Spending several months exploring the world with nothing but a pack on your back is sure to be a life changing experience. However, having backpacker travel insurance will ensure you can focus on having fun! Check out our handy hints on backpacking, or scroll down to our frequently-asked backpacker travel cover questions to help you understand our policies.
Your health is our number one priority. Our emergency assistance team is just a phone call away any time of day or night.
Can't go on your adventure because of an illness or injury? We've got you covered for lost deposits and cancellation fees.
Flight delayed by more than six hours? We can cover you for extra accomodation and meals while you wait.
We’ll pay for your flight home, cover medical costs and in some cases trip cancellation if you’re caught in an act of terror.
You’re covered on two wheels if you're wearing a helmet and you hold the right licence in NZ or destination country.
Getting some shots for the family back home? Our plans provide levels of cover for phones, iPads, cameras and laptops.
Backpacking can take a while. Unlike most insurers, with TINZ you can get cover for up to 18 months.
We cover thrillseekers and adventure junkies! Hiking, zorbing, scuba diving and more - we support you to live on the edge!
Going away on a budget holiday? Check out the top tips from our travel experts.
1. DESTINATION SAVINGS
Your destination might have the biggest impact on your trip. Places that tend to be more backpacker budget friendly tend to have a positive exchange rate and good buying power for the New Zealand Dollar. So think Bali
2. VISAS and travel warnings
Visa and travel conditions can change regularly, and requirements can be different for land borders as opposed to arriving by air. Check the NZ Government's SafeTravel website for information on entry and exit rules, and if there are any warnings to the countries or regions you're visiting. Be aware that areas in red or orange are likely not covered under your travel insurance, as most brands (including TINZ) have a general exclusion for travel to places the Government advises against travel to.
3. SKIP THE CROWDS AND SAVE
Travelling to Europe in the northern hemisphere summer? So is everyone else - which you'll be paying the same hefty prices as them too. If you travel during the shoulder or off-season, you can find accomodation and flights can be 30% or more cheaper than during peak season. So if you love hiking, heading to a popular snow destination - think somewhere like the Dolomites in Italy - during summer, early autumn or late spring, you'll find you might be the only one booking into the hotel. Heading to Disneyland? The winter period in the weeks before and after the Christmas break can avoid the crowds and get you on the rides faster.
4. GET AROUND TRANSPORT COSTS
While tourist shuttles, hop-on-hop-off buses and taxis can be super convenient, the costs can really add up (depending on where in the world you're going). So walk where you can, and before you go, find out how the local commuters get around. A great example is Cuba's airport - you can catch a taxi worth around $30USD from the airport to downtown Havana, or you can catch the bus airport workers catch for 2CNP (around 30c). This of course is dependent on your comfort zone - local options can be unreliable, crowded, and in some parts of the world can leave you open to pickpocketing.
I travel light. I think the most important thing is to be in a good mood and enjoy life, wherever you are.
- Diane von Furstenburg, Designer
5. Go cheap on food
Eating out can be a great, cost-effective way to fill your belly in many parts of the world - the street food in India, Bali, Vietnam and Thailand is so cheap and filling. But eating out can really eat into your budget in Europe and the US. Staying in a hostel (or airbnb, or homestay, etc) which has a kitchen you can use can significantly cut down on your food budget. Also - do your research on alcohol costs and taxes. In Thailand, local beers and spirits can be very cheap, while imported ones can be very expensive. It's no good saving with a nice $5 pad thai if you're going to blow $50 on drinks!
6. DO THE MATH ON LOCATION
Doing the math before you book can save you big money. While staying super central to everything you want to see can cut down on transport costs if you're just looking to walk around, it can mean much more expensive hostels and accommodation. Do the math - if time isn't a huge factor for you, is somewhere a twenty or thirty minute walk away significantly cheaper? Or can you stay near a train or bus station further out again, and is the fare cheap enough to warrant staying out of the main area?
7. STAY SAFE
If you have an itinerary, be sure to give it to friends or family. If you don't have much of a plan, check in every few days or when you plan to change cities so that someone can keep track of where you are. Register your trip with the New Zealand Government as well in case there is an emergency in the area you're travelling to - it will help them give you the best support possible. Get a travel insurance policy that suits you and your needs - that means reading the Policy Wording, and ensuring that the policy you're looking to buy covers you for any activities or pre-existing medical conditions you need.
Although most backpackers are on a budget, the last thing you should be scrimping on is your travel insurance.
Did you know the cost of a night in intensive care can be more than $20,000 per night in some countries?
