• Best Extended Auto Warranty
  • Best Used Car Warranty
  • Best Car Warranty Companies
  • CarShield Reviews
  • Best Auto Loan Rates
  • Average Auto Loan Interest Rates
  • Best Auto Refinance Rates
  • Bad Credit Auto Loans
  • Best Auto Shipping Companies
  • How To Ship a Car
  • Car Shipping Cost Calculator
  • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
  • Best Car Buying Apps
  • Best Websites To Sell Your Car Online
  • CarMax Review
  • Carvana Reviews
  • Best LLC Service
  • Best Registered Agent Service
  • Best Trademark Service
  • Best Online Legal Services
  • Best CRMs for Small Business
  • Best CRM Software
  • Best CRM for Real Estate
  • Best Marketing CRM
  • Best CRM for Sales
  • Best Personal Loans
  • Best Fast Personal Loans
  • Best Debt Consolidation Loans
  • Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
  • Best Home Equity Loan Rates
  • Best Home Equity Loans
  • What Is a HELOC?
  • HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan
  • Best Free Checking Accounts
  • Best High-Yield Savings Accounts
  • Bank Account Bonuses
  • Checking Accounts
  • Savings Accounts
  • Best CD Rates
  • Citibank CD Rates
  • Synchrony Bank CD Rates
  • Chase CD Rates
  • Capital One CD Rates
  • Best Hearing Aids
  • Best OTC Hearing Aids
  • Most Affordable Hearing Aids
  • Eargo Hearing Aids Review
  • Best Medical Alert Systems
  • Best Medical Alert Watches
  • Best Medical Alert Necklaces
  • Are Medical Alert Systems Covered by Insurance?
  • Best Online Therapy
  • Best Online Therapy Platforms That Take Insurance
  • Best Online Psychiatrist Platforms
  • BetterHelp Review
  • Best Mattress
  • Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
  • Best Mattress for Back Pain
  • Best Adjustable Beds
  • Best Home Warranty Companies
  • American Home Shield Review
  • First American Home Warranty Review
  • Best Home Appliance Insurance
  • Best Moving Companies
  • Best Interstate Moving Companies
  • Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
  • Cheap Moving Companies
  • Best Window Replacement Companies
  • Best Gutter Guards
  • Gutter Installation Costs
  • Best Window Brands
  • Best Solar Companies
  • Best Solar Panels
  • How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
  • Solar Calculator
  • Best Car Insurance Companies
  • Cheapest Car Insurance Companies
  • Best Car Insurance for New Drivers
  • Same-day Car Insurance
  • Best Pet Insurance
  • Pet Insurance Cost
  • Cheapest Pet Insurance
  • Pet Wellness Plans
  • Best Life Insurance
  • Best Term Life Insurance
  • Best Whole Life Insurance
  • Term vs. Whole Life Insurance
  • Best Travel Insurance Companies
  • Best Homeowners Insurance Companies
  • Best Renters Insurance Companies
  • Best Motorcycle Insurance

Partner content:  This content was created by a business partner of Dow Jones, independent of the MarketWatch newsroom. Links in this article may result in us earning a commission.  Learn More

World Nomads insurance

World Nomads Travel Insurance Review | 2024

Looking to protect your next vacation? See if World Nomads is a good choice by getting a quote below.

in under 2 minutes

Charlotte Armitage Photo

Charlotte Armitage is a copywriter and content manager writing for brands primarily in the travel and recruitment industries. Writing is a major hobby as well as an occupation, but she also spends her time reading, dancing and bouldering.

Tori Addison Photo

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

World Nomads travel insurance offers financial protection in case of unexpected trip cancellation or medical accident abroad. It offers competitive coverage limits and some plans designed for travelers participating in extreme sports or other adventurous activities.

In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides team will review coverage options, costs, customer reviews and more for World Nomads. We’ll also compare the provider to our picks for the best travel insurance companies to help you decide on a policy that fits your needs.

Faye Logo

Our Take on World Nomads

We awarded World Nomads 3.9 out of 5 stars overall based on our provider review methodology, naming it our pick for adventure travelers. It has the lowest average cost of the 21 providers we gathered quotes from while providing high coverage limits for baggage and travel delays.

