ef tours travel protection plan

Your travel coverage options

Travel with peace of mind.

Designed with our travelers in mind, these options combine a comprehensive selection of travel coverage benefits and services.

Each plan provides you with coverage for:

Tour Cancellation & Interruption If an emergency at home hinders your ability to travel as planned or a family member has a medical emergency requiring you to return home early, you’ll be eligible for valuable refunds and reimbursements.

Baggage & Personal Effects Should circumstances beyond your control cause you or your baggage to be delayed in reaching your tour destination, you may be reimbursed for related out-of-pocket expenses.

Travel & Baggage Delay Should certain circumstances cause you or your baggage to be delayed in reaching your tour destination, you may be reimbursed for related out-of-pocket expenses.

Accident & Sickness What happens if you have a medical emergency abroad? This policy offers coverage for out-of-pocket expenses, arrangement of emergency flights and a 24-hour, worldwide service network.

Purchased before September 1, 2023

Safeguard your investment with cancellation protection for unexpected situations, such as an emergency at home that prevents you from traveling or requires you to interrupt your tour along the way. The TravelSafe package provides you with coverage for:

• Tour Cancellation & Interruption

• Travel & Baggage Delay

• Baggage & Personal Effects

• Accident & Sickness

Please see below for full terms and conditions.

Deadline to enroll: Tour Finalization Date

Upgrade your TravelSafe plan for just $75 to receive additional coverage.* If your scheduled Go Ahead Tours flight is canceled for any reason, our 24/7 emergency support team will provide you with a new airline ticket at no additional cost (up to a $3,000 value) so that you can rejoin the scheduled tour as quickly as possible. Go Ahead Tours will also reimburse you for missed time on tour in the event of a delay.

Extended Protection Coverage

Extend your TravelSafe Benefits for your pre- or post-tour arrangements. This coverage is available for up to 14 additional days before or after your Go Ahead Tour, if you have purchased airfare as part of your Go Ahead Tour.

*Travel Insurance Products are not available to residents of Québec.

**Benefits under TravelSafe Premium and AnyReason Protection are administered by Go Ahead Tours and are not insurance products underwritten by Chubb Insurance Company of Canada. Please note that vouchers issued by Go Ahead Tours as an AnyReason Protection benefit may not be used as a tour deposit.

Policy Number 9912-1444 (purchased between February 1, 2023 and August 31, 2023)

Certificate of Insurance – English

Summary of Coverage – English

Policy Number 9908-9943 (purchased between April 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023)

Policy Number 9908-6986 (purchased between March 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022)

Certificate of Insurance - English

For policies purchased before March 2021 please call 1-800-754-5066.

Purchased after September 1, 2023

Safeguard your investment with cancellation protection for unexpected situations, such as an emergency at home that prevents you from traveling or requires you to interrupt your tour along the way. The Travel Protection Plan provides you with coverage for:

Extend your Travel Protection Plan coverage for your pre- or post-tour arrangements. This coverage is available for up to 14 additional days before or after your Go Ahead Tour, if you have purchased airfare as part of your Go Ahead Tour.

**Benefits under AnyReason Protection are administered by Go Ahead Tours and are not insurance products underwritten by Zurich Insurance Company (Canadian Branch). Please note that vouchers issued by Go Ahead Tours as an AnyReason Protection benefit may not be used as a tour deposit.

Policy Number 8451415 (purchased after September 1, 2023)

Bonus Protection!

Anyreason protection.

When you enroll in Travel Protection Plan within 72 hours of reserving your tour, you'll automatically receive AnyReason Protection—that's a $100 value, yours for free. With AnyReason Protection, should you need to cancel your tour at any time prior to checking in for your first flight, Go Ahead Tours will provide you with a credit voucher that may be applied toward any future tour. After 72 hours, you'll have the option to add AnyReason Protection for $100 when you enroll in a travel coverage plan. Learn more about AnyReason Protection here

Not sure when you enrolled? Log in to your account to view your travel protection details.

