ripcord travel insurance

Our most comprehensive travel program, with evacuation, rescue, and premium coverages.

About ripcord.

Ripcord is your ultimate adventure travel policy. With our enhanced coverage, you can travel confidently, knowing that we’ve got you covered in everything from the routine to extreme.

With robust coverage for trip interruption and cancellation for everything from sickness, injury, pandemics, business reasons, and hunting & fishing restrictions, Ripcord has you covered.

Ripcord includes critical on-trip services for the adventure traveler: medical evacuation from point of injury and illness to home hospital of choice, search and rescue, natural disaster, political and security extraction. Start your adventure confidently with Ripcord today.

• 32 covered reasons for trip cancellation & interruption, including business reasons, hunting & fishing restrictions, and pets
• Pandemic coverage that includes cancellation, interruption, and quarantine
• Medical evacuation and rescue from the point of emergency to your home hospital of choice
• $100,000 of primary medical expense coverage
• Pre-existing medical condition waiver if purchase conditions are met
• Political, security and natural disaster evacuation for unexpected natural disasters, terrorism, civil war, and other dangerous & chaotic events
• Search and rescue
• Travel inconvenience benefits

* Benefits described are related to travel insurance underwritten by State National Insurance Company Inc.

What our clients are saying

I couldn’t believe it. The last time I filed a claim was after a faulty pipe caused water damage — the insurance company asked me to file three times and in the end, all I got was a higher premium. I’ve been recommending your company to all my traveling friends. Charles M., Trip Interruption Reimbursement

We thought we were going to die. $372. The best investment I ever made. Jerry R., Everest Evacuee

Got me home when it counted despite the complexity of my particular medical issue. My wife puts it well: made us feel like we were part of a special operation. Craig L., Evacuee

Were it not for you guys, that bag would never have arrived. It would be sitting at the airport in Iceland. Joe V., Lost Baggage

Our operations team was thoroughly impressed with the level of service, the level of knowledge and how ‘switched on’ your personnel have been throughout the process. This was one of the most extreme evacuation scenarios one could come across in the locations we visit and your team handled it flawlessly. Redpoint Client

Redpoint delivers the highest quality services in the industry. Redpoint’s leaders have the highest integrity and create solutions that generate real value in my business. Steve M.

Ripcord Benefits

*Up to the lesser of the Trip Cost paid or the limit of coverage on Your confirmation of coverage **You must insure the total cost of all prepaid non-refundable Travel Arrangements that are subject to Cancellation Penalties ***$1000 Return air ticket cost only if $0 Trip Cost displayed for Trip Cancellation

Partner With Us

Travel agents, become a partner to take advantage of our extensive partner benefits and innovative partner tools.

Travel Insurance Coverage: This summary is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available under policy series IPRED_PC_02/2021. This summary does not replace or change any part of your policy. The policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions. Please read the policy carefully to fully understand the coverages, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions. If there is a conflict between this summary and the policy, the policy will control. This policy provides insurance coverage that only applies during a covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health and homeowners’ policies. Please contact +1 415 481 0600 if you have any questions. Insurance underwritten by State National Insurance Company Inc., a Texas domiciled corporation (NAIC Company Code: 12831; TX license number 6026) with its principal place of business at 1900 L Don Dodson Drive, Bedford, TX 76021. Not all plans or coverages are available in every state. It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete, or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties include imprisonment, fines, and denial of insurance benefits.

Travel Assistance Coverage: Redpoint Resolutions LLC provides travel assistance and non-insurance services. Travel assistance and non-insurance services are not insurance. An evacuation, travel assistance and non-insurance service program may be purchased individually without travel insurance through a membership program. By selecting the “Evacuation only, no travel insurance” coverage option, you will be purchasing a Redpoint Resolutions evacuation, travel assistance and non-insurance service program membership.

UnivOps Insurance Services LLC is the licensed insurance agent.

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Get a quote today., ripcord rescue travel insurance review.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance is a prominent provider of emergency medical rescue and evacuation travel insurance and comprehensive trip insurance.

Founded in 2011, the company has its headquarters in San Mateo, California. Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance offers individuals and families a variety of coverage levels and options from its standard medical rescue and evacuation plan to medical expenses and trip cancellation plans, all designed with the adventure traveler in mind, a specific market for which travel insurance can be somewhat difficult to find.

