Ethical Travel: Before We Leave Home

When we think about ethical travel, we often imagine what we will do when we’re on the road. But the choices we make before we even leave home will determine the impact of our journey on the environment and the people we encounter.

Booking Flights: the MVP of Ethical Travel

The single worst thing for the environment that we do when we travel is fly. Yet it is an unavoidable aspect of travel for most of us! How can we limit our impact when we have to fly?

1. Limit the number of flights you take. Long distance travel aside, many routes can also be covered on trains or by coach. On a train you may get to see views you would not see from the road. You also get a better sense of the distance you’re covering, and will often meet local people. Buses are usually less thrilling – less chance to move around and more traffic – but are often the cheapest option. Of course, you can also join a tour and share the journey with others, going directly to the places you want to see and limiting transit stops!

2. Joining a tour is great if you’re looking for a reason to go for the painless option: make fewer transit stops. The cheapest flights sometimes involve more hub-to-regional flights rather than direct flights on less common routes. While there may be a cost trade-off, more direct flights eliminate long layovers (and high airport meal costs) and cut down the time you spend travelling. Flying direct minimises your fuel output as a lot of fuel is used during take off.

Go Further? Stay Longer!

3. Stay longer. If you are flying a long distance, don’t make it a long weekend city break. See more! If you might visit two cities, combine your trips. Maybe join a WorldKind Journey in future to see as much as you can with expert guidance and local insight? If you can make it work, it’s a win-win. Better for the traveler, and better for the globe!

4. Fly economy. The good news for most of us is that economy class is better for the environment! More space for first-class passengers is good for them but means fewer people traveling for the same carbon output. By filling the economy seats we’re maximising the human benefit for the carbon footprint. Not exactly virtuous, but better than empty flights.

5. Carbon offsetting. Many airlines offer the chance to offset the impact of your flight when you book. This is one route you can take. Others include booking through sites that offer carbon offsetting via their own calculations or finding organisations that will undertake carbon offsetting projects, such as planting trees, and suggest an appropriate level of donation relative to your flight. There are too many options to list here, but a quick search will offer multiple possibilities.

Can Packing be Ethical?

What does packing have to do with ethical travel? Why would the way you stuff socks into your spare shoes have any impact on others? Well, mostly that’s a fair question. However, there are a few simple things we can do that make a big difference.

1. Less luggage means less weight on the plane, which means less fuel. So packing lighter will help the environment. It’s not that different for humans – the less we carry, the less fuel we use. Halfway up the winding staircase of your Venetian guesthouse you might regret some of your choices! A few pounds of weight per passenger can make a big difference over the course of an intercontinental flight. Do you really need both pairs of extra shoes? Will you really wear that big sweater in Cyprus in July?

2. Take a refillable water bottle. This is a choice you can make that significantly reduces negative consequences, with plastic waste a huge problem in many highly-touristed areas. My preference is for a bottle with filtration (this could be a simple, replaceable charcoal disc), which allows you to use tap water in areas where it may not otherwise be safe. But even without this, an inexpensive refillable bottle cuts down on waste and saves you money. It can even offer experiences in itself; in Rome, you can enjoy free refilling straight from ancient fountains all around the city that provide cold, fresh spring water at least as good as anything you’d buy.

3. Consider digital resources – minimise paper waste by going paperless with ticketing apps. Make sure your phone is charged first, though! EReaders such as the Amazon Kindle allow you to bring more written material than you could possibly carry. Additionally, your own notes and highlights are easily searched and sorted, and you can upload your own resources and lists!

Shopping Ethically for Travel Supplies

Most of us need to stock up on essentials before a big trip. You can make good choices shopping for travel items. This NY Times article has some great info consumers may not know. Some key takeaways include:

1. Look for retailers that offer carbon-offset or have environmentally-friendly policies, such as recyclable packaging or electric vehicles.
2. Recycle packaging from deliveries where it’s possible.
3. Plan your purchases and if you’re ordering multiple items from the same retailer, buy it all at once (this might also save you money on delivery!).
4. Buying online can be more environmentally-friendly, despite what we might first expect. At least, it can be if we plan well and it cuts down on road journeys to multiple stores.
5. As well as consolidating your own purchases, some stores offer the chance to accept a delivery day of their choice. This allows them to combine their deliveries and cut their carbon emissions. Avoiding super-fast deliveries doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be waiting longer.

Cultural Insight

Taking an hour or two to learn about local issues will pay dividends. Here are some ways you can acquire knowledge to make you a better visitor:

1. Take note of any security risks. The US State Department is a great source, as is the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office. Be aware of any political disputes and international incidents so as not to fuel problems. Avoiding points of heightened tension prevents us, as travelers, from contributing to undue focus on certain areas and needing official assistance to get out of an avoidable situation.

