelers’ finances from unforeseen events. This means a hurricane (or other storm) wouldn’t be eligible for coverage if the event is already known. At Travelex, you must purchase your travel insurance policy prior to the hurricane becoming a named storm for coverage to apply.

Additional reasons for a hurricane not being eligible for coverage vary depending on the travel insurance plan you choose. When deciding between plans, it’s important to consider the eligible reasons for trip cancellation, interruption, and delay for each plan to make sure you’re buying the coverage you need.

Pack hurricane travel insurance before you go

If you’re planning a vacation during hurricane season, weather can be unpredictable. It helps to know what to expect when traveling to hurricane-prone places like the Caribbean. Purchasing a policy with hurricane travel insurance as soon as you book any element of your trip (such as accommodation or flights) can help alleviate financial risk.

If you decide to travel during hurricane season, be sure to review our hurricane safety tips before you go. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

Ready to help protect your trip from hurricanes?

Our travel insurance can provide financial relief if a storm affects your trip. Get a quote now.

Are you wondering how to respect cultural traditions and stay safe during your Day of the Dead trip to Mexico? Discover our useful travel tips to help you travel smarter.

With the rich cultural traditions of Day of the Dead coming to life at the beginning of November, you might be planning a trip to Mexico. Once there, you'll likely see colorful costumes, enjoy delicious food, and hear local music – yes, it's a big celebration with a warm, welcoming vibe.

But remember, it's also an important celebration for the locals. Mexico’s Day of the Dead is a time for families and communities to come together to honor and remember their loved ones who have passed away, so it’s important for visitors to be respectful.

“Trouble can arise if tourists’ behaviors are seen as insulting or disrespectful to the locals or the traditions of the event,” said Frank Harrison, Regional Security Director Americas at our Travelex Insurance assistance partner, Zurich Travel Assist. “Because of this, it’s a good idea to follow a few basic rules to make sure you respect the local customs and stay safe.”

“If you approach the Day of the Dead celebrations with respect, understanding, and a genuine desire to learn, you can have a memorable and meaningful experience while honoring the traditions and beliefs of the local communities,” shared Harrison.

Ready to learn how to make your Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations a smoother experience that’s also steeped in history and culture?

 

6 safety travel tips for trips to Mexico for Day of the Dead celebrations

 

Safety tip #1: Aim to avoid large crowds.

During the Day of the Dead in Mexico, the country sees a massive influx of tourists and locals alike participating in the celebrations. Large crowds can sometimes become chaotic and may lead to situations such as getting lost, pickpocketing, or stampedes. Aim to stay alert, stay with your group, and have a plan for meeting up just in case you do get separated.

 

Safety tip #2: Watch out for traffic congestion.

The increased number of visitors can lead to significant traffic jams, particularly in and around popular celebration spots. This could cause delays in reaching your destination and could potentially lead to missed events. So, we recommend you plan your Day of the Dead travel schedule with buffer time for potential traffic delays and consider walking or using public transportation where feasible.

 

Safety tip #3: Be respectful of the local culture.

The Mexican Day of the Dead is about remembering loved ones who have passed, rather than excessive drinking and rowdy behavior. When visiting Mexico for the event, it’s smart to refrain from treating it as a Halloween-like holiday or a spectacle. Instead, try to participate thoughtfully in the ceremonies if invited or observe quietly from a distance.

Be mindful that graveyards are considered sacred spaces, so always be respectful while visiting. Also, remember to acknowledge the traditional clothing and face paintings as cultural expressions, rather than costume elements.

Asking for permission before taking photographs is an essential etiquette as well to protect participants’ privacy.

Our Travelex Travel On App is a helpful tool for learning about cultural gestures to be aware of and other destination advice while you're in Mexico for your Day of the Dead trip. Our app can also offer details like food and water safety tips and security alerts.

 

Safety tip #4: Choose to participate in lower risk activities.

Some activities during the Mexican Day of the Dead, like visiting crowded cemeteries at night, may carry higher risks. Try to opt for daytime activities, smaller gatherings, or official guided tours to minimize risks.

 

Safety tip #5: Remember to secure your belongings.

With large crowds and the bustle of festivities, it's easy for pickpockets to take advantage of distracted tourists. Aim to use bags that close securely, avoid keeping valuables in easily accessible pockets, and always keep your belongings within sight.

 

Safety tip #6: Make smart decisions to help avoid incidents of violent crime.

While the Day of the Dead is generally a peaceful celebration, it's important to remember that some parts of Mexico can struggle with high rates of violent crime. Aim to be cautious when traveling outside of tourist areas, especially after dark, and always inform someone of your plans.

 

Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico, safely

“Remember, the key to a safe and enjoyable trip is preparation and awareness,” said Harrison.

With these travel safety tips in mind, you can visit local cemeteries, experience an altar, and savor traditional foods to celebrate the Day of the Dead while avoiding foreseeable risks.

“Day of the Dead offers a unique opportunity to connect with Mexican culture on a deep level, and treating the celebration with respect helps to ensure the holiday is a joyful and enlightening experience for both locals and tourists.”

 

Ready to get travel insurance for your Mexico trip?

Discover how our Travelex plans can provide coverage for your upcoming vacation. Get a quote now.