Travel insurance tips for solo, couple, or family trips abroad

Check out our travel insurance travel tips to be prepared for each travel scenario.

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To travel is to live, according to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, who understood that visiting new places and cultures expands the mind and broadens horizons. At World Nomads we know that travel is a joy at any age, whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple or as a family.

Here’s a handy guide for global adventuring no matter what part of your life’s journey you’re on, whether you're single, in a couple or traveling with your family.

How World Nomads travel insurance can help solo travelers

When you’re headed overseas on your own, the experience can be empowering and the freedom to make your own decisions exhilarating. However, enthusiasm aside, it’s always a good idea to take sensible precautions, especially if this is your first time traveling alone.

Top tips for traveling singles:

Travel insurance can be a safety net for the solo traveler, such as helping to replace stolen belongings and lost luggage. As soon as you notice an item is stolen, report it to local police and your carrier and get a copy of the report. Understand that you won’t be covered if you have left belongings unattended, even if they’re in a locked vehicle.


  • Pack light: don’t make yourself a target by traveling with heavy bags, which could slow you down or make you rely on others to help you. And keep receipts of all your belongings if you intend to make a claim.

  • Be aware: always be aware of your surroundings, particularly people nearby who may be watching you a little too closely. A pickpocket or thief can strike as soon as you’ve left your valuables unattended. And keep receipts for all your valuables if you intend to make a claim.

  • Duplicates: make copies of all your travel documents, including passports and itineraries, as well as emergency contact details (including those of your travel insurer). If you’re caught up in a crisis, contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team and leave your contact details with your hotel. The team can help you get back on track when you’re lost, injured or sick, whether you need an ambulance transfer, a prescription medication or a hospital that can treat you if you’re sick or injured.

  • Leave copies: make sure your family back home has a copy of your itinerary and where you’ll be staying along the way.

How World Nomads travel insurance can help couples

Traveling with a friend or romantic partner can be a life-changing experience that can either make or break the relationship. Traveling can deepen the friendship or the romance and lay a foundation for a lifelong connection.

Travel insurance offers protection for unexpected events occurring before and during your trip. Buying a couple’s policy can sometimes be cheaper than buying two individual policies, so get a free quote from World Nomads to compare the costs and benefits.

Travel insurance may be one of the most important things to consider packing when heading overseas. If one of you loses your footing and sprains an ankle while hiking up Mount Sinai (easily done on the 3,750 steps of Repentance!) travel insurance could help with the cost of evacuation to a medical facility where you can receive treatment or (in a worst case scenario) if you need to be repatriated back to your country of residence.

Depending on your country of residence and which one of our plans you’ve chosen, if you’ve suffered a sudden illness or injury, or there’s been a death overseas, we’ll reimburse the reasonable expenses (up to the amount shown in the Summary of Cover) for your travel buddy to travel to and/or remain with you in hospital and/or accompany you (or your remains) during your repatriation home.

Always make sure you purchase the correct level of activity travel insurance, for example if you’re planning an extreme hike we offer different levels of cover depending on the elevation. Equally, you may want to consider some activity upgrades, say, if you’ll be kayaking, scuba diving or mountaineering. If only one of you plans to tackle more adventurous activities, it might be more efficient to buy separate policies.

Make sure you read your policy wording, and double check the cover available for your activities, as you may need to upgrade your plan to get the cover you need. You can also talk to us if you need help.

Taking out insurance for two people traveling together can be complicated especially if the couples reside in different countries, and are taking a trip together. If this is the case, check the policy eligibility for your respective countries of residence, check when the cover starts and ends, and make a note of any time zone differences.

How World Nomads travel insurance can help families

Traveling with children can add an extra level of stress to any holiday. Keeping track of bags, belongings, AND children can be challenging, especially when you’re rushing to catch a connecting flight, train or bus.

A World Nomads family policy will cover one or two adults and their financially dependent children or, on some policies, their grandchildren.  

At least one of the traveling adults must be the legal guardian of the dependents and they must normally reside together. If the adults and the children live in different countries, they may need to purchase individual policies.

Travel Insurance Tip: Whether you have one dependent or seven it’s important that you know who we mean by ‘dependent’ (for example, the age of your dependent(s) at the time of purchasing your policy) as it may vary depending on your Country of Residence. Definitions and cover conditions are outlined in your policy documents, and you can also check out our family travel insurance article for more details.

Note: always check your policy for any excess that applies, and understand that the excess may apply per person per event.

The need for emergency medical care is one of the most common reasons for purchasing family cover. World Nomads policies offer cover for medical care overseas when you or your children get sick or have an accident. Also, if you suddenly fall ill or are injured while traveling and your dependent child needs help traveling home, we may assist with the cost of another adult traveling to you to bring the child home.

For more details, or if you have a specific question about World Nomads insurance, please visit our online Help Center or contact us.


About World Nomads

World Nomads polices are designed by travelers for travelers to provide simple and flexible travel insurance – and it’s often cheaper than you might think! Featuring coverage for more than 150 activities, quotes are fast, free and you can do it all online at www.worldnomads.com. All the information we provide about travel insurance is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.

Did you know travel insurance covers...

You can also buy away from home or buy more cover if you extend your trip. Plus, you can claim online anytime, anywhere in the world.

True Claims Stories

  • Never travel without insurance. This was the first time I ever purchased travel insurance and I am so glad I did. A few days into my trip to Spain I twisted my foot heading down to the metro. Thanks to World Nomads I was able to get medical attention in Spain and since, as luck would have it, I had a fracture that required surgery, they got me a flight home the next day. Filing a claim was surprisingly easy and when the claim was finally processed, I was reimbursed for all of my expenses including things like the extra week in the hotel I didn't get to take advantage of.
    L.D.
    U.S. resident in Spain
  • I recently had a serious injury traveling on my own & the team was amazing. Being confused with a brain injury they took care of everything. Claiming was no problem, they were on the phone constantly to see if all was OK. I can't recommend them enough. Absolutely fantastic & l will always travel with World Nomads Insurance. Thanks guys for getting me home safely.
    A.B.
    Australian in Thailand
  • I was bitten by a monkey at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. I went to a nearby clinic and they gave me a rabies shot, antibiotics to take for 4 days, pain medicine, and anti-inflammatory medicine.
    T.R.
    Canadian in Malaysia

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you*

Trip Cancellation

Been working hard for your trip?

We'll work hard to protect it.

Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalised?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Been made redundant?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Expenses

Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transportation

Know where the nearest hospital is?

Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.

Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medivac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Love photography, filming or sport?

Cover your bags, tech or gear.

Protect your gear
  • Luggage lost?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Tech trashed?

Help starts here.

  • Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Trip Cancellation or Interruption
  • 24-Hour Assistance Services
  • Baggage
  • And more (depending on your country of residence)
*This is a general summary only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Coverage may not be available for all countries, states or provinces. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Get a quote for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

Contact the team
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Aurelie's portrait photo
Aurelie Menard,
Emergency Assistance, World Nomads

Travel insurance. Simple & flexible.

Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.