Of all the expenses that come with planning a big trip, there’s one “must-have” that is often overlooked by travelers — travel protection. You’ve probably heard about it, but do you understand why it’s important and when you might need it?
Let’s dive into why travel protection is a must for your next trip.
What is a travel protection plan?
Travel protection is a tool that protects travelers from unanticipated losses during their trip. Think of it the same way you think of the insurance you buy to protect other major expenses, such as your home or car. Except it’s for travel expenses.
Travel can be expensive. From hotel reservations to plane tickets and everything in between, the costs can really add up before you even get to your destination. So how do you make sure that all of your hard-earned money doesn’t go to waste? Doesn’t it make sense to protect yourself in case something goes wrong? And what happens if you need to see a doctor while on your trip?
The simple fact is that travel protection is an absolute must for every traveler these days. To show you why, we teamed up with the experts at Travel Insured to give you the top 10 reasons why you need travel protection for your next trip.
Why you need a travel protection plan
1. Your home insurance plan doesn’t cover you abroad
Many travelers assume their usual medical insurance policy will cover them while they’re abroad, but this often isn’t the case. Many insurance providers don’t cover expenses incurred while out of the country. Those that do often only provide very limited coverage and high deductibles for emergencies that arise abroad.
A lot of people also assume that medical care will be cheaper, and thus affordable in places like Thailand or Bali. However, that's typically only true for basic treatments in public hospitals. Private hospitals in these countries can still cost a considerable amount of money, leaving a massive dent in your travel budget and potentially ruining your trip.
From treatment for sudden illnesses and injuries to situations that require emergency medical evacuation, it’s important to make sure that you’re covered for whatever comes your way.
2. Your flight is delayed or canceled
Flight interruptions are one of the most dreaded parts of travel – and it's not just because airports are usually uncomfortable places full of terrible food.
A delayed, missed, or canceled flight can also have a costly impact on your travel plans.
Even if it's not your fault, a delayed or canceled flight could likely mean having to shell out large sums of money for an overnight hotel room or other expenses that you didn’t budget for, such as transportation and meals.
Fortunately, travel protection plans with trip delay and trip interruption coverage, such as those offered by Travel Insured protect you from this.
3. Your baggage is lost or delayed
Picture this: You’ve just arrived in sunny Puerto Rico for a destination wedding, only to realize that the airline lost your luggage. You now have no suit for the wedding, no change of clothes, not even a toothbrush.
You could be out a ton of money trying to replace all of your lost items before the wedding. Or, if you have a travel protection plan that covers lost or delayed baggage, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be reimbursed for any necessary personal purchases you make until your luggage turns up.
4. You need to cancel your trip altogether
Many of your travel expenses — bookings, flights, reservations — are nonrefundable. So, if you need to cancel your trip, you could be out hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Ouch.
What if you or a loved one gets sick? What if you’re unexpectedly laid off from your job and you can’t go on your trip anymore? The right travel protection plan can help you recoup some of the potential losses related to canceling your trip for events like these.
Be sure to choose a travel protection plan that offers a Cancel for Any Reason benefit. This way, in the event of any unexpected issues, you can cancel without worry for absolutely any reason you wish.
5. Your personal belongings were stolen
From crafty pickpockets in Paris to your bag being snatched from a hostel in Barcelona, theft happens to travelers much more often than we like to think. That’s why it’s so important to have a travel protection plan that covers you in these situations.
Not only does being covered for stolen or lost personal effects give you peace of mind – it also prevents you from having to completely wreck your travel budget by trying to replace stolen personal items.
6. You missed your cruise or tour connection
You’ve been waiting all year for your cruise to the Caribbean. All you’ve got to do is fly down to the port in Miami, climb aboard, and forget all of your troubles for the next two weeks. But now a nasty storm has rolled in. Just like that, your flight to Florida is canceled, and you’re not going to make it in time for departure.
Without the right coverage, you could be stuck eating the entire trip cost in this situation. Fortunately, some travel protection plans actually cover missed cruise and tour connections. With this plan, you could catch up with your ship at the next port and be covered for any additional transportation costs incurred while getting there. Vacation saved!
7. You suffer an unexpected injury or illness
Ideally, vacations would all be fun and games. But unfortunately, things don't always go according to plan.
Let's say you roll an ankle hiking in Denver or catch a stomach parasite after swallowing some river water in Vietnam. If you're lucky, a quick visit to the doctor for a supportive brace or some antibiotics should do the trick. But even if that's the case, the bills for those unexpected treatments and doctor's visits add up quickly. Not to mention the fact that you might need to cancel your trip a few days early.
A comprehensive travel protection plan will make sure that you're covered in cases like these.
Our pick for the best travel protection plan
As travel experts, we know that not all travel protection plans are created equal. Even more so, we understand the importance of having a well-rounded policy that covers all of your needs as a traveler. That’s why we decided to partner exclusively with Travel Insured.
Travel Insured offers a wide variety of travel plans that cover every item listed above and so much more.
Wondering which Travel Insured plan is right for your next trip? Just click here to get a free quote today!
