Travel Protection Plans

Protect your travel plans! Because the unexpected can happen. Vacation Express strongly recommends the purchase of travel protection. It is best to purchase one of our travel protection plans when your reservation is made. In order to do so, you must submit premium payment for the Vacation Express Passenger Protection Plan (PPP) or Travel Insurance Plan (TIP) with your deposit/payment. The plan goes into effect the date your payment is received by Vacation Express and is non-refundable and non-transferable.

To cancel a booking with PPP, please call the Vacation Express PPP hotline at 800-486-9777, ext. # 3167 at least 24 hours prior to trip departure. Please leave your name, the booking number and a concise cancellation message. If your package includes scheduled airline tickets, you must ALSO cancel with the airline directly. Scheduled air tickets must be cancelled at least one hour prior to departure, with the airlines, or you will lose the air cost of the booking.

Listed below, please find a summary outline of the Passenger Protection Plan (PPP) and Travel Insurance Plan (TIP) and the protection you are purchasing with each.

OPTION 1: PASSENGER PROTECTION PLAN (PPP):
$49.00 per passenger for Land Only packages
$69.00 per passenger for Air/Land packages

Part A: Provided by Vacation Express

When you purchase the Vacation Express PPP, all applicable cancellation charges (not change fees) as per your Terms and Conditions contract will be refunded in the form of Vacation Express travel certificates (PPP Voucher) as follows: 1. Charter air packages and Land Only packages will receive the cost of the package, less PPP fee on a PPP voucher - valid for one year from original departure date. 2. Bulk & Block air packages (once issued) will receive the cost of the package, less PPP and the cancellation fee (usually $150-$200) on a PPP voucher – valid for one year from original date of departure. 3. Published air packages will receive a PPP voucher for the cost of the land portion less the PPP. Clients will receive the airline ticket numbers (or paper tickets) and be advised of the ticket cost. Clients can use the cost of the airline ticket, less the airline change fee (usually $150 to $200 per ticket) to purchase a new ticket to: a. the same VE destination on same carrier, b. a different VE destination on same carrier, or c. any destination that the issuing carrier flies. If clients take option "c" they must contact the issuing airline direct for reservations. VERY IMPORTANT - Published air tickets must be used by one year from original purchase date. Any increases in the air or hotel price of rebooked vacations are the responsibility of the traveler. Travel certificates are issued in the original names of the passengers on the booking at the time of cancellation. The certificates are non-transferable and name changes will not be accepted. PPP can be repurchased when rebooking clients' vacation with the original PPP voucher. Please note that the newly purchased PPP will only offer full protection for cancellation until the original date of departure. Under no circumstances does the PPP Plan allow for a full or partial cash refund, nor is it extendible. Please note that the PPP program provides limited benefit health insurance only.

Part B: Post Departure Coverage

Part B travel protection coverages are underwritten by U.S. Fire Insurance Company and are provided in excess of all other valid and collectible insurance or indemnity, and shall apply only after such other benefits have been paid. Benefits included are Trip Interruption, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (Air Flight Only), Medical Expense/Emergency Assistance, Missed Connection, Travel Delay, Baggage & Personal Affects and Baggage Delay.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
* Vouchers are issued in the original names of the passengers on the booking at the time of cancellation.
* The certificates are non-transferable and name changes will not be accepted.
* Clients have one year from original date of travel to use the voucher toward another package to any Vacation Express destination.

Please refer to the Certificate of Insurance for full details of the plan provisions, exclusions and limitations.

OPTION 2: TRAVEL INSURANCE PLAN (TIP):
$79.00 per adult passenger for Land Only packages
$69.00 per child passenger for Land Only packages

$99.00 per adult passenger for Air/Land packages
$79.00 per child passenger for Air/Land packages
*Child is defined as passengers who are 12 and under

The TIP plan is underwritten by U.S. Fire Insurance Company and the travel protection coverages are in excess of all other valid and collectible insurance or indemnity, and shall apply only after such other benefits have been paid. Below is a brief description of the benefits included within the TIP plan.

Trip Cancellation:
Reimbursement of up to trip cost to cover unused non-refundable prepaid expenses for travel arrangements when you are prevented from taking a trip due to a covered reason. Or the Cancel For Any Reason benefit provides reimbursement of 75% of trip cost if you cancel your trip for any reason not otherwise covered by this policy, reimbursement is for prepaid, forfeited, non-refundable payments or deposits you paid for your trip provided: 1.) Your premium payment is received by Vacation Express within 14 days of the date of initial deposit/payment for your trip; and 2.) You cancel your trip two (2) days or more before your scheduled trip departure date.

Trip Interruption:
Reimbursement of up to trip cost for missed, unused prepaid land or sea expenses plus the cost of one-way economy air transportation (or change fees on your original ticket) to return home in the event of covered illness, injury or death to yourself, a traveling companion, business partner or a covered family member.

Trip Delay:
Reimburses a maximum of $750.00 (up to $150 per day) for meals, lodging and transportation expenses if you are delayed for 8 hours or more while in route to or from or during the trip due to delays caused by inclement weather, lost or stolen travel documents, or any delay of a common carrier.

Emergency Evacuation:
Covers up to $50,000 for emergency medical transportation in the event of a covered illness or injury. Arrangements provided by On-Call International.

Medical Protection:
Reimburses up to $25,000 for medical expenses incurred as a result of a covered illness and/or injury while traveling.

Repatriation of Remains:
Provides coverage for expenses related to return your body should you die during the vacation.

Baggage/Personal Effects:
Reimburses up to $1,000 for loss, theft, or damage to your luggage and personal belongings in the event you suffer a loss while traveling.

Baggage Delay:
Reimburses up to $300 maximum for the purchase of necessary personal effects should the airline delay for 12 hours or more.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment:
Provides up to $25,000 in the event of a covered injury to life or limb sustained while traveling

24-Hour Worldwide Emergency Assistance:
Provides access to Travel Emergency Hotline and assistance services provided by On Call International.

Please refer to the Certificate of Insurance for full details of the plan provisions, exclusions and limitations.

The above is a partial description of benefits. Certain conditions, exclusions, and limitations apply as set out in the Certificate of Insurance. We urge you to carefully review the Certificate of Insurance at the links provided above for complete details. You may contact the Plan Administrator, Trip Mate at 1-800-888-7292 with any questions.