2. Learn what’s going on locally. Local news websites and Twitter accounts are a good place to start, though of course you should be aware that journalistic freedoms vary around the world. Not every state-monitored outlet will cover political protests, for example, or offer a neutral presentation of facts. However, they can point you in the direction of topics you may wish to know. Are there any sensitive topics or pressing environmental concerns? Might you make different choices if you know locals resent a particular local hotel, or if you can avoid boat tours employing tactics condemned by animal welfare groups, so you can avoid contributing to local problems?

3. Learn some key phrases. Connecting with local people is a real highlight of travel, but sometimes you will find yourself struggling to find people who speak English. Only interacting with English speakers means you might miss out – I enjoyed an impromptu tea party in a Cypriot village in the days before Google Translate. We didn’t share a language but spent an afternoon, laughing, comparing mobility aids, and sharing crafting tips. You’ll be surprised how far you can get, even with only the words for “please”, “thank you”, and “orange”.

4. Check out guides and blogs for customs you need to know. Pinterest is a wonderful resource for connecting with travel bloggers, who are keen to share their experiences of a place and its culture. Blogs are often your best bet for up-to-date info – your guidebook says this museum should have finished its renovation by now; is it open? – and keeping track of evolving situations. Reddit can be great for this, too. It is a mixed bag when it comes to reliable information on many topics, but the travel forums are active and generally good. Even where people’s opinions and experiences conflict, this can be useful to get a sense of diversity and to reflect on why people’s experiences were so different. You may be able to avoid crowded times at major sites, or steer away from social faux pas.

Ethical Travel begins at home!

One ethical travel consideration we haven’t encountered before the current pandemic: should we be traveling? How can we avoid putting ourselves and others in danger? What do we do if obligations require us to travel but we are uncomfortable about the risks? We’ve prepared a “Travel During Covid” resource, free to our email list, which has advice on what to expect, keeping on top of ever-changing rules, the best health advice for safety, and important links for up-to-date information. Visit this page to get your copy!

Check out our other posts on Ethical Travel, as part of an ongoing series.

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Nessie: the Loch Ness Monster

Nessie is the affectionate nickname for the legendary monster who is believed to inhabit the brooding waters of Loch Ness, in the North of Scotland. There have been many stories about the fearsome beast from the murky deep, much pseudoscience and cryptozoology, and much ink has been spilled debating the merits and credibility of the eyewitness accounts and questionable photos. But the important thing is that we all agree that Nessie is definitely real and she likes me.

The modern Nessie craze (and her nickname) goes back to the 1930s, when a spate of reported sightings made the local newspaper, bringing to light other stories of mysterious encounters going back a few decades.

Since then, journalists, scientists, and the occasional enthusiastic eccentric have flocked to Loch Ness to investigate eyewitness accounts and search for the elusive monster. Boats still travel up and down the loch, sometimes shadowed by camera crews, looking for unusual masses and undiscovered depths.

But the very earliest reports of a great beast in the area go back to the stories about St Columba, in the sixth century. Adomnán of Iona was his biographer. Adomnán wrote about the early inhabitants of Scotland, the religious life of Iona, and the Celtic Church, but of course we are most interested in what he had to say about our friend Nessie.

Historians, who like to be party-poopers (but may be right), note that these hagiographic biographies tended to emphasise the power that a saint had over rebellious nature, invoking the name of Christ to subdue a fearsome beast who threatened human lives.

Born in Ireland, Columba left – or was exiled, depending on who was telling the story – over a dispute with another missionary over a book. Some scholarly issues recur again and again, it seems. With his twelve companions, he founded the scholarly and monastic community at Iona in the West of Scotland, where he spent most of the rest of his life. However, he travelled into mainland Scotland to preach the Gospel to the Picts.

While he was in the Loch Ness area, he heard that a water beast had killed a local man and he decided to draw the beast out. He sent one of his very obliging companions to swim around in the River Ness as bait. When the monster emerged to enjoy its snack, Columba was there to rebuke it and instruct it not to touch the man. When the creature drew back and retreated, both the missionaries and the Picts believed that they had truly witnessed a miracle.

To read more about St Columba and his sixth-century life, you can read Adomnán’s biography!

This one may not be a real Nessie photo.

Greyfriars Bobby

Greyfriars Bobby is a beloved character the world over, and Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh lets you meet this little dog. This is his story, at least as it is most commonly recounted.

Bobby was a Skye Terrier who either belonged to or decided to belong to John Gray. Gray was a farmer who came to Edinburgh with his family in the 1850s, and took a job as a Nightwatchman. They were usually expected to have dogs with them on their rounds, and one might expect a larger dog to be chosen – but no one who has ever had a terrier would doubt the ferocity of a tiny guard dog! Bobby was his constant companion, trotting along behind him everywhere.

This picture is believed to be the real Greyfriars Bobby, so you can see how adorable he was in real life.