However, World Nomads does not offer cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage like most other companies we’ve reviewed, which allows you to cancel your trip for reasons other than those listed in your policy. It also holds an F rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which resulted in a lower score in the customer service and reviews section of our methodology. We reached out to the company for a comment on its rating but did not receive a response.

Pros and Cons

How world nomads scored in our methodology.

World Nomads earned the lowest overall rating out of all providers in our review, with 3.9 stars compared to the average being 4.4 out of 5 stars across the industry. Our low rating is mainly due to its poor BBB rating and customer ratings, lack of CFAR coverage and limited plan variety. Despite this, World Nomads performed well in our cost category, offering the cheapest average policy cost overall.

World Nomads

World Nomads Travel Insurance Overview

World Nomads is a modern travel insurance provider that has been operating since 2002 and specializes in offering travel insurance policies for a range of vacations and excursions. It also offers travel safety advice and destination guides, and it promotes responsible travel practices.

We rate World Nomads as a good travel insurance company for adventurous travelers in particular. The company’s delay, cancellation and interruption coverage limits are highly competitive, and its travel insurance plans are designed for the vacationer who enjoys an adventurous trip that involves any kind of extreme sport.

Compare World Nomads to the Competition

See the table below for a direct comparison of average plan costs, BBB ratings, CFAR coverage limits and COVID-19 coverage between World Nomads and its competitors.

World Nomads vs Allianz

World Nomads and Allianz Global Assistance both do not offer CFAR coverage, which may be a dealbreaker for travelers foreseeing a change of travel plans.

We found the main differences between World Nomads and Allianz based on our review of customer service and cost. At $265, the average cost of a travel insurance policy with Allianz is over 64% more than the average cost of a World Nomads policy. 

Even so, some travelers may feel Allianz’s A+ rating and accreditation with the BBB offsets the high costs associated with its plans. Allianz also offers a mobile app and more than three ways to file a claim, which World Nomads lacks.

See the table below for a direct comparison between popular plans offered by World Nomads and Allianz.

Learn more about Allianz by reading our Allianz travel insurance review .

World Nomads vs Seven Corners

World Nomads and Seven Corners share few similarities. According to quotes gathered by our team, Seven Corners is, on average, 34% more expensive than the average World Nomads plan. World Nomads also offers more coverage for lost luggage, trip and baggage delays.

However, Seven Corners’ most comprehensive plan provides markedly better medical coverage than the World Nomads equivalent. It also offers double the amount World Nomads provides for emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains and five times the amount for medical expenses. Both insurance companies also offer two ways to file a claim.

The table below highlights key differences between popular plans offered by World Nomads and Seven Corners.

Take a closer look at Seven Corners in our review .

Why Trust MarketWatch Guides

Our editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers have no effect on our rankings.

Companies Reviewed

Quotes Collected

Rating Factors

What Does World Nomads Travel Insurance Cover?

World Nomads offers two insurance plans: Standard and Explorer. You can customize either plan to cover specific activities for your vacation, and each policy includes coverage for medical expenses, emergency assistance and personal effects.

The Standard Plan from World Nomads includes:

  • $2,500 for trip cancellation or interruption
  • $500 a day for trip or travel delays
  • $750 for baggage delay
  • $1,000 in baggage and personal effects coverage
  • $100,000 for medical accidents and sickness
  • $300,000 for emergency medical evacuation
  • $25,000 non-medical emergency transportation, such as a natural disaster
  • $5,000 for death and dismemberment on a trip

What sets World Nomads travel insurance apart from other insurers is the large number of adventure sports and activities that its basic coverage includes. In the Standard Plan, activities and extreme sports like bungee jumping, indoor skydiving, biking trips, resort skiing and windsurfing are all covered. More dangerous activities like scuba diving, hot-air ballooning and alpine ski touring are covered in the Explorer Plan.

Optional Riders

A rider is the official insurance term for “add-on.” You can buy one or more riders to attach to the travel insurance policy that you like, creating a personalized plan for your trip.

But World Nomads offers almost no add-ons. That’s because either of the two plans it sells already provide coverage for things that other insurers don’t as part of their base policies. The only extra coverage option you have is a rental car damage rider, and it only is offered with the more comprehensive Explorer plan.

However, you can extend your coverage during a trip, a benefit most travel insurance companies don’t have.

Policies Offered

Here’s a breakdown of the basic coverage options for the World Nomads Explorer Plan and Standard Plan.