Why Choose Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance?

What makes Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance uniquely able to offer this type of coverage is its partnership with Redpoint Resolutions, a medical and travel security risk company, to offer a one-stop source for rescue and evacuation services as well as medical expenses and comprehensive travel insurance.

Owned and operated by physicians and special operations veterans, Redpoint Resolutions covers millions of people around the world and has evacuated clients from all seven continents.

Medical and security rescue and evacuation policies are available to anyone, regardless of residency, while medical expenses coverage and comprehensive trip insurance policies are open to U.S. residents only.

Guaranteed by State National Insurance Company, Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance’s financial footing is sound, as State National Insurance Company rates an A with A. M. Best.

This Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance travel insurance review also highlights the company’s coverage options, services, and reputation.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance Coverage & Plans

Geared toward adventure, international, and remote travelers, Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance combines evacuation and rescue services with comprehensive trip insurance.

It offers a variety of coverage options, ranging from medical rescue- and evacuation-only, to security and medical rescue and evacuation along with medical coverage and comprehensive travel.

Ripcord offers annual plans for its rescue and evacuation services, for frequent travelers. Medical expenses coverage and comprehensive travel insurance are available on a per-trip basis.

With per-trip coverage, trips exceeding 30 days require the purchase of travel insurance in addition to the rescue and evacuation coverage.

Coverage Options

• Comprehensive
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption
• Cancel for Any Reason
• Medical Expenses
• Medical Rescue and Security Evacuation
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Baggage Delay/Loss Including Sports Equipment
• Individual and Family
• Pre-existing Medical Condition Coverage with Limitations

Medical Evacuation & Rescue

Ripcord’s minimum coverage package is the Medical Evacuation and Rescue Only and can be purchased as an annual membership or on a per-trip basis. The plan pays up to $750,000 for medical transportation and rescue services from the point of injury or illness to the hospital of the traveler’s choice.

Travelers are not required to get to the nearest local hospital for evacuation. While this coverage includes remote destinations with no altitude limits, travelers can also access these services when injured or ill nearer by, if their location is more than 100 miles from home.

This plan also includes coverage for an organized search if the insured becomes disoriented, lost, or reported missing during a recreational activity. Around-the-clock travel assistance is also provided at this level.

The annual coverage option, or membership, is ideal for the frequent traveler. Price for a yearly membership varies on the maximum number of days traveled per trip, with no limit for the trip length.

However, coverage may be limited to no more than two transports for a single insured traveler in 12 months.

A family member can accompany the injured/ill traveler if it’s practical and space permits.

Individual or family coverage is available. Family membership includes the member, the member’s spouse or domestic partner, and up to four of their unmarried, dependent children under age 19 as a full-time student in an accredited school or under age 24 if at college.

Medical Evacuation & Rescue + Medical Expense Coverage

This level of coverage combines Ripcord’s basic medical evacuation and rescue services with up to $100,000 of medical expenses. It also includes coverage for lost or stolen baggage, sports equipment, and personal effects; emergency dental; trip delay; accidental death and dismemberment; and 24/7 travel assistance services.

Medical Rescue & Security Evacuation + Comprehensive Travel Coverage

Medical Rescue & Security Evacuation with added comprehensive travel coverage is Ripcord’s top-of-the-line policy option. This combination includes not only evacuation from a remote location in the event of a medical emergency or illness, but also in the event of a security situation such as a natural disaster, terrorism, or political unrest.

Also included is coverage for involuntary detention, such as abduction by violence or threat of violence, of the traveler by a group demanding payment in exchange for release. This makes this policy uniquely useful for consumers who might continually travel to dangerous places, such as some news correspondents or NGO workers.

The additional comprehensive travel coverage insures against trip cancellations and delay, and travelers can opt for CFAR protection, which covers up to 75 percent of the trip’s cost.

Read more: Best Air Ambulance Insurance

Medical rescue and evacuation service plans include coverage for some pre-existing conditions if these have been treated with prescription drugs or medications for 90 days without a change in prescription. Some exclusions to the comprehensive travel insurance policy include pregnancy when the traveler is beyond her second trimester, or if transport would endanger the life of the child.