For further information, check out our FAQ’s below.
TINZ offers backpackers a huge range of benefits so you can stay safe and keep more money in your travel savings. Even our most basic travel insurance policy, Essentials, includes unlimited medical coverage, and cover for your luggage and cancellations. If you're planning on renting a car, our Comprehensive or Comprehensive Plus plans include it automatically. You can also choose extras, like cover for winter sports or adventure activities, or keep your policy streamlined to suit you and your travel plans.
You can be - if you have current New Zealand motorcycle licence (or one valid in the country you're travelling to), you're eligible for cover to ride any motorcycle engine size. Only have a drivers licence? No worries - you're eligible to ride scooters and mopeds of 50cc or less. The same rules apply if you're riding pillion on the back of a motorcycle or scooter - the operator must have a local or New Zealand licence for the vehicle you're on. Always wear a helmet!
Started your trip and forgot to get cover, or has your policy with another brand expired? No worries - you may be eligible for our already overseas travel insurance policy instead. Be advised that a waiting period of three days applies for claims on already overseas policies, so get your policy before anything goes wrong.
A single trip policy is designed for a single trip, departing from New Zealand to visit as many countries as you like, then returning to New Zealand. A frequent traveller (aka annual or multi trip) policy is designed for leaving and returning to New Zealand many times in one year, for trips of up to 15 or 30 days. So if you're going on one very long trip, a frequent traveller policy may not be right for you.
If you're a permanent New Zealand resident, with access to the publicly-funded healthcare system in New Zealand and a visa which will allow you back into New Zealand if you leave, you are eligible to purchase travel insurance with us. Click to learn more about permanent reisdency travel insurance.
We automatically cover a range of adventure activities, and you can be medically covered to scuba dive to 30m, or hike up to 5,000m with our adventure add-on. If you're interested in skiing or other winter sports, you can add-on snow ski cover, which provides cover for loss or damage to winter sports equipment (not in use), replacement equipment hire, loss or theft of your ski pass, piste closures and more, as well as that all important on-slope medical cover. Check the Policy Wording to see whether your activity is covered under the policy.
Although hiring a rental vehicle affords you plenty of freedom on your travels, there’s always the possibility that you may damage your hire car. TINZ includes a $6,000 rental vehicle excess cover as standard on our Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus plans, saving you on exorbitant insurance excess fees when you hire a car.
Unlike most insurers we don’t exclude terrorism. If you’re caught up in an act of terror, we’ll pay for your flight home, cover your medical costs and in some cases, reimburse you for trip cancellation. Click to learn more about our cover for terrorism.
When it comes to alcohol we understand that for some, there’s no better way to kick off a holiday than with a poolside cocktail (or two). However, we would exclude any claims involving drugs/or alcohol. Please note this exclusion is only applicable if it was your intoxication that resulted in the claim.
It depends. We will pay up to $1,000 for individual single items and $3,000 for personal computers, video recorders or cameras. If you have an item that exceeds either of these costs you can insure it separately up to an additional $5,000. Unfortunately, we are only able to cover an item of jewellery for up to $1,000.
Get cover for the things you love. Whether you’re an avid skier, an adrenalin junkie, a
gadget freak or a high-end holiday maker, TINZ has the extra cover you’re looking for.
There are always risks when you travel, even in your home country. Protect your New Zealand holiday with domestic travel insurance and get cover for rental car excess, luggage, personal effects, lost deposits and more.
Looking for ski insurance? Snow problem! TINZ covers a range of winter sports from skiing, snowboarding to heli-skiing & cat skiing. Simply select snow ski cover within the quote process.
Are your travel plans packed with thrills and spills? Without proper cover, your heart-pounding adventure could leave you with a headache.
Are you travelling with a group of friends, school or club? TINZ offers special rates that can save you significant time and money!
Do you have expensive items that you just can’t leave behind? You can add your tech toys, high-end cameras, or designer handbags to your policy as high value items..
Don’t let a pre-existing medical condition get in the way of your travels. We cover 35 existing medical conditions automatically for free. You can also apply to cover additional conditions by assessment.
Taking a few backpacking trips in the next 12 months? If you’re planning several trips this year this frequent traveller policy can save you time and money.
Our annual multi-trip policy covers an unlimited number of trips over a 12 month period. We give you the same level of cover as our comprehensive international plan, meaning you get full coverage for less. You can tailor your individual trip duration from 15 days up to 30 days. Please note this policy is only available for customers under the age of 64.
