As a traveler, you’re often faced with the option of purchasing travel insurance. Many of us pass it up, giving any number of excuses – it’s too expensive, it’s not relevant, it won’t be used since we aren’t missing this trip for anything. Yet, the truth is that many people pass up buying travel insurance simply because they don’t understand their options or how to make the most of the insurance. Here are things you probably didn’t know about travel insurance that you should consider the next time you have the option to purchase it:
Concierge service is often part of the deal.
You might be willing to risk having to paying for emergency medical care or replacing items in delayed baggage, but the money isn’t the only reason you should consider travel insurance. Many companies selling travel insurance have an awesome concierge service, so with a single phone call, you can find the help you need quickly. Even if you’re stranded in a foreign country. They can help you find a new route if you miss your flight, send a car for you if you’re sick at the hotel room, and otherwise assist when your plans go awry. This is especially helpful if you’re traveling to a country where you don’t speak the native language.
You can save money on travel insurance if you travel often.
Most of the time when we’re asked to purchase travel insurance, it’s while booking a specific trip. If you travel often, however, you can save tons of money by purchasing annual insurance instead. Many annual travel insurance plans do not cover you if you cancel a specific trip, but you can add that individual as you book if needed.
Travel insurance usually covers weather situations when nothing else does.
If your vacation is affected by weather, there’s usually nothing anyone can do to help you. Airlines, cruise companies, and other travel services rarely offer refunds and sometimes may not even be obligated to offer you future services, like a later flight. Even if they can, you might not be able to reschedule your vacation. Because no one controls the weather, if you don’t have travel insurance, you’ll probably be out of luck.
If you shop around, travel insurance is quite affordable.
Buying travel insurance can be expensive if you purchase it as you’re buying your tickets. Travel insurance is available from several sources, though. Often, the insurance offered as you’re checking out after purchasing plane tickets or booking your hotel room online isn’t the best deal out there. By shopping around, you can find fantastic insurance prices, allowing you to purchase a package when you at first may have thought it to be too expensive. In any case, a travel insurance plan sure beats thousands of dollars in expenses if something goes wrong during your vacation or business trip.