Extreme activities such as skydiving, bungee cord jumping, parachuting, and spelunking, or in bodily contact sports are also excluded. These are not, however, exclusions to the rescue and evacuation services. It’s important to review your policy for specific exclusions before purchasing.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance Costs

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance offers a variety of coverage options and combinations. Prices vary based on trip length, the traveler’s age, and the trip’s cost. Annual membership plans that cover basic medical rescue and evacuation start at $325. Family memberships begin at $575. The yearly membership plans do not include medical expenses coverage or trip insurance.

Trip insurance usually costs 4-8 percent of the nonrefundable trip costs, according to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association. Therefore, you can generally expect to pay $400 to $800 to cover a $10,000 trip.

Nonrefundable trip costs contribute significantly to the price of travel insurance. This is the amount the insurance provider agrees to reimburse you in the event of a claim. The greater your documented expenses, the higher your potential claims. Thus, you can expect a higher premium.

Age is also a factor in determining costs. Older travelers can expect to pay more because of an increased likelihood to make a medical claim, especially in the case Ripcord’s niche of adventure market insurance policies. Insurers also take into consideration the length of your trip. Experiencing illness, injury or travel disruptions is likelier the longer you’re away.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance has an online calculator that can help you determine costs and give you a personalized quote, based on your specifics. The company has a 10-day free look policy that allows you to cancel the policy with written notice within ten days from the policy’s effective date as long as no claims have been made.

Clients also have access to regional maps containing timely information on health, safety, crime, terrorism, and economic and political conditions.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance Customer Reviews & Reputation

Neither Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance nor its partner, Redpoint Resolutions, have ratings with the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot, but no complaints have been filed against them.

Both companies have favorable media coverage from several news outlets including ABC News and Forbes, and Ripcord is widely acknowledged as the premier adventure travel insurer.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance Customer Assistance Services

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance partners with Redpoint Resolutions to provide its rescue and evacuation operations and 24/7 travel assistance and support.

The Redpoint team is made up of special operations veterans, intelligence analysts, security experts, physicians affiliated with Stanford, and nurses and paramedics with trauma expertise. In the event of a security or medical evacuation, it is Redpoint that dispatches the appropriate personnel.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance Financial Stability

The financial stability of an insurance company indicates the company’s ability to pay its claims. Credit rating organizations provide an objective rating of the strength of insurance companies. Each agency has its own unique rating scales and standards.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance is underwritten by State National Insurance Company, located in Bedford, Texas. Established in 1973, State National has received an A rating from A.M. Best, indicating it has an excellent ability to meet its insurance obligations. This rating is comparable to its leading competitors.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance Phone Number & Contact Information

Homepage URL: ripcordrescuetravelinsurance.com

Provider Phone: (415) 481-0600

Headquarters Address: 1875 South Grant Street, Suite 960, San Mateo, CA 94402

Email: [email protected]

Year Founded: 2011

Additional Providers

There are several other travel insurance providers that deserve consideration as well which you can see in our Best Travel Insurance Companies article.

These companies didn’t make our list of top providers but we have created some more detailed reviews  that you can view below:

• Allianz Travel Insurance Review
• Aon Travel Insurance Review
• Carnival Travel Insurance Review
• Chubb Travel Insurance Review
• CSA Travel Insurance Review
• Expedia Travel Insurance Review
• Hotwire Travel Insurance Review
• IMG Travel Insurance Review
• InsureMyTrip Travel Insurance Review
• JetBlue Travel Insurance Review
• John Hancock Travel Insurance Review
• Medjet Medical Transport Insurance Review
• Orbitz Travel Insurance Review
• Patriot Travel Insurance Review
• Priceline Travel Insurance Review
• Progressive Travel Insurance Review
• Red Sky Travel Insurance Review
• Ripcord Travel Insurance Review
• Travel Insured International
• Travelex Travel Insurance Review
• USAA Travel Insurance Review
• USI Affinity Travel Insurance Review 
• World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

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Home » Travel Insurance » Reviews » Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance Review

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance Review

Written by Antonio Cala.

• Affiliate Disclosure

Table of Contents

When it comes to exploring the world, ensuring your safety is the most important thing. Whether you’re a frequent traveler, nature enthusiast, or an adventurous soul, Ripcord Rescue is your ultimate partner in travel safety. 

