Traveling with Encore means that participants are automatically covered by our Basic Protection Insurance Plan!
Protection Coverage
For your peace of mind, Encore offers three levels of protection coverage: Basic, Comprehensive and Ultimate.
We recommend participants purchase the Ultimate Protection Plan designed specifically for their travel needs with an enhanced cancellation refund policy and upgraded health protection, program interruption coverage, instrument insurance and more.
Enhanced medical/job loss cancellation refund policy
Enhanced
Health coverage
Program interruption
Baggage delay/loss
Instrument insurance
Travel delay protection while on tour
Enhanced medical/job loss cancellation refund policy
Standard
Health coverage
Program interruption
Travel delay protection while on tour
Standard medical/job loss cancellation refund policy
Cancellation Refund Policy*
Most enhanced cancellation refund policy
Cancel for any reason up to your day of departure and receive a cash refund—the most generous plan in the industry.**
Standard cancellation policy
Standard cancellation policy
Rate
$25/day ($400 maximum)† for U.S./Canada tours
$30/day ($400 maximum)† for all other tours
$100 surcharge for participants age 66+
The Ultimate Protection Plan must be purchased by the Full Payment Deadline.
$15/day ($300 maximum)† for U.S./Canada tours
$25/day ($300 maximum)† for all other tours
$100 surcharge for participants age 66+
The Comprehensive Protection Plan must be purchased no later than 65 days prior to departure.
Included in program fee deposit
* Cancellation Refund Policy summary refers to cancellations due to non-insured reasons.
** Portion of the refund may be in the form of a travel credit voucher. † Capped at $400/$300 not including the surcharge for participants age 66+. Plan must be purchased for the entirety of the tour, including departure and return dates.
Health ProtectionIncludes 24-hour medical assistance, consultation, monitoring, and emergency evacuation where deemed necessary by Travel Assist.
Coverage up to $50,000
No deductible. Travel Assist will pay up to $1,500 for an immediate family member to travel to the trip destination in the event that a participant under age 24 is hospitalized for more than 48 hours or more than 1 week if age 24 or over.
Coverage up to $30,000
No deductible. Travel Assist will pay up to $1,000 for an immediate family member to travel to the trip destination in the event that a participant under age 24 is hospitalized for more than 48 hours or more than 1 week if age 24 or over.
Coverage up to $15,000
$200 deductible
Medical/Job Loss Cancellation and Interruption
For all participants: Full refund except $100 plus the price of the Ultimate Protection Plan
Up to $1,500 towards the cost of a one-way economy ticket to the United States in the case of interruption
For all participants: Full refund except $100 plus the price of the Comprehensive Protection Plan
Up to $1,000 towards the cost of a one-way economy ticket to the United States in the case of interruption
65 days or more prior to departure: See “Refund Policies” chart on page 8
Less than 65 days prior to departure: Full refund except for $1,100 and up to $250 towards the cost of a one-way economy ticket to the United States in the case of interruption
Baggage Delay/Loss
If bags are lost or delayed for more than 24 hours on your outbound journey, Encore Tours will pay $200 for emergency purposes.
If bags are stolen or lost, up to $1,000 total will be reimbursed by Travel Assist if a signed police or airline report accompanies the claim. Of this, up to $200 is reserved for the loss of photographic or electronic equipment. A $50 deductible applies.
If bags are lost or delayed for more than 36 hours on your outbound journey, Encore Tours will pay $50 for emergency purposes.
If bags are stolen or lost, up to $500 total will be reimbursed by Travel Assist if a signed police or airline report accompanies the claim. Of this, up to $100 is reserved for the loss of photographic or electronic equipment. A $50 deductible applies.
No coverage included
Instrument Coverage*
If instruments are lost or stolen, a total of up to $1,000 will be reimbursed by Travel Assist if a signed police or airline report accompanies the claim.
If instruments are damaged, a total of up to $1,000 will be reimbursed by Travel Assist with accompanying repair bills. A $50 deductible applies.
If instruments are lost or stolen, a total of up to $500 will be reimbursed by Travel Assist if a signed police or airline report accompanies the claim.
If instruments are damaged, a total of up to $500 will be reimbursed by Travel Assist with accompanying repair bills. A $50 deductible applies.
No coverage included
Travel Delay Protection
If your trip is delayed by 12 or more hours, up to $100 per day of traveling expenses will be reimbursed by Travel Assist, up to a maximum of $500.
If your trip is delayed by 12 or more hours, up to $100 per day of traveling expenses will be reimbursed by Travel Assist, up to a maximum of $500.