Cost of World Nomads Travel Insurance

When you buy travel insurance, the cost of the plan depends on a variety of factors, including whether you want coverage for dangerous locations or activities. Things like the age and health conditions of the people on the trip affect the price, especially if someone has pre-existing medical conditions.

World Nomads is known for having cost-effective travel insurance coverage , especially given the number of sports and activities covered in its two plans.

Quotes accurate as of December 2023.

Does World Nomads Offer 24/7 Travel Assistance?

World Nomads offers clients 24/7 travel assistance when they purchase any insurance plan. Provided by Generali Global Assistance 365 days a year, it gives customers access to professional help and advice for any emergency while they’re on vacation.

The toll-free number for this service is +1-877-289-0968, which can be accessed from the U.S. and Canada. The collect worldwide number is +1-954-334-8143.

You can also contact the service by emailing [email protected].

World Nomads Customer Reviews

Customer reviews and ratings can help indicate the level of service a travel insurance company offers its policyholders. At the time of this writing, World Nomads held a 1 out of 5 star rating with the BBB and a 3.3 out of 5 stars rating on Trustpilot. 

To learn what customers like and dislike about World Nomads, we read dozens of customer reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot from recent months. Here are some common themes we found in our search:

What Customers Like

  • Reasonably priced: Recent policyholders comment on receiving comprehensive coverage at a competitive price.
  • Easy-to-navigate website: Users, including this reviewer , compliment how easy it is to navigate the World Nomads’ webpage and get a quote.
  • Clear policy details: Reviewers note that World Nomads explained their purchased policies in great detail, making coverage easy to understand.

What Customers Don’t Like

  • Slow claims process: This reviewer , amongst others, stated that they’ve spent months trying to resolve a claim with World Nomads.
  • Excessive documentation requests: Many customers, such as this one , complain about the documentation World Nomad asks for during the claims process, stating that it’s more of an ask than with other travel insurers.
  • Legitimate claims denied: Policyholders like this one felt their claims were denied when World Nomads should have provided coverage according to their contract.

We reached out to World Nomads for comment on its negative customer reviews but did not receive a response.

How To File a Claim with World Nomads

You can file a claim with World Nomads online on the World Nomads website . To complete the claim process, you need your policy number and copies of any relevant documents for things like a police report, medical insurance, credit card bills and emergency medical or dental records. The company promises to send you regular email updates about the progress of your trip insurance claim.

Is World Nomads Worth It?

Coverage from World Nomads may be worth it if you’re an adventurer looking for travel insurance on a budget. Policies cover a wide range of extreme sports and outdoor activities that other providers exclude. It also offers high coverage limits for baggage and travel delays.

However, World Nomads does not offer CFAR coverage, which is typically available through most other insurance providers. It also has lower-than-average customer review ratings and an F rating with the BBB. While our analysis of customer reviews suggests issues with claims processing and the company’s overall customer service, your individual experience may vary. We encourage you to consider what’s important to you in a travel insurance company before settling on a provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does world nomads cover canceled flights.

World Nomads Standard and Explorer plans both cover some instances where flights are delayed, missed or canceled. However, exclusions will apply depending on the situation, and the amount of compensation you receive will depend on whether an alternative flight was offered, the impact on the rest of your trip and the reason for the cancellation.

Can I extend my World Nomads travel insurance?

Yes, you can extend a World Nomads travel insurance policy while in the middle of your vacation. This comes in handy if you want to stay somewhere for longer than planned. All you have to do is buy a new policy from the date your old one ends.

Is World Nomads refundable?

Yes, you can get a full refund on your World Nomads travel insurance policy if you cancel it within 14 days of purchase. This is only valid if you haven’t already started your insured trip and you’re not making a claim.

What are the levels of World Nomads?

World Nomads offers two travel insurance plans: Standard and Explorer. The Standard Plan has lower coverage limits for things like medical treatment, baggage delay and trip interruption, but it covers many sports and activities. The Explorer Plan has higher limits and covers an extensive range of extreme or dangerous vacation activities.

Other Insurance Resources From MarketWatch Guides 

Read our comprehensive guides on the following insurance categories to find top providers and peace of mind that you have all aspects of life covered.