In this Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance review, we dive into what sets it apart.  From their comprehensive evacuation services and membership options to the essential aspects of travel insurance, we’re covering it all. Keep reading to find out if Ripcord is the perfect match for your travel needs.

If you would like to know more about insurance options for adventure travel, make sure to check out our Complete Guide to Adventure Travel Insurance . Let’s jump in.

Ripcord Rescue Overview

Who Is Ripcord For

Ripcord offers a comprehensive adventure travel insurance policy designed for the adventurous traveler. Ripcord provides essential on-trip services, including medical evacuation from the point of injury or illness to your home hospital of choice, search and rescue, and extraction in cases of natural disasters, political unrest, or security threats.

With extensive coverage for trip interruption and cancellation due to sickness, injury, pandemics, business reasons, and hunting and fishing restrictions, Ripcord ensures you’re fully protected.

What's Included

• 32 covered reasons for trip cancellation & interruption, including business reasons, hunting & fishing restrictions, and pets
• Pandemic coverage that includes cancellation, interruption, and quarantine
• Medical evacuation and rescue from the point of emergency to your home hospital of choice
• $100,000 of primary medical expense coverage
• Pre-existing medical condition waiver if purchase conditions are met
• Political, security and natural disaster evacuation for unexpected natural disasters, terrorism, civil war, and other dangerous & chaotic events
• Search and rescue
• Travel inconvenience benefits

What's Not Included

Ripcord offers three options:

Medical Evacuation & Rescue

• Medical Evacuation & Rescue + Medical Expense Coverage
• Medical Rescue & Security Evacuation + Comprehensive Travel Coverage

In short, you can choose what to include with your policy. The only limitations are related to who’s eligible and the areas covered, which we will explain in the next chapters.

Membership Plans

Ripcord’s Medical Evacuation and Rescue Only plan can be purchased annually or per trip, covering up to $750,000 for medical transport and rescue from the point of injury or illness to the hospital of choice. This plan includes remote destinations with no altitude limits and is available for incidents more than 100 miles from home.

Coverage also includes organized searches if the insured becomes lost or disoriented during recreational activities, along with 24/7 travel assistance. The annual membership is ideal for frequent travelers, with pricing based on the maximum number of days per trip, though no single trip length is limited. Coverage may be limited to two transports per year.

A family member can accompany the injured or ill traveler if space permits. Individual and family coverage options are available, with family membership including the member, their spouse or partner, and up to four dependent children under age 19 or 24 if in college.

Medical Evacuation & Rescue + Medical Expense Coverage

This coverage level combines Ripcord’s essential medical evacuation and rescue services with up to $100,000 in medical expenses. It also covers lost or stolen baggage, sports equipment, and personal effects; emergency dental care; trip delays; accidental death and dismemberment; and 24/7 travel assistance services.

Medical Rescue & Security Evacuation + Comprehensive Travel Coverage

Ripcord’s top-tier policy, Medical Rescue & Security Evacuation with added comprehensive travel coverage, offers extensive protection. This plan includes evacuation from remote locations in the event of a medical emergency or illness and also covers evacuations due to security situations such as natural disasters, terrorism, or political unrest.

Additionally, the policy provides coverage for involuntary detention, including abduction by violence or threat of violence, where a group demands payment for the traveler’s release. This feature makes it particularly valuable for individuals frequently traveling to high-risk areas, such as news correspondents or NGO workers.

The comprehensive travel coverage also protects against trip cancellations and delays. Travelers have the option to add Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) protection, which covers up to 75 percent of the trip’s cost, offering even greater flexibility and peace of mind.

Ripcord offers every plan and add-on for different durations of the coverage (short term & long term) and for different groups of people (individual, family). Please, check out the latest pricing  for up to date quotes. 

What's Covered & Who's Eligible

Ripcord Rescue is one of the most complet insurance option on the market today. They cover more places and more profiles than most companies. Let’s look at the specifics. 

Nationalities: only US citizens and residents are eligible. 

Pre-existing conditions: Yes.

Seniors Over 65: People aged 65-90 are eligible.

Trip Duration: Short term policies and long term policies available.

Groups: Individual & family plans available.

Situations covered: It covers civil unrest, natural disasters, government evacuation orders and other security emergencies.

Country Restrictions:   Trips to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, and Venezuela are not covered.