Travel Protection

Are you covered?

Many insurance plans do not provide adequate coverage for people traveling abroad.

We encourage all participants to sign up for cost-effective Travel Protection*, designed specifically to meet the needs of EF travelers. Travel Protection protects your investment prior to departure and covers your expenses should something unexpected happen during your trip. Note that the amount paid for Travel Protection is non-refundable and coverage begins as soon it's purchased.

Travel Protection is comprised of coverage for:

• Tour Cancellation
• Tour Interruption
• Baggage and Personal Effects
• Baggage Delay
• Accident & Sickness

*Travel Protection includes both an insurance and a tour operator benefit. To view a more detailed summary of the most current policy underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, click here . This page serves as a summary of coverages available under the Travel Protection plan; actual coverage options may vary, and underwritten components are based on state of residency. For detailed policy certificates by state click here .

Our Travel-Ready Approach

Wherever you go, whenever you travel. we will always have your back..

See the world again with our industry-leading approach to safer travel

Since our founding in 1965, our travelers’ safety has always come first. That’s why we’ve always provided unmatched global support, planning, and expertise, so everyone feels empowered to explore the world. Now, as we return to travel, we’re enhancing our policies even further to get you back on the road with peace of mind. This is our Travel-Ready Approach.

The EF Advantage

From our EF Global Safety Network to our crisis response team, we lead the way in safety and support. Our experts constantly review national and international travel guidelines to ensure your trip will meet our rigorous safety—and satisfaction—standards. We’re always there when you need us with:

• 24/7 on-call support
• 50,000 EF staff on the ground to support you in 50 countries
• 55+ years of experience supporting travelers on tour

A comprehensive approach

We make travel less stressful for you, so you can book with confidence.

Flexible policies

We know that, lately, plans have been pretty hard to keep. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to help you book your dream trip with confidence. That includes:

• Flexible booking policies
• Cancel-for-any-reason protection

Enhanced protocols

The World Travel & Tourism Council awarded us the first-ever global safety and hygiene stamp. We’re proud to commit to:

• Only featuring hotels, restaurants, and suppliers that follow local health policies
• Sanitizing our private motor coaches throughout the tour
• Visiting major tourist locations during off-peak hours

Ready to take a trip?

See where you can travel right now—and how our Travel-Ready Approach will support you from booking to breathtaking memories.

Explore tours & support

Already booked?

Find out more about our on-the-road support, as well as our travel vouchers and rebooking policies in case your plans change.

Get the latest travel updates

Entry requirements

Enter the name of the tour you’ve reserved (or put on your wish list), and we’ll give you the most up-to-date entry requirements.

European travel requirement notice

“Just returned from Greece (in June). The trip was wonderful and our entire group felt safe throughout. EF Go Ahead Tours did an amazing job of preparing us and facilitating testing for re-entry. Feels so good to be back out there!”

—Traveler Michelle

Frequently asked questions

At EF Go Ahead Tours, the health and safety of our travelers and staff is a top priority. EF considers guidelines released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and the U.S. Department of State, and our global 24/7 Emergency Service, Safety & Incident Response Team closely monitors each of our destinations to identify potential risks and local regulations.

We are reviewing each country we visit on tour to assess any border restrictions and to confirm flights are operating between the U.S., Canada, and that destination. We are continuously communicating with our suppliers to review and uphold our safety protocols and safe travel standards, and are working with our local staff to thoroughly understand the environment of our destinations before we travel there. It is important to us that we are providing our travelers with immersive, cultural experiences, so we are careful to assess whether points of interest are open to travelers and whether new policies and social distancing standards will inhibit a traveler’s experience. In the age of COVID-19, we are also specifically regulating reports regarding infection rates and health care accessibility and will closely monitor any changes in reported rates following a destination’s reopening before commencing travel.