  • Leading Pet Insurance Companies
  • Top Travel Insurance Companies
  • Best Homeowners Insurance Providers
  • Leading Renters Insurance Companies
  • Affordable Renters Insurance Providers
  • Top Term Life Insurance Providers
  • Budget-friendly Homeowners Insurance Companies

Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Travel Insurance Companies

  • A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico.
  • A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico.
  • A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom.
  • A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom.
  • A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France.
  • A 27-year-old couple taking a $1,200 trip to Greece.
  • A 51-year-old couple taking a $2,000 trip to Spain.
  • Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
  • Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons like accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
  • Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursement after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
  • Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

More Travel Insurance Reviews:

travel insurance review

  • Available Travel Insurance Plans
  • World Nomads Cost

Compare World Nomads Travel Insurance

  • Why You Should Trust Us

World Nomads Travel Insurance Review 2024

Our experts answer readers' insurance questions and write unbiased product reviews ( here's how we assess insurance products ). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners ; however, our opinions are our own.

If you're looking for travel insurance that allows you to confidently participate in a wide range of sports and adventure activities around the world, then World Nomads might be right for you. The company's policies cover travel to almost anywhere on the globe and are available to residents of nearly every country. 

World Nomads World Nomads Travel Insurance

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Coverage for 200+ activities like skiing, surfing, and rock climbing
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Only two plans to choose from, making it simple to find the right option
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You can purchase coverage even after your trip has started
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. If your trip costs more than $10,000, you may want to choose other insurance because trip protection is capped at up to $10,000 (for the Explorer plan)
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer coverage for travelers older than 70
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) option
  • Coverage for 150+ activities and sports
  • 2 plans: Standard and Explorer
  • Trip protection for up to $10,000
  • Emergency medical insurance of up to $100,000
  • Emergency evacuation coverage for up to $500,000
  • Coverage to protect your items (up to $3,000)

World Nomads Travel Insurance Review: Types of Policies Offered

World Nomads has two basic policies: Standard and Explorer. Each covers essentially the same things, but Explorer has higher amounts that World Nomads is willing to pay out for claims. The company's policies cover more than 150 specific activities. These range from bungee jumping and rock climbing to hang gliding and hot-air ballooning. You can see the full list on the company's website.

Additional Coverage Options (Riders)

One of the most common upgraded features of a travel insurance policy is cancel for any reason (CFAR) , where you really can cancel for reason beyond what's in a standard policy. This is not available on every policy, but it is often a feature that travelers are looking for while shopping for travel insurance before their trip. At this time, World Nomads doesn't offer CFAR coverage .

At the time of this review, World Nomads also offers sports equipment coverage. In February of 2022, it expanded coverage to include more than 150 sports and activities including Pickleball and FootGolf. So, as you can imagine, plans with sports coverage will cover virtually any sport you might play.

World Nomads Travel Insurance FAQs

If you're based in the USA, Nationwide Mutual underwrites World Nomads policies. 

According to World Nomads' website, both families with kids and people up to age 70 qualify for coverage. 

Your World Nomads plan will cover emergency medical evacuation, including helicopter evacuation, if it's been recommended by a doctor.

World Nomads Travel Insurance Cost

World Nomads' standard plan is $79. It's a great option for travelers who don't care about some of the extra benefits that the Explorer package covers, like rental car coverage and extreme adventure sports. 

If you're looking to have a more comprehensive travel insurance policy, look into World Nomads' Explorer plan for $120. It includes all of the standard package perks as well as extra sports like skydiving, scuba diving, and heli-skiing. 

This is a perfect package for someone who's a little more dare-devilish and wants to be taken care of during their risky activities. 

How to File A Claim with World Nomad Travel Insurance

You can start an insurance claim by filing it on the company's website. 

You can call toll-free in the US and Canada if you need to reach the company in an emergency at: (877) 289-0968.

Callers from outside the US and Canada can reach the company at: (954)-334-8143.

The email address is:  [email protected]

You'll need to have the following ready to file a claim:

  • Your policy number
  • A contact number
  • The nature of your problem
  • Your location
  • Prescribed medication (if any)

See how World Nomads stacks up against the competition. 

World Nomads Travel Insurance vs. Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz is a strong competitor against World Nomads, especially for travelers looking for a more business-oriented option. The co many has been in business for more than 120 years and offers a wide range of insurance, not just travel-related, around the world. A key difference between World Nomads and Allianz is that Allianz offers travel insurance that can cover multiple trips in the same year. You can take an unlimited number of trips within the same calendar year, but you do have to double-check that all of your destinations are covered by the policy you select. 