User Reviews and Testimonials

Insurance companies often receive negative online reviews due to issues like complicated policy language, claim denials, slow processing times, and perceived unfair practices. 

Ripcord is not an exception, but most of their reviews are positive.

Ripcord vs Competitors

Overall, Ripcord travel insurance policies tend to be more pricey than those of its competitors, with higher coverage for medical expenses, better rescue services and a similar compensation for trip cancellation/interruption to the top companies on the market.

If you would like to see direct comparisons between Ripcord and other insurance companies, check out the articles below: 

• Global Rescue vs Ripcord

Ripcord stands out as a  comprehensive travel program, with evacuation, rescue, and premium coverages , offering unparalleled coverage with minimal restrictions compared to other travel insurance plans.

Specifically tailored for adventure travelers embarking on independent or organized trips to remote locations, the Ripcord plans cover individuals living in the US and offers options for individuals aged up to 90 years old.

With an extensive rescue network worldwide, high medical coverage and excellent trip protection, Ripcord offers the ultimate travel protection for adventure travelers.

Other Travel Insurance Reviews

If you would like to read more about other insurance companies for adventure travelers, you can check out our other reviews below:

• Dive Assure
• Divers Network Alert
• Global Rescue
• Travel Guard
• World Nomads

If you would like to read more about insurance options for other type of adventure trips, you can check out our other reviews below:

• Skiing &  Snowboarding
• Hiking Trips
• Mountaineering & High Altitude Trekking
• Mountain Biking,   Bike-touring  &  Bike-packing
• Rock Climbing ,  Ice Climbing  &  Bouldering
• Kayaking ,  White Water Rafting  &  Paddle Boarding
• Fishing  &  Spearfishing
• Diving Liveaboards &  Freediving
• Sailing ,  Kite Surfing  &  Surfing
• Adventure Cruises
• Adventure Motorcycling
• Travel Insurance for Seniors Over 65
• Travel Insurance for People with Pre-existing Conditions

Ripcord Reviews Online

When doing your research, you might want to read what other publications have to say about the Ripcord travel insurance. 

Here are some of the most popular reviews from the web. 

Global Rescue vs Ripcord – by 24hourcampfire.com

Buyer’s Guide: Travel, Rescue, and Medical Evacuation Insurance – by expeditionportal.com

About the Author

Antonio was born and raised in Southern Spain, and quit his job in 2013 to travel the world full-time with his wife Amanda for 10 years straight. Their passion for adventure took them to visit 150+ countries.

They cycled 25,000km + from California to Patagonia, sailed over 10,000NM around the Caribbean & Sea of Cortez, rode their motorbikes 30,000 kms+ across West Africa (Spain to South Africa) and visited Antarctica, among many other adventure expeditions.  Today, they’re still traveling,  currently around the USA with an RV.

Traveling to so many places, remote destinations and by different means taught them a lot about travel insurance, which policies to hold depending on the area and the type of adventure they were doing. Antonio now publishes regular content to help other travelers choose the best travel insurance for adventure trips.

Together, they also run the travel community Summit , the RV site Hitched Up , the boutique accommodation blog  Unique Places  and the popular newsletter Adventure Fix , where they share their knowledge about the places they’ve visited and the ones still remaining on their list.

Antonio Cala

Co-Founder of Adventure Fix

Privacy Overview

You are our first priority. every time..

We believe everyone should be able to make decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or travel service available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.

When Disaster Strikes: Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance

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When a carefully planned trip starts tumbling out of control, your best bet is to pull the Ripcord. Available now, Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance covers everything from lost passports to life-threatening emergencies.

Last winter during a motorcycle tour of southern Patagonia, one of my travel companions suffered a serious crash. After tending to his broken bones and deploying the SOS signal on our Garmin inReach , a rescue helicopter arrived on the scene. Only hours after impact, he was in a hospital bed and on the road to recovery. He was lucky.

As our adventures get more ambitious, it’s not enough to rely on good luck to save the day. Although there are plenty of insurance providers aimed at outdoor travelers, most plans have significant limitations. There is one exception –– Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance .

Ripcord is the most comprehensive service of its kind. Backed by Redpoint Resolutions , a titan of the insurance industry with more than 10 million clients, its policies cover everything from lost luggage to emergency extractions in far-flung corners of the globe.

