Where to Find the Best Travel Insurance Online
From Mendocino down to San Diego County, California’s Wine Country is the most traveled wine region in the United States. The vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms are the top destinations of wine enthusiasts from all over the country. Whether you’re planning to attend Bottle Rock in May, Sonoma's colorful vineyards in the autumn, or any time in between, you should plan your trip well ahead of time. Planning ahead is the only way to ensure you get the best hotel, book the best tastings and score a reservation at top restaurants.
That means you will be booking well in advance. A lot can change between the day you confirm your reservation and when you actually travel. The only way to protect yourself (your money) is with the best travel insurance.
Here are some more tips for traveling in wine country.
Top Online Travel Insurance Options
Wherever you’re traveling, but especially Wine Country, it’s always a good idea to look for the best travel insurance available. Why buy travel insurance? Quality travel insurance will cover the expenses if your flight gets delayed or if you miss a connecting flight. Also, you’ll be covered in case you fall sick or injured. Many insurance plans cover lost baggage as well, while some include kids for free.
If your trip is interrupted by illness or injury, the best travel insurance will reimburse your pre-paid hotel expenses. In places like Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Paso Robles this is a big deal because the hotel stays are so expensive.
Luckily, nowadays you can buy travel insurance online and save yourself a trip to the agency. Here are our top recommendations for those intending to visit the country’s premier wine region.
RoamRight
RoamRight is a subsidiary of Arch Insurance, a reputable insurance company in the US. The company offers six basic insurance plans that are highly customizable. RoamRight is a good all-around option for all types of travelers.
Why Choose This Travel Insurance
Aside from having six basic plans, RoamRight offers extensive customization options to suit each traveler’s needs. You can upgrade your plan with options for business travel, sports, and many more. Also, you can opt to leave out some of the options that you don’t need.
RoamRight offers free inclusion of one child per adult traveler, which is a neat thing if you plan to go with your family. If you are taking your kids, the Elite and Preferred plans might be the best for you.
RoamRight has a high A+ rating with AM Best, as well as a stamp of approval from the Better Business Bureau. McAfee, GoDaddy.com, and Authorize.net all approve their site as safe for online transactions.
Click here for more information about RoamRight
You Should Also Consider
You won’t get a higher medical coverage if you select the Elite plan over the Preferred. Also, the Pro and Pro Plus plans are only available via partner travel suppliers.
John Hancock Travel Insurance
If you intend to visit the wine mecca of North America on your own, you may want to go with John Hancock insurance. The company has a straightforward approach to policies and there are no hidden costs. They are written in a simple if sometimes tedious manner with examples and detailed explanations of certain rules and procedures.
Why Choose This Travel Insurance
John Hancock has one of the best travel insurance plans in the business. It includes 24/7 customer service and trip cancellation reimbursements. In case your flight is delayed by three hours or more, you can get up to $150 for food and other expenses per day.
Customer service at John Hancock is second to none. The representatives are friendly, knowledgeable, and patient enough to address even the most complicated situations.
The medical benefits are one of the highlights. The bronze plan offers up to $50,000 for medical treatment and up to $250,000 for medical evacuation. The Silver and Gold plans offer even greater limits.
You Should Also Consider
John Hancock doesn’t offer free coverage for children, a feature that is standard with other travel insurance companies. Also, bear in mind that injuries sustained from participating in extreme sports are not covered.
Travelex
If you want to explore Wine Country with your family, Travelex is one of the best options. The Travel Select Plan is a customizable plan that starts with fantastic basic coverage. You get $50,000 for medical treatment and $500,000 for evacuation costs. Also, missed connections, delays, and lost baggage are included.
Why Choose This Travel Insurance
The Select Plan covers kids under the age of 18 for free. This feature can save travelers considerable amounts of cash, especially those traveling with two or three kids.
Aside from that, Travelex is one of the most reliable travel insurance companies out there. Their policies are backed by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance which carries AM Best’s highest A++ rating.
Last but not least, Travelex also excels in customer service. The operators are friendly, patient, and able to handle pretty much any situation. Assistance is available 24/7.
You Should Also Consider
Travelex's Travel Basic plan offers $15,000 in medical coverage. Also, the exact price of the Travel Select plan depends on the trip’s duration, destination, and other variables.
Click here for a quote from Travelex
When to Visit the Wine Country
Visiting America’s Wine Country can be quite a costly affair, especially during peak season. To save a few bucks, you can visit after the New Year until March. Notable exceptions include Valentine’s Day and the Mustard Festival dates.
From April to August, the region is slowly warming up, both in terms of temperature and the number of tourists. Weekends are usually fully booked, sometimes weeks or months in advance. The summer months are hot and sunny in the day and cool at night. The prices for accommodation and dining would also be on the rise.
September and October are the peak months of the season. It is the harvest season and the region would be crawling with tourists from all over the country and abroad. The lion’s share of the region’s tourism revenues come during this 2-month period. You would have to book your hotel rooms months in advance.
In addition, the restaurants may also be booked days and weeks in during this period. Also, you would have to book your wine tours well in advance. During this period, room rates and restaurant prices are at their highest of the year, most likely set at the legal maximum.
After the “Crush” period, the numbers of visitors begins to decline from late October until Christmas and the New Year. Airfares and room rates would go down significantly with the demand.
This could be the perfect time to schedule your visit if you’re traveling on a budget. However, things do get busy around Christmas.
Final Thoughts
A visit to Wine Country is guaranteed to be a special experience, one that you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren about. However, nothing can compare to experiencing America’s most prominent wine region in September and October.
To make your trip as safe and headache-free as possible, you should take out a travel insurance policy. Go for the one that best suits your needs and budget.
