There’s a saying that goes something like this; “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel,” but we think that oversimplifies the issue. After all, not every trip needs coverage and not every traveler needs travel insurance.

To know if you can afford to buy travel insurance, it’s important to think about the coverage you already have, how much you’re spending on your trip, your risk of and ability to pay for medical emergencies and evacuations – and then make the decision.

There are a number of reasons people think they don’t need to buy travel insurance, including:

My credit card annual fee includes travel protection

Many credit cards are now getting into the travel protection game. If you have a credit card with travel protection included with your annual fee you may have coverage for:

• Rental cars

• Baggage loss

• 24/7 Travel assistance

• AD&D or flight accidents

• Concierge services

• Identity theft protections

That’s great, but it’s important to understand that there are limits to those travel protections just like there are with travel insurance. For example, your rental car coverage doesn’t include personal liability or extend to covering damage to another vehicle, structure, or person. Motorbikes, scooters, RVs, and trucks are probably not covered either, but they wouldn’t be covered by a travel insurance plan with rental car coverage either.

You’ll need to get a copy of your credit card travel protection plan and compare the benefits side-by-side with travel insurance to understand what coverage you have for travel disasters.

I have health insurance, so I’m not worried about medical care

Awesome, you’ve got medical care, but are you 100% certain your coverage extends to where you’re going? We hear about travel medical emergencies that happen overseas all the time – a woman falls off a boat and nearly drowns, a child breaks a leg jumping off the high dive, a man suffers a stroke. All of these medical emergencies cost money and if you’re outside your health insurance network, you could be paying 100 to 80% of these costs out of pocket.

Medical emergencies happen anytime and anywhere they like and most U.S. based health insurance plan coverage does not extend outside the borders of this country. Even Medicare for seniors doesn’t work outside the U.S. although some supplement plans do offer limited emergency medical care cover.

In addition, it’s unlikely that your health insurance plan likely includes evacuations or repatriation.

An emergency medical evacuation is enacted when a person is badly injured and there is no emergency transportation that can get them to a medical facility. The cost of emergency medical evacuations is based on two factors: your condition and your location and medical evacuations can cost upwards of a hundred thousand dollars or more. Got room for that on your credit card?

A repatriation is the return of your body to your home if you die while traveling. The legal transportation of human remains is not only a delicate subject – and a time sensitive one! – it’s also packed with legal regulations and requirements. Unless your family knows the language very well and has a friend in the foreign government, they’re likely to spend a lot of time and money getting your body home for burial. The cost of repatriation can be be as high as thousands, even ten thousand, dollars.

A travel medical plan often costs a traveler less than a dollar a day and it includes benefits like these: trip interruption, baggage protection, even trip delays.

I don’t need cancellation because I’m not going to cancel my trip

No one plans to cancel their trip and no one wants to cancel their trip, but whether you’re forced to cancel your trip is another story.

Every day we hear stories of people who were forced to cancel their trips for the craziest reasons and they lose all their pre-paid trip costs.

Why might you be forced to cancel your trip? Take a look at these real-life stories from our message board:

• I’m about to lose my current job but I got an interview for the job of my dreams – they can’t move the date!

• My daughter was moving and I planned to travel and help her pack until I broke my hand

• My purse was stolen from my locker at work and it had my passport, visa, and travel documents inside!

• That terrorist attack has made me too nervous to fly – I want to cancel my trip and wait until it’s safer.

• My son was in a car accident and there’s no one to care for him while he recovers.

Trip cancellation coverage means you can cancel your trip for a covered reason and get up to 100% of your insured trip costs back. That’s peace of mind you can probably afford.

We could tell you that you can’t afford to travel without insurance, but we’re not going to say that because some trips simply don’t need coverage.

Get a travel insurance quote and compare plans

The best way to know if you can afford travel insurance is to get and compare a few quotes. Use our travel insurance comparison tool, type in your trip details, then filter the plans based on your needs. All you’re losing by looking is a few minutes of your time and you could be very surprised to find travel insurance is really affordable – especially when you consider the trouble that could happen and what that would cost.