Whether you’re pinned down by a winter storm or rebel gunfire, Ripcord will get you home in one piece. And that’s not hyperbole: It really did save a client from a rebel shootout in the Central African Republic.

Ripcord Rescue: Help Where None Is Available

Unlike other services, Ripcord is not a dispatch center. Although they rely on an extensive database of first responders all over the globe, the Ripcord team conducts their own field operations.

According to Redpoint Resolution VP and former Army Ranger, Tom Bochnowski, “Our trained personnel have responded to emergencies on seven continents. If we need to get you ourselves, we will. And we’ll get there quickly.”

It’s a claim made with earned confidence. The Ripcord team includes former Navy SEALs, special operations veterans, paramedics, intelligence experts, and seasoned medical advisors. Their best practices stem from many years wiggling out of sticky situations.

To ensure rapid and effective responses, their logistics experts continually review emergency assets in popular adventure locations. A common resource for climbers, Ripcord successfully executes as many as 20 Himalayan rescues every season. But you don’t have to risk death on Mt. Everest to benefit from their coverage.

Overseeing Links in the Rescue Chain

In places like Yosemite, Moab, and the Grand Canyon, search and rescue teams are always on standby. And they’re good at what they do.

Even when not required on the scene, Ripcord’s staff provides valuable assistance. There are a lot of moving parts in a crisis situation. Ripcord oversees the event from initial distress signal through to final resolution.

During our incident in Chile, my friend shuttled between ambulances, clinics, and helicopters multiple times before admittance to a major hospital. Keeping tabs on him and arranging for his safe transfer home was not easy.

We didn’t have Ripcord coverage. If we had, they would have been available for medical advice, travel assistance, and facilitated the safe delivery of our buddy from point of injury to the hospital of his choice at home.

Ripcord Insurance Review: Coverage for Real Adventures

Unless you like to read the fine print, you may not notice the limitations imposed by other insurance providers. Even the big players with strong reputations have restrictions on altitude, diving depth, or exclusions for things like hunting or backcountry skiing.

Pre-existing medical conditions frequently restrict coverage. By contrast, the Ripcord limitations are minimal. They understand their customer base and strive to offer protection for authentic adventures.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance: One Plan to Manage

For many years, people had to buy one policy to cover their basic travel needs and another for medical evacuation or rescue services. Aside from the added expense, it invites potential headaches in the event of a filed claim.

Overlapping policies are a hot-potato adjuster’s excuse to deny payment. With Ripcord, one plan covers everything from a lost passport to a five-alarm emergency.

Who Really Needs Ripcord?

When I bought my Garmin inReach, the SOS button seemed like a novelty. It was nice to have but I never thought I’d need to push it. When that day came, I realized how quickly a fun-filled dream vacation turns into a nightmare.

Even if the only disaster to occur is a delayed plane or missing bag, travel insurance is nice to have. The next time I crawl into a ditch and notice my friend has two more elbows than he should, I’ll know to pull the Ripcord.

Christophe Noel is a freelance journalist, photographer, and general vagabond. A seeker of stories untold, he can often be found with a map in hand, lost, in the most remote corners of the globe. The founder of Clean Drink Adventures , he believes in the power of the traveler and doing good as you go.

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• Communicating
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This section will help you to stay connected to your friends and loved ones, and make new friends along the way!

Tell your Travel Story - Blog on HU!

With an HU blog, you'll get a lot more readers than in some obscure corner of the web, it's all set to go, no setup required, and it's free! Start your Travel Story Blog right now!

Horizons Unlimited Communities

800+ HU Communities in over 115 countries! People who want to meet travellers - yes that's YOU - and can provide local assistance, and may be your new best friends!

• Contact a Community
• Join your HU Community
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• Communications Improve your communications with your companion, or with friends and family
• Photo Forum Improve your travel photography, create HU Photo Contest winners!
• Travellers seeking Travellers Meet up with other travellers on the road, or find someone to travel with to the ends of the earth!
• The HUBB Pub! Always open for casual conversation!
• Women's Topics (Open to all!)
• Questions that don't fit anywhere else
• Make a Difference Tips on fundraising or donating time and energy to a cause.
• After the big trip - Was the trip the best - or worst - thing you ever did?

Horizons Unlimited Presents!