EF Go Ahead Tours recommends that all travelers follow the recommendations of their own medical professionals. Experts advise people to frequently wash their hands in warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds and to avoid touching their face. Be aware of high-touch surfaces, such as handrails, arm rests, and security bins at the airport, and be sure to wash hands thoroughly after coming in contact with such surfaces, or before any meal. If possible, wipe down any personal surfaces with anti-bacterial wipes before use and bring hand sanitizer for moments when water or soap may not be available.

Hand sanitizer will be available on all our buses and we recommend travelers use it upon re-entering the bus. Buses will be cleaned and sanitized regularly, with a specific focus on high-frequency touchpoints. Tour Directors will also provide a reminder of these guidelines at the start of every tour.

As always, we recommend our travelers appoint an Emergency Contact who can be reached in case of any urgent concerns during their tour. This individual should be aware they are being listed as an Emergency Contact and their name and phone number should be reported to Go Ahead prior to departure.

Finally, we also recommend our travelers speak with their doctors about any concerns they may have about traveling during this time. We are not medical professionals and will always encourage our travelers to take the advice of their own physicians.

In addition to our standard packing list, we recommend travelers pack masks, hand sanitizer, and anti-bacterial wipes in their carry-on bags. As always, keep any prescriptions in your carry-on as well, in case of any luggage delays.

Travelers should plan to arrive earlier than usual at the airport to allow additional time for potential health screening and social distancing protocols. Airlines and airports will enforce their own health and safety measures and travelers should adhere to the guidelines in place. For additional information about your flight, visit your airline’s website.

We are working closely with each of our suppliers to adjust our dining experience in accordance to local and expert guidelines. In some cases, we will adapt our meals to accommodate social distancing and reduce the number of shared surfaces as much as possible.

We partner with restaurants and suppliers that meet superior cleanliness standards and follow the safety protocols in place in their region. We discourage travelers from sharing food and drinks with others on tour and, again, advise travelers to thoroughly wash their hands before eating.

Tour Directors and our On-Tour Support Teams are trained prior to departure on how to respond to any medical concerns that come up during a tour. For most health-related questions, travelers will be advised to seek medical attention, with the assistance of their Tour Director or another local EF staff or guide. Local medical professionals will assess the severity of the condition and will advise on appropriate treatment and protocols.

Should a traveler test positive for COVID-19 during their tour experience, Go Ahead will inform other members of tour as soon as possible and will then follow local protocols to best protect their health and safety. Travelers diagnosed with COVID-19 on tour may not continue on tour. The subsequent response will vary based on the specific conditions of the situation and the policies set in place by local authorities. Go Ahead will continue to communicate necessary information to the travelers in the group until a resolution has been reached and will assist in making arrangements should travelers be required, or if they desire, to return home due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Our extensive network of offices around the world, and integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines , help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service, Safety & Incident Response Team anticipate and address on-tour challenges—in a flexible and iterative way.

See our Terms & Conditions for additional details.

Yes, we recommend that all travelers consider purchasing travel coverage to help safeguard your investment in case of unexpected situations. Trip Protection offers coverage for circumstances that may keep you from your planned travel, including Tour Cancellation & Interruption, Travel & Baggage Delay, Accident & Sickness, and Baggage & Personal Effects.

Plus, when you enroll within three days of booking your trip, you’ll be eligible for an Early Enrollment Package, which includes a Pre-Existing Condition Waiver and AnyReason Protection (additional non-insurance benefits). Read more about your travel coverage options .

Should a destination be put under a stay-at-home order while travelers are on the road, we will either reroute the tour or bring all travelers home as soon as possible. For tours with itinerary adjustments, customers will not incur any additional fees. Customers with flights purchased through Go Ahead will not incur any flight change fees. Go Ahead also reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to make the decision to end a tour early due to COVID-19 concerns even if a destination does not have a stay-at-home order.

Due to enhanced screening measures at airports, it is possible that travelers showing symptoms may be denied boarding and could be held at an airport for additional testing. In these instances, travelers should call our 24/7 On-Tour Support Team. While travelers must adhere to the airport guidelines in place, Go Ahead can assist in communicating with group members and supporting travelers throughout the experience.