Gray died in 1858 of tuberculosis, when Bobby was only two years old. Nevertheless, Bobby followed his master all the way to his burial at Greyfriars Kirkyard, where he remained. Bobby sat on his master’s grave and stayed in and around the Kirkyard for the remaining fourteen years of his life, until he died in 1872, only four months shy of his seventeenth birthday.

Greyfriars Bobby was beloved and well looked-after by the people of Edinburgh. Citizens would bring him food and celebrate his famed loyalty. The Lord Provost, Sir William Chambers, was an animal lover (and director of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and he paid for Bobby’s dog licence and gave him a collar.

Bobby’s story has been told many times, with varying degrees of artistic licence. Most controversial, perhaps, was the casting of a West Highland Terrier as Bobby in a 2005 adaptation! The best-known version is perhaps Disney’s 1961 version Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog. This, in turn, was based on Eleanor Atkinson’s 1912 novel, which is now out of copyright and available to read in free or cheap versions. A truly charming picture book version of the story came out in 2019.

If you are in Scotland these days, you can encounter a realistic metal sculpture Bobby just outside Greyfriars Kirkyard. The statue sits atop a tiny fountain – Edinburgh’s smallest listed building, a protected heritage site. At ground level, the water runs into a drinking trough for dogs to enjoy! Bobby’s nose is a little shiny as affectionate visitors give his nose a rub as they pass.

Edinburgh’s citizens retain their sense of loyalty and protection, as seen when the pandemic began. Even Bobby was protected with his own face mask! Though, in turn, he was protecting the locals by reminding them not to touch his nose!

Those who are joining us in Edinburgh this summer will be staying only a few minutes’ walk away from little Bobby – and you will no doubt meet a few local dogs on your way to greet him!

Ceilidh!

“Ceilidh” is pronounced “KAY-lee” and is our Scottish theme for today! The word itself means a social gathering; a pleasant and companionable “hanging-out” together. Traditionally, this might have involved songs, stories, and recitation, but these days if you’re invited to a ceilidh you can expect folk music and lively dancing!

Here’s the Dashing White Sergeant from our Founder and Executive Director Meg’s wedding:

A great place to hear traditional Scottish music – though not the typically performed folk repertoire – is at a ceilidh. This involves a ceilidh band, usually with an accordion, percussion, and guitar, but often adding in piano, tin whistle, and fiddle, or other instruments. They don’t perform the well-known Burns and folk music that people sometimes associate with Scotland, but have a specialized repertoire for dances. Tunes are categorized by tempo and rhythm and correspond to different types of dancing. In school, all Scottish children learn about these styles, and how to identify a waltz, a reel, a jig, and a Strathspey.

And let’s not forget: the ceilidh is where you can discover the wonders of our social dances… go on, have a go.

Ceilidh dancing, the deadly art, developed as a form of social entertainment and has been used ever since to delight adults and torture small children who have to learn it at school every December. Okay, I’ll admit it – it was my favourite P.E. part of the year. These dances are part of many celebrations, church socials, and weddings.

Ceilidhs are recommended for a fun night out, and you will soon become familiar with the key dances, namely the Gay Gordons – a traditional ceilidh opener and good for beginners – the Dashing White Sergeant which is exhausting but hilarious, and Strip the Willow which lets you spin till you’re dizzy before flinging your partner some distance. There are many other dances that are fairly straightforward, and anything trickier will be thoroughly walked-through, so don’t be afraid to get in there and trip people. One lovely aspect of the ceilidh as a family and community activity is that there will always be those who are new to the dances, so a “caller” teaches you the steps as you go.

A word of warning, though – the Eightsome reel is a notoriously difficult dance, even for seasoned ceilidh attendees, and should not be attempted by beginners. We say this for your own good.

It is important to note that there is little romance attached to the ceilidh. It is less the dignified black-tie activity and more suited to sensible shoes and light preparatory stretching. Manners dictate, gentlemen, that you should dance with every lady at your table, unless they threaten to hit you, and as many others as possible. It’s also not the best occasion to forgo undergarments, whatever traditionalists tell you about the “true Scotsman”. There is twirling. Many ceilidhs involve the “progressive” dances where you change partners with each repetition of the steps (or they did, before the current pandemic).

Anything labelled “Scottish Country Dancing” is similar to ceilidh dancing in principle, but is much more regimented and taken a bit more seriously. It can be great fun to watch, but is much more difficult to master! Highland Dancing displays may be found at any Highland Games (held throughout Scotland, despite the name) where, in addition to the tossing of the caber and the hammer throw, dancers of all ages compete in the balletic traditional dances, such as the Highland Reel and the Sword Dance. A well-performed sword dance is not to be missed.

Thankfully, swords are not involved in the ceilidh dances. Amidst the spinning, whirling, and general revelry, that is probably a good thing.