Another difference is that Allianz offers coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. World Nomads doesn't have the same coverage, requiring that the pre-existing condition is fully stable in order for limited coverage with respect to trip cancellations or having to end a trip early. 

Allianz Travel Insurance Review

World Nomads Travel Insurance vs. AIG Travel Guard

Travel Guard , a product backed by AIG Travel, is another potential alternative to World Nomads. AIG is a prominent player in the insurance industry, and the Travel Guard product represents true global coverage. 

Like World Nomads, Travel Guard does have coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, but there are conditions. This coverage is in the form of an exclusion waiver, and this add-on must be purchased within 15 days of the initial trip payment. 

Both travel insurance companies use a tiered approach, but Travel Guard has higher dollar amounts across the board. For example, trip cancellation for Travel Guard covers 100% of the trip cost, while with World Nomads the amount will depends on the tier of the coverage you purchase. Trip Interruption is also a fully covered event with Travel Guards. Depending on the plan selected, it will either cover 100% or 150% of the trip cost. 

If you're concerned about COVID-19 coverage with trip insurance, there's more coverage with World Nomads than Travel Guard. With Travel Guard, coverage for having to stay in a country past your original booking dates is an add-on, not a standard part of the policy. 

AIG Travel Insurance Review

Compare World Nomad vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

If you already have a major credit card in your wallet, you most likely have some travel insurance benefits that come with it. These benefits do vary from card to card. Be sure to check your card's specific policies.

Not all credit cards will feature travel insurance protection. The ones that do may have specific limitations. For example, many credit cards with travel protection require that your airfare is paid for with the card in question for protections to take effect. 

Reimbursement isn't guaranteed. The credit cards do require that you file your claim and wait for a decision. World Nomads makes it easy to file a claim online and submit receipts and documentation. The response is fairly quick based on reviews from travelers that have actually had to file claims. 

The more premium the credit card, the more likely expanded travel protections are part of its features. If you don't already have a premium credit card, it's better to get travel insurance. This is also the case if you have multiple trips planned. Some credit cards limit not just the total dollar amount, but the number of claims within a 12-month period.

Best Credit Cards with Travel Insurance

Why You Should Trust Us: What Went into Our World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

To prepare this review on World Nomads, we started by detailing the company's travel insurance offerings. Then we looked at the best travel insurance plans and compared them to World Nomads. We looked at things like typical policy costs, coverage options, available add-ons, what's covered, and claim limits.

world nomads trip insurance

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.