Many travelers are willing to fly as long as five or six hours to a destination they’ve always wanted to see as long as they can spend at least three or four nights there. Travel dreamers often find themselves spending time online watching for airfare sales – and when they find one, they’ll snatch it up quickly.

Before you book that short getaway, however, make sure that your destination doesn’t take multiple forms of transportation to reach – such as islands that are only finally accessible by infrequent ferries or resorts that have a private shuttle from the airport (especially one that waits until a minimum number of guests have arrived and the van is considered ‘full’).

Of all the mistakes short-trip travelers make, however, the biggest is treating their short getaway like it’s a longer trip. It’s easy to do. Nearly all the expert travel advice is geared toward longer trips, but that advice can actually make a mess out of a short trip.

Here are some important tips to make the most of short getaways.

1. Carry your bags – don’t check them

Nothing would make your short getaway more frustrating than arriving at the airport and finding your bag was misrouted and won’t be here for days. With all the great packing advice, there’s really no reason to check a suitcase for a short trip:

Packing Smart: Best Tips from Travel Experts

7 Tips to Lighten your Load on your Next Trip

Plus, checking a bag usually requires getting to the airport even earlier and paying a little more money, which cuts into your time and cash for seeing the sights.

2. Book the hotel close to what you want to see

When you have more time to spend, booking a hotel some distance away from the action is often recommended for cost-saving reasons. When you’re on a short getaway, however, it takes time to get to and from your hotel, and it’s likely you’ll pay more for transportation too, so it’s not the best decision on a short trip.

Book your hotel close to the sites you want to see and you might spend a little more per night, but you may end up recouping that money by paying less in transportation and having more time.

3. Get a flight with as few connections as possible

You’ve probably noticed that the cheapest flights on those airfare sites like Orbitz, Kayak, and Expedia are the ones that involve switching planes at the airline’s central hub. This is a good idea for saving money when you’re on a longer trip, but on a short trip it only takes one summer tornado to disrupt flights for a day and there goes your vacation.

For a short trip, it’s best to pay the extra and take the non-stop flight so you have less risk of delays and more time at your destination.

4. Be realistic about what you can accomplish

Every traveler is different, and some like to see it all no matter what the cost; others want to take their time, stroll down unfamiliar streets and sample local foods.

Of course it all boils down to personal preference, but instead of rushing to multiple museums in D.C. to see them ‘all’, pick the two you really want to see and do one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You’ll get the same experience and you’re far more likely to remember some of it.

Traveling with someone who doesn’t care for art but is really interested in aviation? Split up, see the museum you want to see, meet for lunch and go on from there. You can share what you saw over dinner later.

5. Factor in the new time zone

Recovering from jet lag takes the same amount of time as it does on a longer trip, but there are a few things experts recommend to keep your recovery time as short as possible.

Most travelers find flying east delivers the worst jet lag punch versus flying west, but the key is to try to get on the new time zone as quickly as possible no matter which direction you’re headed.

• If you have time to prepare, try to get your sleep and wake times closer to your destination as much as a week before.

• If it’s night-time at your destination when you board the plane, go to sleep immediately – take a melatonin, cover your head with a shawl, pop in earplugs, whatever you have to do to fall asleep.

• Get outside early in the day after you arrive – the sunlight and fresh air will help your body reset its clock.

• Can’t make it through without a nap? Set your alarm and power nap instead of dragging it out too long.

Go to sleep when it gets dark at your destination – using all the tricks you need to make it happen and voila’!

6. Do some research before you arrive

Nothing is worse than arriving and not knowing what to do first – it leads to aimless wandering and a lot of “What are we going to do now?”. Planning is essential to short trips.

It’s worth taking a little time to research some dining options, information about the sites you want to see (when they’re open and what they cost is a good start), and how to get around your destination (can you walk, should you take a cab, that kind of thing).

• Get an ebook about your destination and mark your choices while you’re on the plane.

• Map the route from the airport to your hotel so you can get started quickly.

• Organize the sites you want to see with nearby dining options and pre-plan a few routes.