One important figure in ceilidh band history was Sir Jimmy Shand MBE, from Auchtermuchty in Fife. Ceilidh bands are somewhat neglected in the cultural pantheon as they accompany major events, however crucial they are to them. Jimmy Shand and his band were an exception! They appeared on the scene as radio (and later TV) offered an outlet for Scottish culture and music. Sir Jimmy was a prolific composer and master accordionist who brought some well-deserved credibility to the art form. One of his most popular tunes was the Bluebell Polka.

In the Fife town of Auchtermuchty, where he grew up, there is a tall but life-sized statue of Sir Jimmy. I (Kathleen) greatly enjoy taking people there to meet this figure with his accordion and telling them to look him up on YouTube!

St Margaret, Queen of Scotland

On International Women’s Day we look at the woman behind this chapel, the oldest part of Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. St Margaret was born to an exiled English prince, Edward of Wessex, in the mid-11th century, and grew up in the Hungarian court. Her romantic legend involves the family being shipwrecked on the Scottish coast and coming to the attention of King Malcolm III, who simply had to marry her.

St Margaret was a pious woman, a reputation that seems deserved given that she started each day by washing the feet of the poor and providing for orphans, in imitation of Christ. She brought her strong ties to Rome to Scotland, and encouraged the establishment of many monasteries and pilgrim facilities throughout the land – indeed, the area near Edinburgh known as “Queensferry” was named after her, as she established a ferry for pilgrims to the cathedral at St Andrews. She founded the chapel in Edinburgh Castle, though the present building may have been built after her death in the 12th century.

Three of her sons subsequently became Kings of Scotland, Alexander, Edgar, and David – King David I having one of the longest reigns in Scottish history, which had a stabilising influence on the nobility and their power struggles, just a couple of generations after Macbeth! He was especially dedicated in continuing his mother’s work in founding and supporting the ecclesiastical orders. When Malcolm III took the throne, the Kingdom of Scotland was ill-defined and subject to border raids. With St Margaret’s influence, the boundaries of the Kingdom extended to almost all parts of mainland modern Scotland, and a cultural concept of Scotland began to emerge.

Thus, many of our modern ideas about Scottish identity can, arguably, be attributed to this devout and dedicated queen, born to English parents in Hungary, but with an influence that echoes down the centuries.

And, of course, we have our own Queen Margaret at the helm of WorldKind!

Scottish Valentines: Romance in the Glens

Happy Valentine’s Day, Scottish Valentines! This year, why not fall in love with Scotland?

How might your romance play out according to Scottish tradition? Here are some of the ways you might woo your Scottish Valentines…

Luckenbooth: Give the Gift of Commitment

The Luckenbooth was a symbolic token often given by a man to his betrothed. It was a brooch (usually silver) of two intertwined hearts with a crown. Sometimes it would be worn by a nursing mother for luck, and it would become a precious heirloom to be passed on.

The “booth” part of the word comes from the kiosks set up along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, where you could find affordable fine jewellery for sale in the Early Modern period.

Today, Luckenbooth symbol charms can take the form of a necklace, bracelet, or even earrings, but remain a popular gift of love.

Handfasting: The Ultimate Commitment. Mostly.

Handfasting is a wonderful Scottish tradition in which a couple can pledge themselves to each other, dating back to the times before today’s more extensive legal regulation of marriage. The tradition of binding the hands of the couple? “Tying the knot”, of course!

Legends tell of handfast couples pledging themselves to each other for only a year and a day, with no penalties for parting afterwards if they did not yet have a child and did not want to stay married. However, this may simply be an invention and scholars differ on that point. What is definitely true is that marriage by declaration was a common feature of Scottish life. Especially in remote regions where you might wait a long time for a clergyman of the appropriate denomination to reach you, marriage by mutual consent and cohabitation was widely accepted as the norm.

Scotland’s acknowledgement of marriage by declaration of any consenting couples over sixteen led to its notoriety in England and its status in a thousand romantic novellas as a destination for scandalous elopements! Couples would race for the Scottish border, often pursued by disgruntled relatives, and stop at the first town, Gretna Green. They would find the first witnesses they could locate and declare themselves married – and the easiest person to find was often the blacksmith. The anvil in the Gretna Green smithy became a symbol of romance against the odds.

Eventually, the Church of Scotland declared that they would not recognise these marriages any more, and a great deal of pressure from guardians of young women led to changes in the law. Couples had to announce their intentions in advance and only legally approved persons could conduct a valid marriage. That said, common-law marriage was recognised on its own terms in Scotland until 2006.

WorldKind’s Kathleen and her fiancé Alisdair discussed going down the handfasting route casually. They Googled it, also casually, and discovered that you can still have a (non-legally-binding) handfasting ceremony at Gretna Green. A few months later, they found themselves in Gretna Green, standing in front of an anvil, as the officiant led them through the handfasting ceremony.

The tying of the knot is a popular feature of Scottish wedding ceremonies even today.