Get your questions answered at our live info session !

Global Travel Protection plan

Travel insurance requirements and options for your EF Gap Year.

All EF Gap Year participants are required to have adequate travel insurance.

Below is a summary of required and suggested insurance coverage.

Required coverage:

Accident and Sickness – $100,000

Accidental Death & Dismemberment – $50,000

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation – $150,000

Non-Medical Evacuation – $100,000

Highly recommended coverage:

Cancellation for Valid Reason – $22,000 (Gap Semester) / $39,500 (Gap Year)

Trip Interruption – $33,000 (Gap Semester) / $59,250 (Gap Year)

Travel Delay – $2,500

EF Gap Year’s Global Travel Protection plan

EF Gap Year offers a specially designed Global Travel Protection plan for our program participants that meets all of the requirements and recommendations outlined above at very competitive rates:

Gap Year: $900

Gap Semester: $500

Short-Term: $400

Note: The cost of the Global Travel Protection plan is not included in the Gap Year, Gap Semester, or Short-Term base price, but an additional charge.

The Global Travel Protection plan includes insured components that are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company and non-insurance assistance services provided by Falck Global Assistance. You can find further details of the policy, coverage limits, and exclusions here . The Global Travel Protection plan becomes non-refundable after any of the following occur: when you depart on your program, when you file a claim, or 10 days after payment.

Filing a Claim

If you purchased the Global Travel Protection plan and wish to file a claim, you can do so in just a few simple steps. Claims instructions and helpful links are listed below for your convenience. And if you have any questions, we’re here to help. Just give the EF Gap team a call at 1-800-726-9746.

To get started, review the policy page to find information specific to when you purchased coverage.

Find your required form to file a claim due to a medical claim, cancellation delay, interruption or lost baggage.

Providing your own travel insurance

If you choose not to purchase EF Gap Year’s Global Travel Protection plan, you will need to provide proof of adequate insurance coverage prior to departure. Please be advised that many insurance companies do not offer travel abroad coverage for individuals. Be sure to check with your provider about the types of coverage they can offer and at what price. We strongly suggest you compare their rates against ours.

Travel Protection

Travel protection plan.

Travelers can choose to enroll in the Travel Protection plan, which is designed specifically with EF travelers in mind. The affordable plan provides pre-departure and on-tour benefits, including medical-expense coverage that may apply on tour, and tour cancellation for the stated reasons below. Please read on for additional coverage details, as well as deadlines to purchase the Travel Protection plan.

When you book your trip, choose to add EF’s Travel Protection plan and you're all set. If you're already booked but want to enroll, you can find the Travel Protection plan in the checklist found on your online account page.

Trip cancellation coverage

This plan includes trip cancellation coverage. If a traveler needs to cancel a trip due to reasons specified in the plan, this reimburses non-refundable pre-paid payments.

Illness and accident coverage

Provides benefits related to hospital bills, doctors’ fees, and medical transportation associated with on-tour illnesses or injuries, as well as travel and accommodation expenses for a family member to be with your child while hospitalized in the event of a life-threatening illness.

Trip interruption coverage

This plan includes trip interruption coverage. If a traveler needs to interrupt a tour due to serious injury or illness, this provides a benefit.

Protection for your belongings

Coverage for baggage in cases of theft or delay.

Trip delay coverage

Coverage for expenses due to trip delays (lodging, food, and other reasonable expenses plus limited reimbursement of unused, forfeited, prepaid non-refundable payments for travel arrangements).

Emergency evacuation coverages

This plan includes coverages that can provide a benefit in the unlikely event a traveler should need to return home unexpectedly due to a natural disaster or unrest.

The Travel Protection plan includes insured components that are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a cancellation fee waiver benefit provided by EF Ultimate Break, and non-insurance assistance services provided by Falck Global Assistance. You can find further details of the policy, coverage limits, and exclusions here . The Global Travel Protection plan becomes non-refundable after any of the following occur: when you depart on your tour, when you file a claim, or 10 days after payment.