None of this means you can’t be spontaneous – it does mean that you’ll be seeing things when those who are less prepared are planning them because they waited until they arrived.

7. Get travel insurance if you need it

Not every trip or every traveler needs travel insurance, but stop and consider what you do need to protect yourself from big financial losses.

• If you’re traveling overseas, will your health insurance cover emergency care and evacuations? If not, consider getting a travel medical plan. It’s inexpensive and spending a little up-front can be worth a lot if you get food poisoning or hit by a taxi.

• Can you afford to lose the non-refundable trip costs if you have to cancel or abandon your trip due to an emergency? If you didn’t spend a lot in tickets and your hotel can be cancelled without a penalty, then you may not need this coverage at all.

Take a look at our Travel Insurance 101 for details. If you do get insurance, be sure to check out these techniques for having your travel documents along.

Here are a few other articles that will help you prepare for a safe short trip too:

• Safe Travelers Love Money Belts

• Don’t travel with a copy of your bank cards – use this nifty trick instead

• Do prepare a travel medical portfolio and have a travel medical kit

Renting vacation homes has become a highly popular option – especially for traveling families and couples for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, renting a vacation home gives a traveler more space and the added benefit of free parking in the garage or driveway as well as the option to fix at least some meals in the home and save on dining out. Most importantly, a vacation rental nearly always costs a lot less than staying at a hotel and you get to live like a local.

As a result, a number of well-established vacation home rental sites have sprung up over the years – allowing vacation home owners and potential renters to connect, chat about the property, and exchange payment.

It’s important for vacation home renters to rent only from trustworthy sources, i.e., those with a good reputation, a long presence online, and lots of good feedback. It’s also critical that you never wire cash for your payment – this is a well-known and well-documented scam. Only use a credit card to pay for your rental because it gives you the most protection. Be sure to read the reviews about a vacation property before you book it too. In some cases, you’ll find a terrific set of photos and a great description for a home right where you want to be, but the reviews will tell you if other renters have had a bad experience.

The following are the most critical questions to ask before booking your vacation rental.

1. What is the cancellation policy and where can I read it?

Any vacation can be affected by sudden and unexpected situations: a death in the family, a hurricane, work demands, a sudden illness, and more. The cancellation policy defines the terms should you or the property owner have to cancel the vacation rental. Understanding the vacation rental’s cancellation policy gives you the information you need to determine whether it’s necessary to have trip cancellation insurance.

Tip: If you’re concerned about having to cancel the rental for a reason that’s not included in the rental contract or in your trip cancellation plan, get ‘cancel for any reason’. It’s an inexpensive way to be sure you’ll get your money back if something unexpected happens (like the bridges to the island wash out and you can’t get to your rental).

2. Who is my emergency contact if something breaks?

Stuff happens all the time at your home, right? The toilet won’t flush, the power goes out, the dishwasher stops working. When something breaks or stops working in your vacation rental, however, you’ll want to know who to call and how soon it can get fixed.

Tip: Store that emergency contact as well as the property owner’s contact in your phone so you have it at your fingertips if you need it. It’s also useful if you suddenly realize you’ll be arriving late, for example, and you won’t have to dig to find the number.

3. What supplies are not included with the vacation rental?

Every rental property is different. In some cases you’ll need to bring your own bed linens, for example, and in others everything is provided. Arriving with a family of seven to find a single roll of toilet paper and no soap or shampoo can be a problem, so ask what’s included and know what you need to bring with you.

Tip: If you’ll be arriving late and know that you’ll need to have some supplies like cereal, shampoo, and pet food, for example, sidestep the problem by putting together a box of items you know you’ll need and shipping it to the property in time for your arrival. Inform your host so they know to put the box in the kitchen and you’re set!

4. What are the total fees related to this rental?

While the cost of the rental is one thing, many agreements include additional fees like cleaning fees, security deposits, and even maintenance fees. If you’ll be securing the property with a deposit, review the rental agreement so you know how it will be returned to you and in what time frame.

Tip: Asking the property owner for a filled out rental agreement is a great way to ensure that you understand all the costs related to a particular vacation home. You’ll want to review the rental agreement before finally committing anyway, so you’ll accomplish two things at once.

