Posts Tagged ‘travel insurance plan’

Can Travel Insurance Protect You from a Hurricane?

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

While most travelers invest in travel insurance packages to protect themselves from financial losses associated with theft, mishandled baggage, or other damages, many tourists are now purchasing detailed travel insurance plans to specifically cover hurricane-related risks.  If you’re planning a sojourn to a hurricane-prone area, investigate the pros and cons of a hurricane insurance policy to ensure that you’ll be set to take off with reduced stress and worry.

Benefits of Hurricane Travel Insurance

If you’ve spent months planning your romantic and exotic getaway to the Caribbean, only to realize days before your departure that your destination is being pillaged by hurricane winds, rain, and storms, you may be eligible for due compensation if you have purchased hurricane protection with your travel insurance plan.   Generally, most hurricane protection policies allow travelers to make their vacation plans with greater confidence, as nearly all reputable policies offer protection and benefits such as:

  • Coverage for cancellations within up to 24 hours of vacation departure
  • Mandatory evacuation cost coverage / reimbursement
  • Accommodations if a planned destination / hotel / residence is considered to be “inhabitable”
  • Medical emergency coverage / reimbursement
  • Coverage / re-issue of airline ticket(s)
  • Complete 24 hour assistance and support to make needed car, hotel, transportation, and / or other reservations
  • Lost document support and / or translation assistance

With the protection perks of hurricane-based coverage, travelers who are forced to cancel their vacation plans before departure are able to avoid serious financial losses.  Adding to this benefit, travelers who have already left for their destination to quickly realize that their trip being ruined with hurricane-related struggles, warnings, and impediments should also generally be provided with due compensation and reimbursements.

Hurricane Travel Insurance Tips

Before opting for your own hurricane protection insurance policy, experts recommend that all travelers carefully evaluate the details of their pre-existing travel insurance plan.  Commonly, travel insurance policies already include hurricane-related protection benefits under their “natural disaster” clause; however, each insurance provider will have its own coverage limits, restrictions, and guidelines.

Do Need Travel Insurance for Your Cruise Vacation?

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

If you’re getting ready to set sail for a destination cruise vacation, check out details of your cruise line carrier and destination to find out if you may benefit from optional travel insurance policies.

The Concerns of Cruise Insurance

While traveler’s insurance can be an effective protection against “just in case” situations, traveler’s should be aware that insurance for most vacations (including cruises) do not cover all unfortunate circumstances. Specifically, travel insurance for cruise vacations will not cover the following incidences / events:

  • Bad weather that does not cause you to miss / delay your trip. There are no refunds for unfavorable weather conditions (ie: rain) for a cruise
  • An unessential change in itinerary
  • Pregnancy or childbirth that is not considered to be a “medical emergency”
  • An unfortunate change in one’s financial circumstances
  • Psychological disorders / symptoms

While many travelers are turned away from traveler’s insurance due to the many non-coverage clauses, there are in fact new types of plans that are designed specifically for cruise vacations. To avoid worries and potential risks, most travel experts recommend the purchase of travel insurance prior to cruise departure. As the cost of most basic travel insurance plans are often reasonable, many travelers can obtain insurance coverage for around 5 percent of the total cruise vacation cost-the same price for a basic meal or two while dining out.

The Perks of Planning for a Cruise with Coverage

Because there are so many planned arrangements with a cruise, including flight to the departure destination and boarding of the cruise ship, a number of providers are boosting each traveler’s coverage possibilities. Specifically, new policies now allow some travelers to “Cancel for Any Reason.” This option will incur various financial penalties, and will not allow travelers to receive a full refund; however, this form of insurance does in fact qualify eligible travelers for a nearly full refund in the case of a necessary cancellation. Adding to this, amidst a tough economy, some providers even offer insurance against unanticipated financial setbacks, such as a job loss or financial emergency. As some providers have included job loss protection into their coverage features, traveler’s can gain additional assurance by seeking out these new, innovative coverage options!

A Day in The Life of Travel Insurance

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

You’ve planned and saved a long time for your upcoming trip to Europe or 14 day cruise.  Why spend that extra money on travel insurance when you could put that money toward souvenirs or more Mai Tais on the beach?  Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?

These are typical questions that many travelers ask themselves before going on an extended journey, especially one out of the country.  But just ask the newlywed couple how disappointed they were when a hurricane canceled their paid-for trip to the Bahamas the night before they left.  And ask the husband and wife on a trip to visit long lost relatives in Israel the trouble they had when Palestinian unrest caused them injury and extra expense in getting home.

The Transfer of Risk Consideration

Travel insurance is a transfer of risk for the many types of risky elements one can encounter while away from home.  A good travel insurance plan will pay for medical costs due to terrorist acts and help get a secure way home for you.  Canceled flights or cruises can be an expensive and terribly inconvenient.  But those who had the foresight to purchase a travel insurance plan as an extra security will be happy to know that a new flight or cruise will be prepared for them at no additional cost.

The Many Benefits of Travel Insurance

And travel insurance is not just for vacationers.  Business travelers, students studying abroad, or even those with multiple citizenship and residences in two or more countries can benefit from a travel insurance plan.

Most of all, travel insurance gives peace of mind for travelers.  Travel can be stressful enough for a lot of people.  But stress can be eased and one can enjoy their trip more knowing they are protected if something goes wrong or not according to plan thousands of miles away from home and country.