Travel Insurance Review

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Booking a trip this fall? Here’s why you should have travel insurance

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Traveler waving goodbye with travel insurance for the trip

As colder weather approaches in the northern hemisphere, airlines are hoping to fill their planes with leisure travelers seeking sunny getaways and time with family. Over the past few weeks, many airlines have been expanding their schedules and adding domestic routes, expecting a surge in holiday travel.

International travel is approaching pre-pandemic levels. Optimism rose with the recent news that many borders will be fully open to vaccinated travelers in November.

Overall, travel sentiment appears to be cautiously optimistic. For the first time since the start of COVID, travel insurance sales have surpassed pre-pandemic numbers. Travel insurance companies have adapted some plans to include special coverage for COVID. Policies can include coverage should you get COVID before you travel or even while you are on your trip.

Travel insurance is best purchase at the time you start booking your trip because you’ll have the opportunity for the widest range of benefits for travel mishaps, like these:

Trip cut short? Trip interruption cover is the answer

Some of the most common reasons that trips get cut short, sending you suddenly back home, are:

  1. The traveler is injured
  2. The traveler is suddenly ill
  3. A death occurs in the family

If you have to end a trip early, here’s how trip interruption coverage can help:

  • Reimbursement for unused, pre-paid and non-refundable trip expenses (like that special anniversary dinner at a vineyard).
  • Reimbursement for unexpected costs to get home quickly (think airfare change fees, for example).

Sick while traveling? Travel medical cover is your safety net

If you get sick while traveling – domestically or internationally – the cost of medical treatment is likely to be high and certainly unexpected. Even if you have health insurance and are traveling in the states, your coverage may not extend to where you are traveling. Health insurance plans almost never cover you while traveling abroad.

Travel medical coverage is your safety net. Since the rise of COVID, travel insurance companies have adapted some plans to include coverage for COVID-related hospitalization and medical expenses. 

Bonus: Included with travel medical coverage is the added benefit of medical evacuation. This is helpful if you need to be airlifted to a place where you can receive medical treatment.

Test positive before leaving? Cancel for any reason to the rescue

Even if you’re vaccinated, you could test positive for COVID. Many domestic and all international locations require a negative COVID test result as part of the entry requirements. If you test positive before you leave, and have to cancel your trip, you can reclaim a portion of your pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs with cancel for any reason coverage. 

Cancel for any reason can be handy in other situations completely beyond your control, like:

  • Borders at your intended destination close
  • Injury or illness of you or a traveling companion
  • Infection rates at your intended destination rise beyond your comfort level

Even if the place you’re visiting doesn’t require travel insurance, you could be glad you bought it. Just like any insurance plan, you only wish you had it when you really need it.

Other interesting news

Business class anyone? Here’s why super business mini suites may be the new future of flying.

Vaccine mandates – could there be a vaccination mandate for domestic air travel soon?

Read this if you have AAdvantage – the Points Guy is worried about devaluation.

Worried about lost bags? See which airline is most likely to lose or damage your luggage.

Check your carbon footprint – Google flights will now show you the environmental impact of flights.

Tips for Booking Holiday Travel in these Uncertain Times

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Animated gif of mobile phone and travel booking

The list of countries reopening to fully vaccinated international visitors in November grew longer this week, including:

As borders open and restrictions ease, the EU digital COVID certificate program has expanded. The digital certificate can be used to enter venues where it’s required like restaurants, museums, and bars. It is now open to all EU member states as well as 16 non-EU countries, including Israel, Morocco, and Panama.

Tip: Presenting the white CDC vaccination card is an acceptable alternative for American tourists.

With the holiday season approaching and restrictions easing up, demand for holiday travel is expected to be high. Regardless of whether you’re planning to travel internationally or simply across the country, here’s what you need to know about trip planning right now.

1 Don’t be afraid to book travel now

There are loads of reasons to book your holiday trips right now, and here’s why:

  1. Most flights can be changed – not refunded but changed – to a new ticket without paying fees. Basic economy tickets are the exception.
  2. Great deals are everywhere right now. The airlines are eager to get people traveling again, and tours with flights, cars, and lodging are on sale too.
  3. Demand for travel to the US is picking up and domestic locations could fill up quickly. 

Plus, it’s fun to have something to look forward to on the calendar.

2 Travel reward cards and loyalty programs help you save

Even the not-so-frequent and budget-minded travelers can reap the rewards of booking holiday travel right now. Here’s how:

  1. Airline credit cards with airport lounge access help you avoid overpriced airport food (especially helpful on a long layover).
  2. Travel cards that cover the cost of TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or Clear memberships save you money and time waiting in security lines.
  3. Airline credit cards often include the benefit of free checked bags when you use the card to pay for flights (really helpful for families with lots of luggage).
  4. Hotel loyalty programs don’t charge resort fees for rooms booked using points. Many programs also offer additional discounts like the fifth night free when booking with points.

Pro tip: If you buy your airline tickets with points, and have to cancel the trip, you don’t have to go through the process of re-booking a new trip and paying the difference. The points are returned to your account instead.

3 Check the cancellation terms

As demand for travel picks up and inventory gets low, you’ll want to play investigative reporter with the terms and conditions for hotels and tours. 

Many hotels pose stricter-than-usual cancellation requirements over the holidays. You may be able to reschedule your stay instead of getting a refund, but that only works if you can schedule a later trip.

4 Consider ‘stacking’ your trips for extra reassurance

Trip stacking is a new trend that can give you some peace of mind. Stacking your trips means booking more than one trip within the same timeframe in the hope that one will actually happen. It’s a way to have a backup trip ready to go if your first preference doesn’t work out. Usually the first preference trip is more aggressive – like traveling internationally or taking a cruise – while the backup is often domestic and less likely to be canceled.

If you’re still on the fence and uncertain about booking your holiday trips now, you’re in good company. Prince Harry and Meghan haven’t figured out their holiday travel plans yet either.

Other interesting news

Volcano erupts – the Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption on the Canary Island of La Palma disrupted flights this week and prompted evacuations.

Stop already – a list of 17 things flight attendants wish passengers would stop doing.

Tourist magnet – Canada rolls out a lure for frequent flyers by matching perks on Air Canada.

Group trip organizing – this new travel app designed for group trips just launched and they’re hosting a contest. If you’ve got a frustrating group trip planning story, you could win a paid vacation for you and, you guessed it, three of your friends.

Tired of the same four walls? Malta has opened applications for year-long digital nomad visas.