Poetry and Music: Serenade your Scottish Valentines

As we have discussed lately, our national bard, Robert Burns, was a bit of a romantic. His love poems to many women have done much to enhance the reputation of Scots as a romantic people. One of his most famous songs compares his love to that other great symbol of romance: the red rose.

If you’re not sure about handfasting and you can’t get your hands on a Luckenbooth brooch, this is the answer.

Whatever love you are celebrating this year – human, canine, divine, or educational – we wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day!

For something a little more sensible and serious, check out the rest of our blog posts about Scotland!

The Massacre of Glencoe: 330 Years On

This is Glencoe. Wild, unforgiving, and beautiful.

330 years ago today, Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were asleep in their homes, having taken in around 128 men from the Earl of Argyll’s Regiment of Foot, commanded by Robert Campbell of Glenlyon under Archibald Campbell, 10th Earl and 1st Duke of Argyll. For the MacDonalds, this was not only their traditional obligation of hospitality but was a common substitute for regular taxation, which was hard to enforce and less convenient for government troops than guaranteed hospitality around these remote areas. Betraying this hospitality, the government troops arose early and slaughtered at least 38 of their hosts, including women and children.

Why did this happen? Was it only a product of clan rivalry in the wild and remote Highlands? Tradition blames the Campbells, who were very well represented among the government troops and had spent much of the previous centuries menacing, invading, and coercing around the region. They were also disgruntled neighbours of the MacDonalds, who were notorious cattle rustlers given the harsh conditions for farming in Glencoe.

The oath

In 1692, fears of another Jacobite rebellion were receding. Banished King James had failed to retake the throne in 1689, and the 1715 rebellion was barely a thought, even for the most ardent supporters. The new King William of Orange required the clans to swear their loyalty, and with no hope of mounting an invasion even King James gave permission for his supporters to take the oath.

The deadline was 31 December 1691. The message that they were to proceed to take the oath only reached the Glencoe MacDonalds on 30 December, perhaps as a result of intraclan tension between Catholic MacDonalds and the Glencoe Episcopalians – but letters between government and military leaders show that well before the deadline there were discussions about making an example of this group.

The MacDonald chief, Alasdair MacIain, walked through a particularly harsh winter to reach Fort William, where he was told he had to go to Inveraray, 70 miles in the opposite direction. Despite the snowdrifts, he walked on and took the oath on 6 January 1692. MacDonald of Glencoe was the only clan not given indemnity for late oath-taking. Clans continued to turn up late to swear the oath until the week prior to the massacre!

In myth and history

To Victorian historians, the massacre symbolised the Wild Highlands of remote and romantic history, while their sentiments were firmly pro-Union and pro-Empire – so this unpleasant incident was recast as a product of lawlessness and clan feuding rather than a calculated state-sanctioned reprisal. Thus it has remained in the consciousness of popular lore – the vengeful act of the Campbells against their clan rivals.

The truth, as always in Scottish history, is more complicated and interesting. But if you’re a Campbell, and you find yourself in Glencoe… maybe keep that to yourself.

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): Travel Insurance Essential!

Thank you for reading our guide to Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance coverage. We take pride in gathering the best information we can, but we do not claim to be legally qualified to offer legal advice. We cannot confirm that all of the following will remain accurate indefinitely or will apply in your location, and we cannot take responsibility for the decisions you make about your needs and coverage. Note on shopping here: if you click on a link here, we may earn a small percentage via affiliate schemes at no extra cost to you. Our commitment is to never recommend something we don’t have or wouldn’t use ourselves!

If you want to skip ahead and go straight to comparing CFAR policies, we suggest going to either SquareMouth and AARDY.

What is Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage?

If you have concerns that you may need to cancel your trip for reasons that are NOT covered by standard cancellation insurance – a loved one schedules a wedding in the middle of your planned trip, you are anxious about pandemic developments or know that key museums and attractions will be closed, your pet-sitting arrangement falls through, you are concerned your passport may not arrive on time – you can purchase a Cancel for Any Reason policy. This allows you to cancel and receive a large portion of your money back.

How much does it cover?

Please note that this will not offer a 100% refund. Somewhere in the region of 75% is typical, but some cheaper policies only offer 60%, so check the terms before committing. However, this can offer you peace of mind. You will not find a more comprehensive type of policy, and you will have complete freedom to cancel your trip up until 48 hours before departure. We recommend this type of policy in these uncertain times!

As the most comprehensive policy, Cancel for Any Reason insurance is more expensive than standard plans but is usually still cheaper than the additional costs of fully-refundable flights for international travel. 

When do I need to purchase Cancel for Any Reason coverage?

The terms of purchase usually require you to purchase Cancel for Any Reason insurance within 7-21 days of booking any travel that will be covered by the policy, and you must still have an expectation that you will be able to travel (e.g. not declared medically unfit to travel). This means that you should purchase it soon after making an initial deposit, not after paying for the whole trip, if this applies. 