world nomads trip insurance

  • Main content
  • Auto Insurance Best Car Insurance Cheapest Car Insurance Compare Car Insurance Quotes Best Car Insurance For Young Drivers Best Auto & Home Bundles Cheapest Cars To Insure
  • Home Insurance Best Home Insurance Best Renters Insurance Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Types Of Homeowners Insurance
  • Life Insurance Best Life Insurance Best Term Life Insurance Best Senior Life Insurance Best Whole Life Insurance Best No Exam Life Insurance
  • Pet Insurance Best Pet Insurance Cheap Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Costs Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
  • Travel Insurance Best Travel Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Best Cruise Travel Insurance Best Senior Travel Insurance
  • Health Insurance Best Health Insurance Plans Best Affordable Health Insurance Best Dental Insurance Best Vision Insurance Best Disability Insurance
  • Credit Cards Best Credit Cards 2024 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Best 0% APR Credit Cards Best Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Startups Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit Best Cards for Students without Credit
  • Credit Card Reviews Chase Sapphire Preferred Wells Fargo Active Cash® Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Double Cash Citi Diamond Preferred Chase Ink Business Unlimited American Express Blue Business Plus
  • Credit Card by Issuer Best Chase Credit Cards Best American Express Credit Cards Best Bank of America Credit Cards Best Visa Credit Cards
  • Credit Score Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection
  • CDs Best CD Rates Best No Penalty CDs Best Jumbo CD Rates Best 3 Month CD Rates Best 6 Month CD Rates Best 9 Month CD Rates Best 1 Year CD Rates Best 2 Year CD Rates Best 5 Year CD Rates
  • Checking Best High-Yield Checking Accounts Best Checking Accounts Best No Fee Checking Accounts Best Teen Checking Accounts Best Student Checking Accounts Best Joint Checking Accounts Best Business Checking Accounts Best Free Checking Accounts
  • Savings Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Best Free No-Fee Savings Accounts Simple Savings Calculator Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20
  • Mortgages Best Mortgage Lenders Best Online Mortgage Lenders Current Mortgage Rates Best HELOC Rates Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders Best Home Equity Loan Lenders Best VA Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Refinance Rates Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast
  • Personal Loans Best Personal Loans Best Debt Consolidation Loans Best Emergency Loans Best Home Improvement Loans Best Bad Credit Loans Best Installment Loans For Bad Credit Best Personal Loans For Fair Credit Best Low Interest Personal Loans
  • Student Loans Best Student Loans Best Student Loan Refinance Best Student Loans for Bad or No Credit Best Low-Interest Student Loans
  • Business Loans Best Business Loans Best Business Lines of Credit Apply For A Business Loan Business Loan vs. Business Line Of Credit What Is An SBA Loan?
  • Investing Best Online Brokers Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Best Low-Risk Investments Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now Best S&P 500 Index Funds Best Stocks For Beginners How To Make Money From Investing In Stocks
  • Retirement Best Gold IRAs Best Investments for a Roth IRA Best Bitcoin IRAs Protecting Your 401(k) In a Recession Types of IRAs Roth vs Traditional IRA How To Open A Roth IRA
  • Business Formation Best LLC Services Best Registered Agent Services How To Start An LLC How To Start A Business
  • Web Design & Hosting Best Website Builders Best E-commerce Platforms Best Domain Registrar
  • HR & Payroll Best Payroll Software Best HR Software Best HRIS Systems Best Recruiting Software Best Applicant Tracking Systems
  • Payment Processing Best Credit Card Processing Companies Best POS Systems Best Merchant Services Best Credit Card Readers How To Accept Credit Cards
  • More Business Solutions Best VPNs Best VoIP Services Best Project Management Software Best CRM Software Best Accounting Software
  • Manage Topics
  • Investigations
  • Visual Explainers
  • Newsletters
  • Abortion news
  • Coronavirus
  • Climate Change
  • Vertical Storytelling
  • Corrections Policy
  • College Football
  • High School Sports
  • H.S. Sports Awards
  • Sports Betting
  • College Basketball (M)
  • College Basketball (W)
  • For The Win
  • Sports Pulse
  • Weekly Pulse
  • Buy Tickets
  • Sports Seriously
  • Sports+ States
  • Celebrities
  • Entertainment This!
  • Celebrity Deaths
  • American Influencer Awards
  • Women of the Century
  • Problem Solved
  • Personal Finance
  • Small Business
  • Consumer Recalls
  • Video Games
  • Product Reviews
  • Destinations
  • Airline News
  • Experience America
  • Today's Debate
  • Suzette Hackney
  • Policing the USA
  • Meet the Editorial Board
  • How to Submit Content
  • Hidden Common Ground
  • Race in America

Personal Loans

Best Personal Loans

Auto Insurance

Best Auto Insurance

Best High-Yields Savings Accounts

CREDIT CARDS

Best Credit Cards

Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Travel Insurance

World Nomads travel insurance review 2024

Jennifer Simonson

Mandy Sleight

Mandy Sleight

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Heidi Gollub

Heidi Gollub

Updated 5:28 p.m. UTC Feb. 23, 2024

  • path]:fill-[#49619B]" alt="Facebook" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  • path]:fill-[#202020]" alt="Email" width="19" height="14" viewBox="0 0 19 14" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

World Nomads

World Nomads

Covers COVID?

Medical & evacuation limits per person, what you should know.

While many travel insurance companies exclude coverage for adventure activities, World Nomads designed its policy with the adventure traveler in mind. Individuals who engage in high-risk, international volunteer work may also benefit from this coverage. World Nomads covers more than 200 adventure activities, from skydiving to running with the bulls. It does not offer “cancel for any reason” coverage .

  • Covers hundreds of high-risk athletic and adventure activities.
  • Explorer Plan offers $500,000 in emergency evacuation coverage.
  • Offers $25,000 non-medical emergency evacuation coverage.
  • If you are not an adventure traveler, you can find cheaper rates elsewhere.
  • “Cancel for any reason” upgrade not available.
  • No waiver for pre-existing conditions available.