5. Where exactly is the property?

Many online vacation rental sites are now linking the property address to services like Google maps that ensure you can see the property’s exact location, but these steps are in response to years of owners exaggerating how close the property is to the ski lift, the center of town, or the beach. It can be disappointing to arrive and find out that the home you thought was in a quiet neighborhood is actually right next to a train track.

Tip: Get the exact address of the property and use Google Earth to view the property itself. You’ll get a much better idea of the layout of the lot and surrounding area, the distance to the beach, and whether the property is right next to a busy highway (you won’t see that in any pictures of the property!).

6. Does the property typically get good cell reception?

This may not sound important if you’re trying to get away from it all – and that’s great – until you have a medical emergency and need help. If you’re traveling in an unfamiliar area and experience a medical emergency, you won’t know where the closest emergency room is and if you don’t get good cell reception, calling 911 could be difficult.

Tip: If the vacation home is positioned such that it doesn’t get good cell reception, ask if there is a connected landline in the vacation home. It’s a good backup for emergencies.

7. What cleanup is expected upon departure?

The cleanup that’s expected when you leave a vacation rental typically includes stripping the beds, taking out the trash, and loading the dishwasher, but all of the rules should be carefully spelled out in the rental agreement. In some cases, if the guests don’t do these steps, they forfeit their security deposit so it’s important to know ahead of time.

Tip: Read the rental agreement carefully so you know what’s expected and you can plan ahead to get everyone involved to help before you leave.

8. Are there any rodents, critters, or insects present in the home?

Go with us on this one because it’s important. If you’re a city dweller and the vacation rental you picked sits in a beautiful mountain by a lake and the property is well known for having deer, bears, cougars, bobcats, and the like appear for an early evening drink, you’d want to know, right?

It may be just fine that the critters are there, but without a little warning you could be in for a real shock. The same is true for squirrels that nest in the attic or an infestation of ants that sometimes appear in the kitchen – you’d want to know and perhaps have the local handyman or animal control number on hand.

Tip: After reading all the reviews, ask the property owners this question and see what they say. It’s likely that you’ll have a much better idea what special visitors you can expect to enjoy, but it’s best to have a good idea what you’re in for ahead of time.

9. When was the vacation home last cleaned thoroughly?

If asking whether the home was last thoroughly cleaned seems a bit odd, think about how you’ll feel if you have to spend your hard-earned vacation time to clean a home you paid to stay in. Reading the reviews will help you know if the home was clean for other guests and if there are no reviews, it’s best to either avoid the home, or ask the question directly of the vacation home owner.

Tip: Ask whether the home is professionally cleaned is a good way to get around the issue. In many cases, the vacation home owner themselves clean it but others will hire pros to do it between guests.

10. How, when, and where do I pick up the keys?

This is a step that catches many vacation renters off-guard. The vacation homeowner will have a way for you to pick up the keys, but it’s important to understand the location and timing of this exchange. In some cases, the key will be left for you in a lock box and the combination can be texted to your phone, but if the procedure is to pick up the key from a local and that person is out to dinner and unreachable, you could be waiting around to get into the home after a long day of traveling.

Tip: Read the rental agreement for details about the key exchange and note whether there’s an extra charge for lost keys. You’re far less likely to lose your own keys because you recognize them, but vacation renters often lose the keys to their vacation homes simply because the keys are unfamiliar.

One last note before you leave …

Before you leave for your vacation rental, make sure you pack these items:

• The vacation home rental agreement and travel insurance – digital copies are fine as long as you can access them. See the 4 Best Backup Methods for your Travel Documents.

• A travel medical kit with basic medical supplies (you can’t be sure your vacation rental will have tylenol for a late-night fever, for example).

• A simple travel medical portfolio for each person on the vacation (this can save you loads of time and worry in a medical emergency).

Also, know how to find medical care from your vacation rental property. If you’re traveling abroad, the emergency hotline equivalent to the U.S. 911 will be different so it’s important to know what those numbers are. Your travel insurance assistance services can be helpful when you need to find emergency medical care too.