How do you purchase CFAR coverage?

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) is usually part of a comprehensive policy. Along with the security of CFAR coverage, you will often have high levels of coverage for cancellation/interruption, medical emergencies, evacuation, and baggage loss. Some providers, however, offer it only as an optional extra to your purchase of one of their policies. These will be their higher-coverage policies – you will not find it as an add-on to the most basic policies. 

As mentioned above, CFAR coverage must be purchased within 7-21 days of making your initial trip deposit. Some travel insurance policies can be purchased later, but will not cover anything you booked earlier. This is not the case for CFAR insurance. It is only available if your whole trip will be covered. 

You can always add details of bookings you make after your initial purchase, but you must purchase early. For example, if you book a flight, you must secure your CFAR coverage within 7-21 days of your booking and can contact your insurance provider when you make additional reservations.

Where can you purchase CFAR coverage?

Not all providers offer CFAR. We have an up-to-date overview of the best policies below. Again, some providers offer this as an add-on to existing policies so you will have to make sure that you select “Cancel for Any Reason” as an option. All estimates below include CFAR coverage.

You can easily compare insurance policies using an aggregator, like our partners SquareMouth and AARDY. You can feel confident purchasing through these sites as it is prohibited for third-party sites in the US to earn money by charging more for a policy. The price you pay is the same everywhere.

Our Cancel for Any Reason Picks: Why These Choices?

Not every provider will offer CFAR coverage, so we have shared all relevant policies here that are currently available in the US. The advice we can offer is not the advice of an insurance agent, just our best information, and should not be taken as legal advice. All information is accurate as of January 2022.

Our “total cost” estimate is based on a 45-year-old traveler from the US, living in Pennsylvania, taking a trip costing a total of $4000 in 2022 – such as participating in our Scotland Tour this summer. This sample scenario includes coverage from the day of departure until return home after the Edinburgh extension for a total of two weeks.

We have included all Cancel for Any Reason policies, but our picks are those that offer what we’d consider a decent level of coverage with a good percentage of the trip cost fully refundable under the CFAR terms.

Understanding the jargon of Cancel for Any Reason policies

We have compiled the most relevant parts of each policy below so you can decide what coverage you need.

Cancelation and Interruption

Trip Cancellation insurance will cover your costs if you cannot depart. There will be a limited range of circumstances in which cancellation is allowed, such as these common reasons: a death or serious illness of you, a fellow traveler, your host at your destination, or your immediate family member; jury duty or court summons; inability to reach the airport as a result of a traffic accident or extreme weather; your travel provider going bankrupt and no longer offering services; or terrorist incidents in your destination.

Trip Interruption insurance covers disruption to your travel after you have departed. For example, if an emergency at home requires you to cut your trip short, your insurance will refund at least all unused portions of your trip and pay for your return home. Depending on your policy, it may also refund your entire trip cost, regardless of how far into your trip you are. This is why many policies include coverage of up to 150% of the trip cost!

Baggage Coverage

Loss: In the worst-case scenario, if your bags are lost for good, your level of coverage will determine how much you can claim to replace the contents. 

Delay: Check if your policy will pay for costs incurred as a result of delayed baggage. $100-250 is typical. In the short-term, baggage delay insurance will allow you to buy clothes and get reimbursed later, as well as cover any expedited delivery costs once your bags are located. 

Medical coverage

Medical insurance should be a top priority when you choose a travel insurance policy. If you take ill or are injured, you will be able to receive good treatment quickly, without worrying about costs. Even if you have comprehensive medical coverage at home, very few plans will pay for care overseas. The US State Department and the CDC consistently advise travelers to purchase comprehensive medical travel insurance when leaving the country. When you purchase coverage, bear in mind that realistic costs for a serious medical emergency could easily reach tens of thousands of dollars for international travelers. Coverage up to $100,000 would not be excessive.

Medical evacuation insurance ensures that all costs of getting you to the most appropriate treatment can be covered. Pay attention to the level of coverage, however. Air evacuation can easily cost more than $20,000 per hour of flight time! All medical evacuation policies will include some sort of transport back to your country for treatment closer to home if appropriate, but there is a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars between paying for a nurse to fly with someone in economy class, and having to transport a patient on a stretcher by private airplane. A realistic level of coverage to give you complete peace of mind about medical evacuation would be above $100,000 – ideally around $250, 000.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance guarantees a compensatory payout if your injury or illness has certain permanent effects. For example, were you to lose a limb, you may receive 50% of the total maximum payout offered by your insurance – the precise amount is defined in your policy terms, as are the conditions under which you (or your family) receive payment. Depending on the level of coverage, total coverage ranges between $10,000 and $100,000 – though $25,000 is typical.

Our Pick of the Cancel for Any Reason policies!