World Nomads overview

World Nomads has been selling travel insurance since 2002. Nationwide underwrites all World Nomads travel insurance plans. 

Athletes and adventurers may be interested in World Nomads travel insurance because of its generous coverage of potentially risky activities. International volunteers may also consider a World Nomads plan if they volunteer in disaster zones or do high-risk volunteer work like construction. 

World Nomads offers two plans, each with different benefits, limits and sub-limits for coverage. Read our World Nomads travel insurance review to determine if one of these plans meets your needs.

World Nomads travel insurance plans

World Nomads offers two travel insurance plans: Standard Plan and Explorer Plan. Get an online quote to compare the plans before buying. You won’t be able to upgrade your plan mid-trip. That said, if you extend your trip while traveling, World Nomads will allow you to buy more coverage.

Both Standard and Explorer plans include emergency travel medical insurance coverage of up to $100,000 as well as trip cancellation insurance , trip delay and interruption insurance, baggage coverage and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. The plans also include a 24/7 emergency assistance number where a staff of multilingual assistants can connect you with medical treatment and transportation in the case of an emergency. 

World Nomads Standard Plan 

This budget-friendly plan covers everything you would expect from a travel insurance plan, but with lower coverage limits than the Explorer Plan. It also covers more than 200 adventurous activities, such as dog sledding, glacier walking, ice fishing, zip lining, bungee jumping, moped biking, tree climbing, sailboarding, triathlons, deep sea fishing and skateboarding. Covered activities may vary depending on your country of residence. 

World Nomads Explorer Plan

The World Nomads Explorer plan covers everything in the Standard plan but increases the limits for many coverages and adds coverage for nearly 80 adventure activities. Additional covered activities under the Explorer Plan include backcountry snowboarding, heli-skiing, free diving, shark cage diving, skydiving, running of the bulls and rock climbing. 

World Nomads Standard Plan vs. Explorer Plan

The Explorer Plan will cost you more, but it comes with higher coverage limits. Compare the two World Nomads travel insurance plans side by side.

World Nomads travel insurance covers

The main types of travel insurance packaged together in World Nomad policies include:

  • Trip cancellation and interruption. Trip cancellation insurance and trip interruption insurance reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cancel your trip or cut it short because of a covered reason. Covered reasons typically include severe weather and illness, injury or death of you, your traveling companion or a close family member.
  • Emergency medical expenses and evacuation. Travel medical insurance and medical evacuation coverage help pay hospital bills and medevac expenses if you get sick or injured on your trip.
  • Travel delay. If your trip is delayed for six hours or more due to a reason listed in the policy, travel delay insurance can help cover the cost of accommodations, meals and local transportation while you are delayed. 
  • Baggage. Baggage insurance includes lost or stolen baggage, excessive baggage damage and baggage that is delayed more than 12 hours, on your outgoing journey only.  
  • Travel Assistance Services. Multilingual travel agents with Generali Global Assistance provide 24-hour assistance services for World Nomads. You can call for help locating a physician or to coordinate emergency medical transportation and care. 

World Nomads also covers more than 200 adventure activities, many of which may be excluded by other travel insurance plans. A few activities covered by both World Nomads plans are:

  • Aerial safari.
  • Camel riding.
  • Cave tubing. 
  • Dog sledding.
  • Kite surfing.
  • Snorkeling.
  • Spearfishing.
  • White water rafting.

World Nomads travel insurance doesn't cover

Like many travel insurance companies, World Nomads does not cover everything. 

Common medical claims that are not covered by World Nomads travel insurance include:

  • Injury while intoxicated on drugs or alcohol.
  • Injury sustained while behaving in a reckless manner. 
  • Certain pre-existing medical conditions.
  • Non-emergency treatments. 
  • Routine medical exams. 
  • Normal labor and childbirth.
  • Intentionally harming oneself.
  • Suicide or attempted suicide.

There are also a handful of adventure activities that are excluded from coverage, such as base jumping and mountaineering over 22,965 feet.

Read your policy carefully to understand any exclusions before traveling. If you’re not happy with your policy, you have 10 days to request a refund. 

