Travel Insurance help please.

romeshw

Try backpacker travel insurance from Direct Travel Insurance (best insurance buy company according to Martin Lewis)

mrbadexample

HXDave wrote: »

thus the need for an ESTA

Ah...ok...can you tell I've not ventured that far before? :rotfl:

And, err...what's an ESTA? I have Googled it, but it's not entirely clear to me.

Thanks for the prompt help though. :T

Oh, haven't actually got the tickets yet, as it's so far off, and I can't seem to find the exact flight details at this time (as my mate booked it, he's got the stuff). At least I know to hang on until I'm absolutely sure where it's going.

Isn't the ESTA something the Tour Operator would sort out, or is is part of the travel insurance?

davidlizard

With sports events, there might be a couple of extra things you may want cover for - for example, being able to cancel if the company providing the tickets is unable to provide them (as happened to a colleague who booked on a Lions tour) or the venue is changed at short notice (as happened to someone I know who booked to see England play cricket in India, only for the venue to change after he and hundred of others had booked flights and hotels).

You may also want insurance to cover things such as getting refused boarding on the flight due to overbooking and therefore missing one or more of the matches you had tickets for - some of the stuff independent traveller insurance might cover.

luci

All visitors to the US need an ESTA which now costs $14 per person. You need to do this yourself as it had nothing to do with the tour operator or insurance.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

HXDave

MrBadExample,

exactly what Luci said, however once you have done it for the outward flight (if, as we assume, you are travelling through the states) youy need to update the ESTA details for the return trip (mainly departure airport, date & flight number), again at least 72 hours prior. dont worry about the cost though, as you will only be charge for the initial application of the ESTA, and it is then valid for either 2 years (from date of application) or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. an Esta can be update as often as possible within it's lifetime free of charge.

mrbadexample

Ok, thanks all. Just out of interest, for how long has an ESTA been required for those travellers just passing through?

HXDave

ESTA's have only been around for about 18 months (if i recally correctly), and initially ran in conjunction with the IW94 visa waiver program. prior to ESTA, it was just the Visa Waiver which, again IIRC, still had to be used when in transit in the US.