"It has me all fired up to go out on my own adventure!" See the trailer here!

• Helpful People
• Motorcycle Clubs, Events
• Discussions
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Meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or across Asia! They will encourage you, share their experiences and advice on how to do it!

Where are HU Meetings?

HU Travellers Meetings

Join the discussion for your event:

• Travellers Meetings - Australia
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Non-HU Events

• Post any event anywhere in the world of interest to motorcycle travellers here!

HU Meetings are NOT like your typical bike rally! To get a sense of what goes on, watch the meetings trailer here!

Participate!

• Tell your story!
• Vendors/Traders sign up here!
• Host a meeting!

Photo Contest!       

Submit your amazing photos of your trip and win fabulous prizes! Details...

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Why become an HU Member?

We're not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown a hobby into a full time job and a labour of love.

When you decide to become a Member, it helps directly support the site. You get additional privileges on the HUBB, access to the Members Private Store, and more. Of course, you get our sincere thanks, good karma and knowing you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. :-)

• Contributing Member - $20 annual donation.
• Gold Member - $45 annual donation.
• Already have an HU account? Become a Contributing or Gold Member here!

All contributions are gratefully appreciated and acknowledged.

"The series is 'free' because the tips and advice will save much more than you spend on buying the DVD's."

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New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

What turns you on to motorcycle travel? Meet some of your fellow travellers! See the trailer!

Grant & Susan are veteran motorcycle travellers - RTW north to south, two up on a 1986 BMW R80 G/S.

• Read our stories from the road...
• The bike is unique and has its own story...
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• Our 'Rules of the Road' - things we have learned about travelling, usually the hard way!
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Advertisers - Horizons Unlimited is well-established as the first source of reliable, unbiased information on all aspects of adventure motorcycle travel. We reach a dedicated, worldwide group of real travellers, and are the only website focusing exclusively on long distance motorcycle travellers. If you sell motorcycles or motorcycle accessories, riding gear, camping equipment and clothing, transport motorcycles, organize motorcycle tours, or have motorcycles to rent, you should be advertising with us!

Become an HU Member and Supporter! Help keep your favorite website going and get additional HUBB privileges! Already have an account? Become a Contributing Member here.

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• Remote rescue services from the point of injury, illness or security emergency
• Evacuation to your home hospital of choice (medical) and home (security)
• Critical medical specialist and second opinion consulting services from Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians
• Negotiation and other crucial services should you be held against your will by non-government actors

Travel Insurance is available for almost ANY nationality, almost anywhere in the world:

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Global Rescue is the premier provider of medical, security and evacuation services worldwide and is the only company that will come to you, wherever you are, and evacuate you to your home hospital of choice.

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Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes ! NOTE: Travel medical insurance currently has a limit of 90 days .

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Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators! Check it out now , and add your information if we didn't find you.

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Are you an Overland Adventure Traveller?

Does the smell of spices wafting through the air make you think of Zanzibar , a cacophony of honking horns is Cairo , or a swirl of brilliantly patterned clothing Guatemala ? Then this is the site for you! Hosted by Grant and Susan Johnson, RTW 1987-1998

Next HU Events

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread. ALL Dates subject to change.

• California: April 18-21
• Virginia: April 25-28
• Germany Summer: May 9-12
• Québec: May 17-19
• Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
• CanWest: July 11-14
• Switzerland: August 15-18
• Ecuador: August 24-25
• Romania: August 30-Sept 1
• Austria: September 12-15
• France: September 20-22
• Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov.3
• Queensland is back! Date TBC - May?

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

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See all event details

HU Achievable Dream is Online and available now to stream on Vimeo!

ALL 15 chapters of the HU Achievable Dream Guide are available to download on Vimeo!

Binge watch over 18 hours of inspiring, informative and entertaining stories and tips from 150 travellers!

"a cross between entertaining stories, tech tips, and reference guide"

"A timeless introduction to Motorcycle Adventure Travel!"

Originally launched as a 7 DVD set, The Achievable Dream series can now be downloaded anywhere. OVER 18 hours of solid info take up zero space in your panniers. How convenient!

All the best travel books and videos listed and often reviewed on HU's famous Books page. Check it out and get great travel books from all over the world. NOTE: As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases - thanks for your help supporting HU when you start from an HU Amazon link!

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