Travel insurance for hosted trips: why we recommend "cancel for any reason"

Updated 4 Oct 2026

We recommend travel insurance for every hosted trip, and we recommend adding "cancel for any reason" cover when you buy it. It costs more, but it is the version that still helps when life gets in the way for a reason no policy would list.

This is general information, not insurance advice. Policies differ a lot, so always read the one you are buying.

Why we recommend insurance at all

Hosted trips are usually paid for well ahead of time. Hosts book houses, boats, guides and tickets months out, and many of those costs can't be undone. That is why so many hosts have deposits that aren't refundable, or refund less as the date gets closer.

Every host sets their own terms. hosted/trips takes no bookings or payments, so your money and your refund terms sit between you and the host. Insurance is the part you control.

What ordinary trip cancellation cover does

A standard policy with trip cancellation pays you back if you cancel for a reason the policy names. Common ones include:

you or a close family member falls seriously ill or is injured
a death in the family
severe weather or a disaster at home or at the destination
some work-related reasons, depending on the policy

If your reason is on the list, standard cover often pays back the full amount you insured. If it isn't on the list, it pays nothing.

What "cancel for any reason" adds

Cancel for any reason (you'll often see it written as CFAR) is an upgrade you add to a policy. It pays back part of your prepaid, non-refundable costs whatever your reason for cancelling. Changed your mind, a new job, a family event, a feeling you can't quite name: it counts.

How it usually works (check your own policy, because the details vary):

It pays back part, not all. Plans commonly reimburse somewhere between half and three quarters of what you insured.
You have to buy it early. Most plans only offer it within a short window after your first payment toward the trip, often 10 to 21 days. Miss the window and you usually can't add it.
You insure the whole trip cost. Plans typically require you to insure the full prepaid, non-refundable amount, not just the deposit.
You cancel ahead of time. You usually need to cancel at least a couple of days before you leave, often 48 hours.
It costs more. Expect it to add a noticeable amount to the price of the base policy.
It isn't offered everywhere. Not every plan includes it, and availability can depend on where you live.

Why we think it is worth it for hosted trips

Hosted trips are often small groups, booked far ahead, with deposits that can't come back. That combination is exactly where standard cover leaves a gap: plans change for all sorts of reasons that aren't on anyone's list. Getting most of your money back for any reason is often what lets people book early with a clear head.

What to check before you buy

When your first payment to the host was made, so you buy inside the window.
The host's own cancellation terms, so you know what is and isn't refundable.
The total you have paid or will pay the host, so you insure the full amount.
What percentage the plan pays back, and how many days before departure you must cancel.
Whether the plan also covers medical care abroad, if you are travelling outside your home country.

Questions to ask the host

What is your cancellation and refund policy, in writing?
When are the payments due, and how much is refundable at each stage?
If you cancel the trip, what do guests get back?

Find a trip

Once you know how you'll protect your booking, browse retreats, group trips, workshops and cruises, or read deposits and cancellations on hosted trips.