Importance of Travel Insurance

When I help my clients arrange their vacations, I always recommend purchasing travel insurance.  Many people don't consider travel insurance as an essential part of their vacation package, or don't find it necessary because they may have taken multiple trips in the past and everything went off without a hitch.  With unpredictable weather (hurricanes, snow storms, volcano eruptions), it is sometimes necessary for clients to adjust their travel plans. Those clients that purchased travel insurance had the easiest time rescheduling or canceling their vacations.  But extreme weather conditions are not the only time to use your travel insurance.  Here are several examples of when my clients found (or could have found) travel insurance very useful:

1.  A couple purchased Cancel for Any Reason insurance for their trip to Dominican Republic.  Three days before Hurricane Irma landed, my clients decided not to risk it and cancel their vacation.  They were able to cancel the trip and got all of their money back minus insurance premium that they paid, with no difficulties.

2.  A family purchased a vacation package to St. Barts for November 2017.  Unfortunately, Hurricane Irma hit St. Barts hard.   The resort that they were planning to stay at was completely devastated and won't be operational until November 2018.  With the help of their travel insurance, Family Travel Concierge was able to reschedule their trip to another Caribbean destination 

3.  A family chose not to purchase travel insurance for their vacation.  Unfortunately, 2 months before their trip, their son developed a medical condition that has prevented them from traveling.  Having purchased travel insurance would have helped them get all their money back (minus insurance premium).  

4.  A family was staying at a resort in Mexico, when their young son fell at a playground and broke his chin.  He was rushed to a private hospital in Riviera Maya.  Fortunately, the family had travel insurance which covered all their medical expenses. 

About 90% of all vacations go smoothly.  But, when in 10% of cases, life happens, travel insurance pays off really quickly.  We all have different risk tolerance and budgets, but seeing how circumstances (and weather) can change without notice, I personally always buy travel insurance when I travel.  A careful consideration of your need for travel insurance before each trip should be a part of every vacation planning.