By Gay Nagle Myers
The Sandals Montego Bay. Sandals Resorts has introduced a new cancellation protection program. Sandals and Beaches have added a free travel insurance plan and a new cancellation protection plan. The Travel Protection Plan — Insurance Is On Us, powered by Trip Mate, will be purchased on behalf of guests and will be part of their travel reservation, as will the Cancellation Protection Benefit.
“Travelers making vacation plans to the Caribbean can feel confident, thanks to these two new added perks to our Book With Confidence program,” said Adam Stewart, deputy chairman of Sandals Resorts. The insurance plan offers expanded medical benefits to travelers booked through Dec. 31 for stays through May 31 and carries no minimum or maximum age limit for eligibility and access to assistance.
The plan covers any medical expenses in the Caribbean incurred as part of treatment for illness, including Covid-19, condition and/or accident, including medical expenses for a sickness or injury during the resort stay. The exclusion for pre-existing conditions is waived as long as the traveler was not disabled from traveling at the time the plan was purchased.
Also covered under the plan is transportation by ambulance to and from a hospital (maximum benefit of $100,000 per person), reimbursement for additional accommodations, meals and local transportation if a guest’s travel plans are delayed due to quarantine (maximum benefit $200 per person, per day, up to $2,800).
In case of the need for medical evacuation, the plan covers transfer to the nearest hospital that is equipped to handle a sickness or injury that is acute or life-threatening. If evacuation is approved by the program’s medical advisor, transportation will be covered for the return home (maximum benefit of $100,000 per person). The Cancellation Protection Benefit, valid through Dec. 31, allows guests to cancel their vacation at least 31 days before arrival and receive a full refund on the land portion with zero penalties.
Guests canceling 30 to 15 days prior to arrival will receive a combination of 50% refund and 50% travel certificate for future travel to any Sandals or Beaches resort within 12 months.
Those who cancel within 14 days and up to the day of arrival receive a travel certificate valid for 12 months from the original travel date.