>If your trip is delayed by 12 or more hours, up to $100 per day of traveling expenses will be reimbursed by Travel Assist, up to a maximum of $300.
A total of $495 plus the cost of the Protection Plan must be received in order to activate your plan. These coverage plans are applicable for all Encore Tours passengers who register after 11/29/2016.
* Coverage amounts are calculated on the basis of the depreciated standard for the individual's specific instrument claimed and its average usable period. Police or security incident report and demonstrated precautions for the safekeeping of the instrument are required for eligibility. Travel Assist is entitled to make reasonable repair or salvage efforts to restore the instrument or to keep the instrument in place of the replacement instrument. Valid receipts of replacement goods and repairs are required.
Encore Tours Protection Plans are updated each fall for the following travel year. Once finalized, a Health and Program Cancellation/Interruption Coverage booklet that outlines the specific coverages in place for their tour will be available online.
Job Loss Protection
All three levels of coverage include job loss protection. Since 1994, ACIS/Encore Tours has offered a generous refund in the event that an adult participant or either parent/legal guardian of a participant is laid-off.
Participants with UItimate Protection coverage who cancel less than 65 days prior to departure for a non-insured reason will receive a portion of their refund in the form of a travel credit voucher.
Refund Policies
Should you have to cancel for a non-insured reason, our refund policy is outlined below. We can only process cancellations upon receipt of a cancellation letter. Any refund that you are owed will be sent within 45 days of receipt of your cancellation letter. Encore Tours recommends the Ultimate Protection Plan that allows you to cancel any time up to your day of departure for any reason and receive a cash refund!
Refund Policies for Domestic and Canada Tours
Tours Within the U.S. and to Canada
# of days prior to departure
Ultimate
Comprehensive
Basic
130+ days
All payments less $100
All payments less $200
All payments less $200
129 to 90 days
All payments less $100
All payments less $250
All payments less $300
89 to 65 days
All payments less $100
All payments less $300
All payments less $400
64 to 30 days
All payments less $200 Travel Credit Voucher
All payments less $400
All payments less $500
29 to 15 days
All payments less $300 Travel Credit Voucher
No refund
No refund
14 days or less
All payments less $500 Travel Credit Voucher
No refund
No refund
Refund Policies for International Tours
Tours to All Other International Destinations
# of days prior to departure
Ultimate
Comprehensive
Basic
130+ days
All payments less $100
All payments less $350
All payments less $350
129 to 90 days
All payments less $100
All payments less $450
All payments less $650
89 to 65 days
All payments less $100
All payments less $675
All payments less $1,100
64 to 30 days
All payments less $400 Travel Credit Voucher
All payments less $1,100
All payments less $1,300
29 to 15 days
All payments less $600 Travel Credit Voucher
No refund
No refund
14 days or less
All payments less $800 Travel Credit Voucher
No refund
No refund
The non-refundable deposit, Comprehensive Protection Plan Fee, Ultimate Protection Plan Fee and any visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Non-refundable fees also include (but are not limited to): Encore Tours Travel Credit Voucher credits; late fees; canceled check fees. Encore Tours Travel Credit Vouchers are transferable, non-redeemable for cash, and expire two years from date of issue. Please contact Encore Tours for more details.
Cancellation Notes
There is no provision for refunds for meals, accommodations, or transportation, including flight costs or activities missed by participants, for reasons of absence once the program has started. Minor alterations in programs will not result in refunds. Pre-departure materials are not sent to participants who cancel from the program. If a participant elects to obtain a refund, that refund shall be Encore Tours' sole responsibility to participants and parents/legal guardians.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing to Encore Tours' Boston Headquarters at 343 Congress Street, Suite 3100, Boston, MA 02210, or by e-mail to accounts@encoretours.com.
Reinstatement Fees
Cancelled participants who request to be reinstated must send full payment, including a $175 Reinstatement Fee, plus any additional airline charges, in the form of a cashier's check or credit card accompanied by a written request to be reinstated. Reinstatements are subject to airline and hotel availability.
Substitution Policy
Substitutions can be made provided that the participant finds a suitable replacement. Substitute participants must forward a completed Encore Tours registration form together with appropriate payment in accordance with the payment schedule. These must arrive in the same envelope as the written notice of cancellation for the participant withdrawing from the program. Please write the word “SUBSTITUTE” in large block letters at the top of the form. The substituting participant will pay the trip fees applicable at the time of their registration on the Encore Tours program.
Substitutions are not possible within 65 days of departure. Refunds will be made within 45 days of the completed substitution, subject to airline and hotel availability.