Are you busy dreaming up your next trip? Perhaps you’re plotting a road trip across the United States or are scheming for an exotic adventure in South America. Wherever you choose to go and whatever you decide to do, make sure to do some planning and be prepared. Travel, particularly international travel, isn’t as easy as it used to be pre-COVID-19. Even before the pandemic, unexpected events and obstacles could arise while traveling. To secure yourself and your trip against such events, whether they be cancellations, delays, or injuries, it is best to invest in a travel insurance plan. The plan you choose will depend on where you are going and what you are doing and can be individualized to fit your specific needs.
Trip Delays or Cancellation
You may experience unanticipated trip interruptions or even a trip cancellation before or during your trip. Delayed flights or trains can cause you to miss a connecting flight, a hotel booking, or a special event that you’ve already bought tickets for. One travel delay can have a domino effect that impacts the rest of your well-planned itinerary. In the age of COVID-19, an unexpected outbreak can lead to border closures, lockdowns, and total trip cancellations even if you’re up to date with current travel restrictions. With travel insurance, you can breathe easier knowing that your insurance plan covers many of these costs. Whether it’s a reimbursement for a flight or hotel, or rescheduling the trip for another time altogether, plans like Atlas travel insurance that are both comprehensive and reasonably priced are immensely helpful in protecting and reimbursing your trip cost.
Injury or Illness During Travel
Everything might be going perfectly during your trip, and then one day, something unexpected throws a wrench in your plans. Maybe you come down with a bad case of food poisoning or catch a tropical illness like malaria or dengue. If this is the case, you may need to seek medical help, which can incur medical expenses. Your regular medical insurance won’t necessarily include international coverage, so invest in a specific travel insurance plan that will cover you for doctor’s visits and treatments while on the road. While you may have to pay a deductible, oftentimes everything else will be covered. You will be on the road to recovery without worrying about paying out-of-pocket expenses.
Unforeseen Emergency
While it’s not something anyone wishes while traveling, accidents can happen while on the road. If you are embarking on adventure travel, the likelihood of this is even higher. You might get injured while trekking in the mountains or rock climbing precarious cliffs. Maybe you get in a motorcycle accident while cruising the length of Vietnam or the winding island roads of Bali. Travel insurance protects you with comprehensive medical coverage even in the most severe situations. Insurance can cover extended hospital stays, surgery, or even medical evacuation if needed. Some insurance policies have exclusions so if you are planning on embarking on more extreme adventure activities, make sure that adventure sports coverage is included in your plan.
Lost or Stolen Luggage
Incidents out of your control, such as lost or delayed baggage, sometimes happen during international travel. Insurance helps cover costs while you are waiting for your bags to arrive or replace items from lost luggage. In more extreme cases, you may experience theft during your trip. Despite being as careful as possible, you may end up with a stolen wallet, suitcase, camera, passport, or other valuables. Make sure to insure your valuable pieces of property while you’re traveling and your plan will cover the cost if the property is stolen or damaged. While no one wishes for anything to go wrong on their trip, travel insurance will give you peace of mind so you can relax, enjoy, and be covered should anything go wrong!