When you decide to finally hit the road and go to the long awaited trip to another country, incidents can happen. Although you have everything ready and think that nothing could go wrong, you never know what to expect. Anything is possible at any time. This is why it’s better to have travel insurance.
You know that problems have a tendency to happen at the most wrong moments. Your trip is not an exception to this, and you never know how you can wake up and feel sick, or just get your purse stolen by a criminal. This is stuff that could occur, and you need to take measures against it.
If you don’t want to learn it the hard way, then definitely consider travel insurance. Even though the thought of spending more money is unpleasant after being left with an amount that wouldn’t even allow you to use a public toilet, think about it. If something happens, you’ll have coverage.
Therefore, here are some reasons why you should have travel insurance before getting in the car and leaving to unknown lands.
- Your flight may get delayed
Yes, although you only think about the day your plane takes you to other places, there is a chance that the flight gets delayed. Some factors can cause this, like technical glitches, dangerous weather, airport strikes, and many others. This is all happening to ensure you travel safe, so it’s not something you should get mad about. Also, your travel insurance can help reimburse the costs for missing connecting flights.
In case the country you’re visiting requires a visa, then the insurance can cover the costs of the cancelled trip if your visa gets denied at the last minute.
Also, you should know that a good insurance doesn’t only cover flights. It covers trains, cruises or other transport as well.
- You get sick or hurt
As mentioned, you could just one day wake up and feel sick while on your vacation. Sadly, viruses don’t care if you are having fun. It’s actually the opposite – they usually like tormenting you and ruining your life.
So, expect them to appear and turn your life into a nightmare. But if you have insurance, this can become less of a nuisance.
Imagine that you need certain medication, but you can barely use 3 words in the language of the country you’re visiting. You could literally die there until the pharmacist understands what you’re saying. Well, travel insurance could connect you with health care providers that speak your language, so this is not a problem.
If you get injured, insurance can cover the hospital bill and doctor visits.
- You need to cancel your trip
If something unexpected happens, like a loved one dying or getting ill, you might have to cancel your trip and take care of them. Consequently, your wallet may have moths flying out of it when you check it. After all, you paid a generous amount of money for tickets, accommodation, packages and others.
Well, insurance ensures you will be able to take back some of the costs for the non-refundable portions of your travel.
- Your items are damaged
Who cares what happens to an object as long as it is not theirs, right? The airline baggage handlers might be just as careless if they are having a bad day. They just want to throw it all away and be done with it.
In such situations, some of your belongings can get damaged or even worse, lost. If your precious laptop is broken, then travel insurance can coven the reparation costs.
- Some of your belongings get stolen
Peacefully walking on the streets while a masked guy runs and snatches your bag seems like a scene out of a movie, doesn’t it? Well, even if you can picture that perfectly in your head with music on the background, your bag can get stolen.
Crime is possible everywhere in the world. Don’t rely on the fact that “there is no chance it could happen to you”. The person who had this happen to them probably said the same thing. You never know what awaits you on a foreign land, especially if it’s obvious you’re a tourist.
Tourists can be easy targets to thieves. They can sense your vulnerability and act based on it. If something you own gets stolen, then insurance can reimburse you up to the limits of your policy. Keep in mind – you will have to report the incident to the police. This way, you can get a case number and make a valid claim.
- Your luggage gets delayed or lost
Nothing is worse than hearing that your belongings got lost by irresponsible people. Well, the airline deals with countless of luggage daily, so the possibility of this happening is not excluded.
Imagine arriving at the destination, but finding out that your luggage got lost and you don’t have changing clothes. It already sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? Well, all hope is not lost, as insurance comes to your aid.
If you have insurance, it can cover for lost/stolen luggage costs, depending on the circumstances. Also, insurers usually offer a 24-hour helpline, so you can call from any part of the world if this happens to you. Whereas the lost belongings are still making you want to pull your hairs out, this is not the end of the world. Insurance will at least offer you financial peace of mind. As a result, you will be able to enjoy your long awaited vacation.
- You lose your passport
You definitely don’t want to experience losing your passport while in a foreign country. It can literally be a nightmare. How will you be able to enjoy your vacation and survive with your funds considering how huge the costs for a new passport are?
This is definitely something that you don’t want to happen. If by any chance you weren’t careful where you keep your passport, travel insurance can help you. You can claim the amount of money you spent replacing the passport.
It would be better to be very careful with your passport, as it’s an important document, and you want to avoid the anger. If it does end up happening, then the best travel insurance deal can save you.
- A tragedy happens
Imagine this – there is little time left until you go to a foreign country to finally relax and have some fun, but a terrorist attack happens a while before you have to leave. What a bad timing, right? The country is in total chaos, and airports are closed until the problem is solved and flights are ensured safe.
You can’t travel now, so you worry about the money you’ve lost and you’re mad at the terrorists. Well, terrorism coverage can help you cancel your trip without losing all of your money.
Also, what if a hurricane hits your preferred destination right before your flight? It destroys everything, and you’ll barely be able to enjoy your vacation. Sadly, Mother Nature doesn’t care about anyone’s vacation, she just does her job.
You will be able to recover pre-paid costs through a travel insurance protection for weather damage. You also have the chance to go to a vacation to another destination.
- Rental car damage
Usually, rental car companies charge a lot for protection. You don’t want to be left starving for the rest of the vacation to be able to rent a car. Well, you should check the optional extras with your travel insurance.
This way, you can make sure that insurance covers for any aspect of car rental, even if it is an optional extra. It will cost less than having to throw money at the rental company for protection.
- Your travel company files bankruptcy
Let’s say that you planned a cruise to Hawaii. You already dream about relaxing in the sun while drinking from a coconut, just like in movies. However, a short time before you could even picture dancing on the beach, something happens.
You find out that your cruise is cancelled because of financial default of the cruise company. Doesn’t this ruin your mood only thinking about it? It would be like the Universe conspires against you.
Thankfully, you will be able to get your cash back through a trip insurance that covers financial default. The assistance services will also help you reschedule your cruise, so you have a huge advantage.
Conclusion
If you decide to leave the daily routine and travel to magical places for a well-deserved vacation, then you are someone who needs a travel insurance. Yes, it’s going to cost some money – but at least your safety will be ensured.
Therefore, there are many benefits to getting travel insurance, as you never know what problem could occur. If, in a worst case scenario, something bad happens, then you will be very thankful that you have travel insurance. This is how you know you made the right choice.