8 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Travel Insurance

Planning a stress-free vacation starts with travel insurance! You never know what events can suddenly interrupt your long-planned vacation, like COVID-19 restrictions. 

Travel insurance not only gives you more peace of mind while booking and anticipating your trip but also protects your investment when you’re out exploring unknown territory. It offers invaluable benefits at an inexpensive cost and covers several unforeseen circumstances.

Let’s take a closer look at the top reasons why you should invest in travel insurance. Feel free to reach out to a Riverdale Travel consultant today to learn more about your options!

1. Flight Reimbursement

Missing a flight happens to the best of us. But to clear up some misconceptions, you don’t buy travel insurance just in case you’re late to the airport, and many policies won’t cover that kind of thing. (Although certain providers or policy upgrades may allow you to cancel for any reason – more on that in reason three.) 

With travel or flight insurance, reimbursements are covered for trip cancellations for unexpected reasons; The covered reasons will vary depending on your insurance provider. In our experience, most trip cancellations happen due to medical emergencies, which all providers will cover. 

2. Refundable Hotel Pre-Paid Costs

Your non-refundable hotel or lodging pre-paid costs can also be refundable with travel insurance, which is something you’ll be incredibly grateful for if you or someone in your traveling party contracts COVID. The virus has caused 50% of U.S. adults to cancel a trip and 80% to lose money because of it, according to Forbes.

You can also get a hotel reimbursement if you experience a medical emergency or evacuation while traveling. 

3. Other Comprehensive Reimbursements

Depending on the type of coverage you select, you can be reimbursed for some travel expenses should you change your mind altogether for any reason prior to your trip. 

This benefit may be on certain comprehensive policies and may also have some exclusions, so be sure to discuss this with a knowledgeable travel consultant!

4. Coverage for Longer Flight Delays

Short flight delays happen often and don’t cause too much of a fuss, but longer delays are frustrating, and the related expenses can quickly add up for travelers. With travel insurance, you can keep all your receipts to get reimbursed for these extra expenses. 

Many travel insurance policies reimburse costs of a hotel, meal, and local transportation costs due to a longer flight delay. 

5. Overseas Medical Costs

Travel insurance policies can cover medical care overseas, eliminating worries of paying for expensive hospital bills should an accident or illness happen. In the unfortunate event that you need it, this could save you thousands of dollars. 

Overseas medical facilities will not accept American health insurance plans, so a reputable travel insurance carrier will be able to help you handle the payment to these facilities. 

Remember to always keep the travel insurance number with you.

6. Lost or Delayed Baggage

No flight is perfect, and sometimes our baggage gets lost or delayed. With travel insurance, you can receive coverage for lost, stolen, or delayed baggage. This can include essential items you need to purchase while you’re waiting for your baggage to arrive. 

It’s hard to enjoy a trip if you don’t have your clothes and essentials, so choosing travel insurance to ensure your baggage is covered is a smart idea. Another smart idea is to make sure your carry-on has a change of clothes and any essential medications or other items that you need. 

7. Refund for Unused Trip Portions

If, for some reason, your trip is cut short due to medical problems or another emergency, then travel insurance can reimburse you for the unused part of the trip. This can include unused hotel stays or pre-booked activities. 

If you’re nervous about extenuating circumstances that may crop up while you’re on vacation, then choosing travel insurance can ensure you get your money back. 

8. Hurricane or Other Weather Cancellations

Hurricanes and other bad weather can cause your trip to be delayed or even canceled. In this case, you want to have travel insurance to ensure you get your money back for the cancellation. 

This is particularly important if you’re planning a cruise during hurricane season, which you should thoroughly research before purchasing your trip. 

When to Purchase Travel Insurance

While planning your next trip, ensure you purchase travel insurance at the right time. The best time to purchase travel insurance is no later than 14 days before departure. If you wait too long after booking, you could have to pay even more for the same coverage, and you may have fewer options. 

If you are looking into comprehensive travel coverage that would cover trip cancellation and trip interruption, you should purchase that at the time of booking.

If you need assistance with choosing which travel insurance to purchase, contact one of our representatives. 

Ready to Take the Next Step With Your Vacation?

Connect with one of Riverdale Travel’s experienced consultants and protect your priceless journey! Not only can we help with travel insurance, but our advisors specialize in destinations across the globe, offering personalized recommendations that make your trip perfectly tailored to your vacation style.

Even if you’re still unsure about whether to purchase travel insurance, be sure to call and schedule a consultation with one of Riverdale’s knowledgeable experts today! We’d be thrilled to help discuss your options and can offer a quote based on your travel itinerary needs.