Do we need to purchase travelers insurance for our 2-week trip to Costa Rica? We (married couple) are doing all the booking ourselves: flying to/from SJ on Frontier, flying on a regional plane, renting a car (purchasing ALL the insurance offered). We've already made our hotel reservations but are waiting to get there to book activities. Your experiences, please? thanks!
1
solohobo
No- I do purchase Travel Insurance for Medical emergencies in SE Asia, due to the fact most the places dont even have a Exray machine much less a trained western DR. But CR you have good medical care and if anything serious, Miami-Houston-Dallas-Atlanta is a 3 hour flight away.
Do get the full insurance on the car rental though-
Book all activity once in CR, every hotel, lodge, Inn and hostel can arrange all your excursions with a good guide/tour company.
Do be sure to have the shots for a developing country-
Hep A-B (6 week regiment) ( Dont leave home without them)
Typhoid/Dyptheria
Tetnus Booster a must!
2
gawkabout
Street sense is handier than insurance.
Sounds like, with your travel arangements, I'd include a life ins. policy.
STA Travel Agency has great all inclucive(health, baggage, and more) policy. But you may have to book through them to get it. Find your local STA, on their web site. Then go deal with them in person. Ask 'em about thier prices for same trip.
They usually deal with bp'ers and students. So they're cheap.
May be simpler through them next time.
pura vida!
3
gawkabout
Let us know how it all comes out. Go to Manuel Antonio Park and Quepos.
Don't buy land or house yet. You'll fall in love with the place.
Street sense rules! in CR,
4
solohobo
Of course Frontier airlines is a small carrier and offers little options if they cancel or delay you, as the major airlines can pout you on another flight or another carrier, Frontier your at their mercy.
I would not buy property in CR at this time, wait for the prices to drop after the ripple effect of the Sub Prime problems roll down to CR. I certainly would NOT buy in Manual Antonio or Quepos, Jaco, Tamarindo as they are at all time highs, its a sellers market in those areas....the majority of properties have been flipped multiple times in the past 2 decades...
Bottomline, secure a good lawyer, land and title scams in CR are notorious for fraud.
5
nyc_girl_115
The question to ask yourself is... Do you already have coverage elsewhere? Most homeowner's insurance in the US will cover your personal belongings when you travel -- so if your luggage or camera is stolen/lost overseas, they will cover it. Same with your medical insurance. Many credit card companies include Travel Insurance if you purchase the plane tickets using your credit card.
Figure out what gaps you have in your existing coverage, then weigh the risks vs. costs. vs. benefits of purchasing additional insurance.
6
heliconiacae
I have traveled with travel insurance every time I have left Canada and I have had to use it twice. The best company I have found (they will honor every claim including being jumped and robbed of 600eu) is British Airways Travel Insurance.
Be sure to use the safety deposit box in your hotel if it is available. This is a generally safe country, I have been here for six months now and have not experienced any hostility, but people are still looking to get a hold of money and valuables especially if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Better safe than sorry right!
7
blu_rock
I never travel out of country without travel insurance. It is a cheap price to pay to ensure that if the worst happens, you can be evacuated back home with the minimum of fuss and cost. Also, if you get ripped off, the insurance will cover the replacement cost of your valuables. I know that my home insurance does not, by default, cover damage/loss of personal belongings that I have with me outside my home. Likewise, my medical insurance does not cover medivac back home. Insurance = peace of mind.
8
scoot
I rely on my visa for insurance except for car rental. I have coverage for everything including medivac for a 30 day stay maximum. I've researched all the details and the only thing they don't cover is mountain climbing.
I didn't have to use a clinic this year...unusual, but have had really good medical attention when needed in the past.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner