Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Travel Insurance advice?

newpilgrim21

New Member
Dec 6, 2020
1
0
United States
Time of past OR future Camino
(Summer 2021 if possible)
We're walking the Camino Portugues for the first time next month and was thinking of buying travel insurance for our trip. This is our first time buying travel insurance and would appreciate any advice or previous experiences.

I found these two options on the VisitPortugal tourism website (https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/portugal-travel-insurance) and it seems to cover trip cancellation and travel interruption due to COVID which is our biggest concern due to our non-refundable flight tickets and hotel reservations as well as if we had to quarantine in a hotel and delay our departure in case we tested positive while on the Camino. Has anyone used either of these travel insurance plans or any other private insurance options?

Thank you!
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.

J Willhaus

Veteran Member
Nov 3, 2014
6,400
22,725
Laramie, WY
Time of past OR future Camino
2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, planned 2025
If you buy insurance with your plane tickets it may cover Covid expenses. Mine does. If you buy travel insurance after the fact (quite a while after booking your trip) then travel insurance will be more expensive. In many cases, you may have to pay out of pocket and file upon your return so make sure you have receipts for everything.
 

trecile

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 19, 2016
20,009
3
62,525
Southern Oregon
Time of past OR future Camino
Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese
You would probably be better off buying your insurance from a US based company. The insurance will cover you while you are in both Portugal and Spain.
I bought my insurance for my trip through Squaremouth.com - you can compare policies and see ratings and reviews on the site.

 
  • Like
Reactions: Xali1970
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.

FRM

How do you walk the Camino? One step at a time.
Jun 9, 2017
160
879
63
USA
Time of past OR future Camino
C.F. 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021
C.P. 2022
To echo what @J Willhaus said, I purchased my travel medical insurance a couple of weeks before departure but had purchased my airline tickets 3 months earlier. I was unable to get a policy that covered pre-existing conditions. I was told this was due to it being purchased so long after buying my tickets. This was true on multiple web sites. Just have to hope nothing cardiac happens. 😀
 

Niels

camino mi privio
Sep 11, 2015
98
117
Denmark
www.caminomiprivio.wordpress.com
Time of past OR future Camino
Norte, Primitivo, Muxia 2016; Frances 2018 + 2022
We're walking the Camino Portugues for the first time next month and was thinking of buying travel insurance for our trip. This is our first time buying travel insurance and would appreciate any advice or previous experiences.

I found these two options on the VisitPortugal tourism website (https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/portugal-travel-insurance) and it seems to cancellation and travel interruption due to COVID which is our biggest concern due to our non-refundable flight tickets and hotel reservations as well as if we had to quarantine in a hotel and delay our departure in case we tested positive while on the Camino. Has anyone used either of these travel insurance plans or any other private insurance options?

Thank you!
Travel insurance in my opinion is a must. Om my first Camino, my wife was diagnosed with cancer, and I had to take a plane home immediately. And now finishing mythird one, I've been Bitten by a dog. I could go to a public hospital, but IT was far away, and my insurance made sure, I could go to a nearby private one. Which one is Up to your self.
 

TaijiPilgrim

Active Member
Oct 25, 2014
458
981
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2011), Camino Frances (2015), Camino Ingles (2017), Camino Muxia (2017), LePuy(2019)
I am sitting in an AirBnB across the river from Porto. On May 1 I was supposed to begin walking the Camino Portugues but on the night of April 30 I was rushed to the hospital for 8 hours of aortic dissection surgery followed by 8 days of ICU. Next week I meet with the surgeon and I hope to be cleared to go home to the United States.
My point is you cannot predict when you have an emergency or need medical insurance. I have an Annual plan with Allianz which I will try to claim but my husband has not yet begun the process
I will report final results.
Enjoy the Camino- I was embarking on my 5th. Ironically the AirBnB overlooks the central route. I am on the Camino but not as imagined!!!
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides