Plan Your Trip · Travel Insurance
Protect the trip you've paid for.
Nobody plans for a broken leg, a storm, or a family emergency. Insurance is what keeps an expensive trip from becoming an expensive loss. I recommend it on every trip I book.
Why I recommend it every time
You pay for most of a trip long before you go.
Deposits and final payments are usually due weeks or months ahead. If something happens before you leave, that money can be gone. Cancellation coverage is what gets it back.
Life doesn't check your travel dates.
A sick child, a family emergency, a surgery that can't wait. These are the most common reasons trips get cancelled, and none of them are things you can plan around.
Your health insurance may stop at the border.
Many US health plans, including Medicare, cover little or nothing outside the country. A hospital visit abroad can mean paying out of pocket and sorting it out later.
Getting home can cost more than the trip.
If you're seriously hurt or sick far from home, or on a ship at sea, the cost of getting you to proper care is something most people don't think about until they need it.
Ships and planes don't wait.
A cancelled flight can mean missing your cruise departure. Many policies help cover the cost of catching up to the ship or rebooking.
The best coverage has to be bought early.
Some benefits, like coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, are usually only available if you buy within a short window after your first payment. That's why I bring it up when you book, not later.
It usually costs a small fraction of the trip.
Compared with what you've already put in, it's an inexpensive way to protect it.
What it can cover
- Trip cancellation. Your prepaid, nonrefundable costs if you have to cancel for a covered reason.
- Trip interruption. Costs if you have to cut a trip short.
- Medical care while traveling. Many US health plans, including Medicare, cover little or nothing outside the country.
- Medical evacuation. Getting you to proper care or home. This is the expensive one.
- Delays and lost bags. Extra costs when things don't go to plan.
What to ask before you buy
- What counts as a covered reason to cancel?
- Are pre-existing medical conditions covered, and by when do I need to buy?
- Is there a "cancel for any reason" option, and how much does it pay back? (Usually only part of the cost.)
- What does my credit card already cover?
My approach
When you book, you choose: add insurance, or opt out. I'll help you compare options before you decide, and it's always your call. If you opt out, I'll ask you to sign a waiver so we're both clear.
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