Filing a claim

If you purchased the Travel Protection plan and wish to file a claim, you can do so in just a few simple steps. Claims instructions and helpful links are listed below for your convenience. And, if you have any questions, we're here to help. Just give us a call at 877-485-4184.

To get started, review the policy page to find information specific to when you purchased coverage.

Find your required form to file a claim due to a medical claim, cancellation delay, interruption, or lost baggage.

• EF Education First Insurance Coverage
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Submit a Claim

EF Educational Tours (US)

Program Resources

EF’s industry-leading safety & coverage programs for 2023 tours and beyond

When you decide to travel with EF, we want you to feel secure in that decision. That’s why as the world changes, so do we. Below are a range of policies and programs designed to flex to meet our travelers’ specific needs—no matter where they are in the planning process.

Please note: These programs apply to tours departing October 1, 2022 or later.

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We’re covering: 1. Safety First Program 2. Individual Coverage 3. Peace of Mind Program 4. General Liability Coverage 5. Risk-Free Enrollment Period

Provided to all groups 

This program was created to provide the safest possible tour experience for our customers.

EF’s unmatched global presence With 600 schools and offices in 50 countries worldwide, including regional offices dedicated to on-tour support, our global presence is truly unmatched. Our 50,000+ staff and faculty members around the world provide a local presence and are able to react quickly and in person where necessary. Plus, the staff in each office and school are trained to respond to a wide range of emergency situations.

Dedicated Emergency Service and Incident Response Teams EF’s Emergency Service & Support Team is available 24/7 to resolve any issue, from a missed flight to a lost passport to more serious on-tour incidents. They also facilitate communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency at home. The Emergency Service & Support Team is made up of highly trained, dedicated EF staff based in our Boston, Denver, and Austin offices who are equipped to solve problems and answer questions that may come up, even outside of regular business hours. This team also maintains direct communication with our Operations Safety & Incident Response Team to jointly solve issues as needed.

Background checks on adult travelers We conduct background checks on all adults traveling on our student tours. This is meant to help provide a safer tour experience for all travelers, and is a similar process to what many school districts implement for adults who volunteer in schools or chaperone school activities. Background checks take place through a secure process that is meant to specifically identify individuals who could present a risk to student travelers while on tour.

Individual coverage

Cancel for Any Reason** The Travel Protection plan provides a refund of the Program Price (minus the cost of the plan and other non-refundable fees) if your child needs to cancel from tour due to reasons of serious injury or illness requiring hospitalization, financial hardship due to unexpected job loss, jury duty, you or your traveling companion are in the military and called to emergency duty for a national disaster other than war, or severe damage to home. Tour interruption coverage Additional coverage if a traveler needs to return early from tour due to reasons of serious injury or illness requiring hospitalization. Baggage and property coverage Coverage for baggage, airline tickets, travel documents and valuable property in cases of theft or delay. Flight delay coverage Coverage for expenses due to flight delays (lodging, food, and other reasonable expenses) as well as limited coverage for every full land day missed of your program due to flight delays or cancellations. Emergency evacuation coverage Coverage in the unlikely event a traveler should need to return unexpectedly back to his/her departure gateway (airport) due to a natural disaster or unrest.

The Travel Protection plan includes insured components that are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a cancellation fee waiver benefit provided by EF Explore America, and non-insurance assistance services provided by Falck Global Assistance. You can find further details of the policy, coverage limits, and exclusions here . The Travel Protection plan becomes non-refundable after any of the following occur: when you depart on your tour, when you file a claim, or 10 days after payment.

*$119 is the current cost for tours departing on or after October 1, 2023.

