Don’t Worry, You’re Covered
Travel Insurance Offers Options for Unexpected Surprises
The Signal - Business Section, July, 2005
It’s all about peace of mind. Travel insurance. This is one item we buy and hope we never need to use. But life happens and when unexpected surprises occur, today’s jet-setters need to be prepared.
Now more than ever, adding travel insurance is valuable part of planning any vacation. While it does not offer protection from acts of God, terrorism, war or a bad hair day at sea, travel insurance will provide options. Should a journey become interrupted, health issues arise, or sudden cancellation is necessary, travel coverage makes a difference and will save you lots of money and time.
Imagine trying to get your car fixed after an accident, and you have no auto insurance. Not going to happen. So why are globetrotters so quick to refuse or underutilize travel coverage in the first place? Because vacations are not planned with the intent to cancel, travelers assume life will go according to their carefully constructed plans.
But that’s not always the case. Travel is a personal experience that affects the entire family. So does your travel insurance. Finally you’re getting ready to leave for that over-due family vacation, and one of the kids suddenly needs his tonsils taken out. Trip cancelled. While on the perfect cruise, you receive a call that your elderly parent has died. Trip interrupted. Hiking the Rocky Mountains with your sweetie, you slip and fall and end up with a broken leg and cast. Again, trip interrupted.
All of these are unexpected health emergencies that prevent you from starting or completing your vacation. But if you planned ahead and purchased travel insurance with your vacation, breathe a big sigh of relief. It is stressful enough to deal with an emergency situation, let alone face the additional burden of an expensive interruption or cancellation penalty for missing your vacation.
That’s exactly why we recommend getting travel insurance. You’ll be covered. Work with an experienced travel consultant and ask lots of questions. To avoid any surprises later on, read the fine print of your policy to fully understand what is covered and what is not.
With most travel insurance, the remainder of an interrupted trip that goes untaken plus the cost to return home is reimbursable. For flat-out cancellations, you’re protected too. This is particularly important for cruises, as the penalties for terminating a trip can be very steep.
Even lost luggage will be reimbursed if you invest in the proper travel coverage in advance. Say you’re heading to a formal event in a foreign country with little time to spare upon arrival. You get there, but your baggage does not. The airline will be very little help, and you are stuck wearing the same jeans and wrinkly shirt.
However, if you worked with your travel consultant and purchased the recommended insurance, you’re covered. If you bags are delayed, insurance provides you with $200 - enough to get a change of clothes. If luggage is lost, you’ll receive $1,000 for the inconvenience. This is help.
Even third party insurance is a good idea for protection against the threat of bankruptcy or services that go undelivered from a travel vendor. Again, you never know what may happen so it’s always good to be prepared.
Everyone purchases travel with the intent to see a new place and experience something different. But we buy travel insurance with the hope that we never need to use it. With both, we have peace of mind and are able to look forward to our vacation without worry. That’s priceless.
Commentary provided by Eric Maryanov, president and founder of All-Travel.com, the Los Angeles-based travel management company with an office in Valencia. He can be reached at 661.775.7511..
For more information
contact Nicole Stinson, Public Relations
(310) 312-3368