Filing a claim with World Nomads

You can file a travel insurance claim using World Nomads’ 24/7 online portal. To start a claim, log into your member account and follow the prompts. You will be asked questions relevant to your claim. Once you are done answering all the questions and uploading any relevant documents, click the declaration to finish the claim. You should then receive an email confirmation with your claim number.

It is a good idea to always have your policy number handy in case you need to file a claim or call the 24-hour Emergency Assistance Team while traveling. 

Compare the best travel insurance companies of 2024

Shopping for a travel insurance policy? Consider getting a quote from one of the insurers that made our best travel insurance companies rating. 

World Nomads travel insurance review FAQs

World Nomads does not cover pre-existing conditions and does not provide the option for a pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver, as some of the best travel insurance companies do. 

No, World Nomads does not have “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) insurance . This optional upgrade, available with many travel insurance plans, allows you to pay extra for the right to cancel your trip for any reason at all. As long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure, you’re typically entitled to a percentage of your nonrefundable trip expenses, generally 50% or 75%. 

Adding CFAR to your plan typically increases the cost of your travel insurance by 50%. Comparing travel insurance plans can help you to find the best CFAR travel insurance . 

Yes, World Nomads travel insurance covers personal electronic devices if they are stolen, lost or damaged on your trip. If all other sources of compensation are exhausted — such as filing a claim with your airline or your homeowners insurance — World Nomads may reimburse you for the depreciated value of your loss.

Keep in mind, however, that the per-article limit for World Nomads’ baggage and personal effects coverage is $500 under the Standard Plan and $1,500 with the Explorer Plan. 

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Jennifer Simonson

Jennifer Simonson covers everything from business to the wine industry to international travel. Outdoor adventure, water parks and all things Texas are by far her favorite beats. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Texas Monthly, Smithsonian Magazine, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, Slate and more. You can follow her on Instagram at @storiestoldwell.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

10 worst US airports for flight cancellations this week

10 worst US airports for flight cancellations this week

Travel Insurance Heidi Gollub

Average flight costs: Travel, airfare and flight statistics 2024

Average flight costs: Travel, airfare and flight statistics 2024

Travel Insurance Timothy Moore

John Hancock travel insurance review 2024

John Hancock travel insurance review 2024

Travel Insurance Jennifer Simonson

HTH Worldwide travel insurance review 2024

HTH Worldwide travel insurance review 2024

Airfare at major airports is up 29% since 2021

Airfare at major airports is up 29% since 2021

USI Affinity travel insurance review 2024

USI Affinity travel insurance review 2024

Trawick International travel insurance review 2024

Trawick International travel insurance review 2024

Travel insurance for Canada

Travel insurance for Canada

Travel Insurance Mandy Sleight

Travelex travel insurance review 2024

Travelex travel insurance review 2024

Best travel insurance companies of March 2024

Best travel insurance companies of March 2024

Travel Insurance Amy Fontinelle

Best travel insurance for a Disney World vacation in 2024

Best travel insurance for a Disney World vacation in 2024

Outlook for travel insurance in 2024

Outlook for travel insurance in 2024

Survey: Nearly 85% of Americans avoid family over the holidays

Survey: Nearly 85% of Americans avoid family over the holidays

Travel Insurance Kara McGinley

AIG travel insurance review 2024

AIG travel insurance review 2024

Average cost of travel insurance in 2024

Average cost of travel insurance in 2024

COMMENTS

  1. World Nomads Travel Insurance Review 2024

    See Forbes Advisor's review of World Nomads travel insurance and learn details about World Nomads' travel insurance plans, coverage amounts and pricing.

  2. World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

    World Nomads travel insurance offers financial protection in case of unexpected trip cancellation or medical accident abroad. It offers competitive coverage limits and some plans designed...

  3. World Nomads Travel Insurance Review 2024

    World Nomads Travel Insurance. Get quotes. compare policies and rates with SquareMouth Travel Insurance. Insider’s Rating 3.83/5. Perks. N/A. AM Best Financial Strength Rating. A- Show...

  4. World Nomads Travel Insurance Review 2024

    Plan name. Explorer. Covers COVID? Yes. Medical & evacuation limits per person. $100,000/$500,000. What you should know. While many travel insurance companies exclude coverage for adventure...

  5. World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

    Ad. With Travel Insurance, you'll be prepared for anything unexpected. Insure your upcoming trip with the right coverage that will protect you from delays, lost luggage, among others. Click on your state to find out more.