Cost: $309* Must be added at the time of enrollment

Cancel for Any Reason** The Travel Protection Plus plan provides a refund of the Program Price (minus the cost of the plan and other non-refundable fees) if your child needs to cancel their tour up to 24 hours prior to departure, for any reason. Tour interruption coverage Additional coverage if a traveler needs to return early from tour due to reasons of serious injury or illness requiring hospitalization. Baggage and property coverage Coverage for baggage, airline tickets, travel documents and valuable property in cases of theft or delay. Flight delay coverage Coverage for expenses due to flight delays (lodging, food and other reasonable expenses) as well as limited coverage for every full land day missed of your program due to flight delays or cancellations. Emergency evacuation coverage Both plans include coverage in the unlikely event a traveler should need to return unexpectedly back to his/her departure gateway (airport) due to a natural disaster or unrest.

For additional details regarding the insurance components of this plan, underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, including coverage limits and a full list of exclusions, please visit this page . For information on filing a claim, visit the Filing a Claim article.

*$309 is the current price for tours departing on or after October 1, 2024.

Provided to all groups

We understand that plans can change due to unforeseen circumstances. EF provides an exclusive Peace of Mind program to account for such situations. This program is automatically included for all travelers and can be enacted at the group level for any reason, including terrorism, pandemics, or other world events.

Your Group Leader may choose from the following options:

45 days or more prior to departure:

• Work with EF to modify your group’s current tour itinerary and dates, or find a new tour and apply all money paid to the new tour
• Cancel your tour and all travelers will receive a transferable Future Travel Voucher in the amount of all monies paid for the original tour, less the cost of any purchased Travel Protection plan
• Cancel your tour with applicable fees under the Standard Cancellation Policy

44 days or less prior to departure:

• If any location(s) included in the group’s itinerary is newly designated as a Travel Advisory Level 4 by the U.S. Department of State; or a U.S. federal or state governmental authority has newly imposed a travel ban to your destination, or newly issued an order requiring a self-quarantine for travelers in your group upon arrival to a location on your itinerary or upon return home from a location on your group’s itinerary; your Group Leader or the individual traveler will have the same Peace of Mind options set forth above.

Terms & Conditions Benefits of the Peace of Mind program are only available to the entire group and not to individual travelers unless specifically indicated. Travelers missing any payment deadlines must pay any incurred late fees to qualify for this program.

Revised tours must depart within one year of the original tour. If the revised tour has a higher price than the original tour, travelers will be required to pay the difference as a condition of traveling on the revised tour. If EF cannot accommodate a revised tour request and/or the group decides not to travel on the original tour, then the group may opt for future travel vouchers. If the group does not travel on the original tour, travel on a revised tour, or receive a Future Travel Voucher, standard cancellation fees will apply.

Travelers canceling from a revised tour will be charged a cancellation fee based on the date that the original tour was revised or the date of cancellation from the revised tour, whichever is higher. EF will make every effort to accommodate revised tour requests.

Future Travel Vouchers are valid up to 25 months from the month of the original tour’s scheduled departure. Future Travel Vouchers are transferrable at the face value of the voucher to members of the traveler’s immediate family or school community. The Future Travel Voucher is not a merchandise credit or a gift certificate and may not be redeemed for cash unless specifically noted on the voucher. Travelers who had booked their program by redeeming a previously issued Future Travel Voucher may have different terms and options available to them based on the originally issued voucher terms.

Provided to all Group Leaders and Schools

All Group Leaders, schools, and districts who travel with EF are added as additional insureds under our $50 million General Liability Policy, whether or not the tour is considered a school event. This policy helps safeguard Group Leaders, schools, and districts in case of claims related to covered on-tour incidents such as third party personal injury or property damage and provides a legal defense and covers associated legal fees. Policy terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

New travelers traveling between October 1, 2023, and Sept 30, 2026, who enroll during the Early Enrollment period can cancel for any reason up to 14 days after enrollment for a full refund of 100% of the money paid to EF. The early enrollment period is defined as the window in which your program is eligible for an enrollment discount. To be eligible, the traveler must enroll on a tour at least 110 days prior to the scheduled departure date. Travelers must pay in full or enroll in our Automatic Payment Plan at the time of program enrollment and must remain either paid in full or enrolled in our Automatic Payment Plan and in good financial standing at the time of cancellation to remain eligible.

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