Having Travel Insurance is one proven way to ease anxiety. You can purchase it separately with a company like Allianz or Travel Guard and it often comes as a standard offering with your credit card if you purchase the flights and hotels on that card. Just be sure to check that the coverage meets your needs and understand the requirements for making a claim. Below are my top five reasons to make sure you have Travel Insurance based on our experiences at Rhythm and Roam.
1.The Medical Insurance - Hands down this is the most important reason. I’ve been sick on a trip and needed to go to the emergency room; my husband’s been injured and needed medical attention. We did not have medical travel insurance. Thankfully the out of pocket cost wasn’t too bad, however, it’s best not to mess around in this area. If your health insurance doesn’t cover you overseas, you need to buy travel insurance, period.
2.The Lost Luggage - It happens to most if not all of us at least once. The luggage doesn’t arrive and you are stuck with the clothes on your back until they sort it out. One option is to only take a carry on, great for short trips, not great for two weeks or more. The travel insurance will make sure you have the funds to buy the necessities. You may think, no big deal, but once you’ve had to borrow someone else’s underwear, bras, shoes, everything for several days (been there, done that) you’ll never want that deeply uncomfortable experience again.
3.The Delayed or Canceled Flight - Sometimes the airline will reimburse you or provide you with free lodging and meals. However, if it’s due to weather, then all bets are off and you’re on your own. Sleeping on an airport bench/chair is something I might have done as a teenager, lol, it’s not happening now. It’s nice to know that you can find a hotel at the last minute or buy a few things that are in your checked bag and not worry about the cost. Though I do try to carry a few toiletries and an extra outfit in my carry-on as a precaution.
4.Cancel for Any Reason - Sometimes this clause is included and in other cases there is an extra fee to add it on. Travel insurance would have been so useful when my friend bailed on our trip at the last minute and I was left trying to recoup all the expenses. Save yourself the hassle - nonrefundable flights and hotels are undeniably cheaper, yet they are, of course, nonrefundable.
5.The Rental Car - When renting a car internationally, many companies require additional coverage as the standard car insurance policy covers domestic rental cars but not if you rent abroad. Adding this insurance on at the rental car counter can be quite pricy as I discovered last summer in Ireland. Your credit card may offer it standard (or prompt you to purchase) if you rent the car on that card. Whether you get the insurance through your card or as an add on with a travel insurance package, it will certainly be cheaper than buying it on the spot.
As is the case with insurance in general, you pay for it and then never use it or only rarely. However, if you’re one to have anxiety about all the things that could go wrong on a trip, having insurance will give you peace of mind for a pretty reasonable cost.
~Benefsheh