Kathleen’s favorite all-round policy of those detailed below, and one of the most reasonably-priced, is the Round Trip Elite policy from Seven Corners, Inc. The cost for our “WorldKind Traveler” in the scenario given above was $257.60 including Cancel for Any Reason coverage at 75%. This is one of the best-value policies, offering some of the highest baggage coverage rates and competitive coverage for everything else. You have 20 days from first deposit to purchase this coverage, which you can do via SquareMouth and AARDY.

Seven Corners, Inc.: Round Trip Elite with CFAR

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/600
• Medical: $250,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $25,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%

The Best Cancel for Any Reason Policies

Our picks balance cost, benefits, and essentials to offer a range of policies – but all with 75% Cancel For Any Reason coverage, which is the maximum available.

HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance

Trip Protector Preferred – with Cancel for Any Reason

With optional CFAR included. This offers some of the best coverage for under $300, and the reassurance of high interruption and baggage insurance alongside primary medical coverage for domestic US travels.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 200%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2000/400
• Medical: $500,000 (primary)
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $50,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 10 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $296

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

John Hancock Insurance Agency

Silver

This is a great policy that covers all the essentials generously, with the reassurance of AD&D coverage that rivals the most expensive policies. At this price, it offers some of the best baggage insurance you could ask for.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $1000/500
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $500,000
• ADD: $100,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 14 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $255

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth and AARDY.

Gold

Excellent coverage across the board, with built-in CFAR. A great price for the “more coverage than you probably need” package!

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/500
• Medical: $250,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $100,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 14 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $339

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth and AARDY.

Nationwide

Prime

One of the most expensive policies we’ve picked, which will only work in specific circumstances. Excellent coverage, and the highest rate of Interruption insurance we could find – with 200% coverage, plus a high baggage loss amount, perhaps the most comprehensive policy for budget travelers traveling with valuables.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 200%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2000/600
• Medical: $150, 000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $50,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 21 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $397.48

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Seven Corners, Inc.

Round Trip Elite – with Cancel for Any Reason

With optional CFAR coverage included. This is one of the best-value policies, offering some of the highest baggage coverage rates and competitive coverage for everything else.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/600
• Medical: $250,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $25, 000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 20 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $257.60

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth and AARDY.

Tin Leg

Gold – with Cancel for Any Reason

Including the optional CFAR add-on. Very good medical coverage though baggage loss is on the low side.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $500/200
• Medical: $500,000
• Evacuation: $500,000
• ADD: $10,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 15 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $282

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Travel Insured International

Worldwide Trip Protector Plus

This policy includes decent medical coverage and very good baggage insurance for this price range.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $1000/300
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $10,000
• CFAR coverage: Included, 75%
• Deadline: 21 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $296

Purchase this policy on SquareMouth and AARDY.

Trawick International

Trawick International Safe Travels First Class – with Cancel for Any Reason

With optional CFAR coverage included. This includes great baggage coverage, barely exceeded by the next policy up (Voyager) which costs well over $100 more.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2000/400
• Medical: $150, 000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $10,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 15 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $317.45

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth and AARDY.

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services Ruby

This policy from USI Affinity offers excellent medical coverage and very good baggage loss insurance, while keeping the overall cost down.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $1000/300
• Medical: $250,000
• Evacuation: $500,000
• ADD: $15,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 14 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $285

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

The Rest

There are other policies available, and we include them here with the quote for our WorldKind Traveler and our comments. Not including them above doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t opt for one of these – just that for the average traveler’s needs the policies above may be preferable. It may well be that one of the following fits well with your needs and priorities.

Battleface

Explorer

This policy offers decent coverage in most areas for the price but has disappointing interruption and evacuation coverage

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 100%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/500
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $100,000
• ADD: $25,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 15 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $253.98

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Go Ready

Choice – with Cancel for Any Reason

With optional CFAR add-on included. This is a cheap policy and rewards early investment as it has the shortest window of availability! Be aware that the low price comes with a significant compromise in medical cover, which is on the low side.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $500/200
• Medical: $50,000
• Evacuation: $250,000
• ADD: $10,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 24 hours

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $226.50

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

John Hancock Insurance Agency

Bronze

Despite the low price, we’d recommend their Silver policy as a better alternative. Our traveler would only pay $18 more for far better insurance under the Silver policy – the small saving is not worth the significant downgrade, especially in medical cover.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 125%
• Baggage loss/delay: $750/250
• Medical: $50,000
• Evacuation: $250,000
• ADD: $25,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 14 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $237

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth and AARDY.

Tin Leg – with Cancel for Any Reason

Luxury 

This is one of the more expensive policies, but 50% optional CFAR coverage is disappointing, with low baggage loss delay coverage. We’d consider the “Gold” policy (one of our picks above) to be better value.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $500/200
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $250,000
• ADD: $50,000 flight only
• CFAR coverage: 50%
• Deadline: 15 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $401.87

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Silver

Plus CFAR add-on – note that CFAR coverage is only 50%, even though baggage loss coverage is generous.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/500
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $250,000
• ADD: None
• CFAR coverage: 50%
• Deadline: 15 days

Purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Travelex

Select Plan – with Cancel for Any Reason

With optional CFAR coverage. Baggage coverage is good, though both medical and CFAR coverage are too low for comfort.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $1000/200
• Medical: $50,000
• Evacuation: $500,000
• ADD: $25,000
• CFAR coverage: 50%
• Deadline: 15 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $323.40 

You can purchase this policy directly from Travelex.

Travel Guard – with Cancel for Any Reason

Travel Guard policies are great as travel insurance policies and they offer optional CFAR on all but the most basic. However, none of their policies offer more than a 50% refund if you cancel, so they are not the best insurance providers for Cancel for Any Reason insurance.

Plus

• Cancellation: 100% 
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/400
• Medical: $1,000,000
• Evacuation: $500,000 (medical, security evac optional add-on)
• ADD: $50,000
• CFAR coverage: 50%
• Deadline: 21 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $264.89

You can purchase this policy on AARDY.

Preferred Plan

• Cancellation: 100% 
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $1000/300
• Medical: $50,000
• Evacuation: $500,000 (medical, security evac optional add-on)
• ADD: $30,000
• CFAR coverage: 50%
• Deadline: 15 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $273.08

You can purchase this policy on AARDY.

Deluxe Plan

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/500
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $30,000
• CFAR coverage: 50%
• Deadline: 15 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $329.62

You can purchase this policy on AARDY.

Travel Safe 

Classic Plus

Coverage is good, but it is moderately expensive compared to similar levels of coverage from our top picks.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/250
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $25,000
• CFAR coverage: Included, 75%
• Deadline: 21 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $440

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Trawick International

Trawick International Safe Travels Voyager – with Cancel for Any Reason

With optional CFAR coverage included. Slightly different quotes at different times, which does not seem to reflect variations in coverage.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/600
• Medical: $250,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $25,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 21 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $459.68-474.08

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth and AARDY.

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services Diamond

The policy costs quite a bit more than their “Ruby” offering, though it does increase coverage!

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/500
• Medical: $500,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $50,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 14 days

Total cost for our WorldKind Traveler: $416.95

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Other Policies

There are some CFAR policies out there that were not available for our hypothetical WorldKind traveler. But they will be available for other travelers – perhaps even for the same dates, but with different demographic data or from a different state. We have included the terms but not a quote, as this wasn’t available and we can’t compare accurately with the others.

AXA

AXA Platinum

The levels of coverage are some of the best available, especially for baggage, so if this policy is available for your trip it is worth getting a quote.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $3000/600
• Medical: $250,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $50,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 14 days

You can purchase this policy on AARDY.

Cat70

Travel Plan – with Cancel for Any Reason

With CFAR add-on. A good all-round policy with the advantage of being available in all 50 states – some policies have variable terms depending on whether they can be enforced under state law in some jurisdictions.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $500/200
• Medical: $500,000
• Evacuation: $500,000
• ADD: $10,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 14 days

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Generali

Global Assistance Premium – with Cancel for Any Reason

With optional CFAR upgrade included. This is a great policy with high coverage – but as the title suggests, is best suited to travels outside the US. As secondary medical insurers, that means that your health insurance would be expected to cover in the first instance any medical costs incurred domestically, and Generali would then pay out for anything not covered.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 175%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2000/500
• Medical: $250,000 (secondary)
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $50,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 24 hours

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

iTravelInsured

Travel LX

This policy offers very good coverage – if it is available for your trip.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/500
• Medical: $500,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $100,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 20 days

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Seven Corners, Inc.

Round Trip Basic – with Cancel for Any Reason

A solid option with optional CFAR coverage and good medical coverage.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 100%
• Baggage loss/delay: $500/500
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $250,000
• ADD: None.
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 20 days

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Round Trip Choice – with Cancel for Any Reason

Optional CFAR coverage. Excellent coverage across the board.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/500
• Medical: $500,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $20,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 20 days

Purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Tin Leg

Platinum

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $500/200
• Medical: $500,000
• Evacuation: $500,000
• ADD: $10,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 15 days

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Travel Safe 

Travel Safe Classic – with Cancel for Any Reason

With add-on CFAR coverage. This offers standard coverage across most categories, with great baggage loss and evacuation coverage.

• Cancellation: 100%
• Interruption: 150%
• Baggage loss/delay: $2500/250
• Medical: $100,000
• Evacuation: $1,000,000
• ADD: $25,000
• CFAR coverage: 75%
• Deadline: 21 days

You can purchase this policy on SquareMouth.

Bon Voyage!

We hope that this guide has been helpful to you and that you don’t have any reason to use your insurance! We are here to help if you have any questions and have a whole section on Travel Planning where we try to cover the important details.

Happy travels!

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