A lot of people purchase travel insurance without reading what it covers.
Is it worth it?
Yes, as a travel agent for over 8 years, I know it’s definitely worth it.
I remember when I first started booking travel, I gave people an option to purchase insurance with flight packages, and boy was that a huge mistake.
To save a few bucks, most of them declined the insurance.
I saw clients losing well over $800 or more on a booking when they canceled their trips with no insurance.
And that’s when I realized the insurance was definitely crucial to have if you have flights on your package.
The airlines are the ones that penalize you the most when traveling, and the cost of travel protection is much cheaper than an airline penalty.
Since COVID the airlines have become a bit more understanding, and allowing changes, but again those changes will come at the current price for the ticket, and not the low price from when you initially booked.
WHAT DOES A FULL CREDIT OR FULL REFUND MEAN?
This means that if you were to cancel the ENTIRE booking (EVERYONE ON THE BOOKING CANCELS), you will receive a refund or a credit depending on the type of insurance you purchased.
You will either get that refund sent to the card you used when you booked or a credit code to use on a future trip, MINUS the cost of the insurance.
The travel protection prices range between $74.99 a person and can go up to $240 a person.
This truly beats losing $800 or more any day.
But wait, you can still lose money even if you cancel and have insurance…and here’s how:
PARTIAL CANCELS
Quick true story…
Sally and Rebecca booked an amazing all inclusive trip to Aruba 6 months before departure.
They booked the total vacation package with flights, ground transportation and travel protection.
Rebecca canceled and Sally continued on with the trip.
Rebecca paid for travel protection but was not given her full amount she paid back as a credit/refund.
She was only given back the portion for the flight.
WHY?
Because to receive full travel protection benefits BOTH travelers on the booking would have needed to cancel.
The hotel is looking that the room was still utilized and will not give a credit back to the canceling party.
LET’S BE FAIR
Typically the person canceling should absorb the costs of the hotel room, and forfeit their hotel credit or refund because this cancellation was unforeseen and shouldn’t hinder the other guests staying in the room.
SAME PAGE
Both people in the room will have to get the same insurance type at the time of booking.
If you are sharing a room with someone they can’t purchase full credit travel protection and you purchase full refund travel protection. You both must be on the same page.
DON’T SKIMP ON TRAVEL INSURANCE
ALWAYS add travel protection to a booking with flights to avoid losing lots of money if you cancel.
Sometimes the airlines will not refund or give a credit for any portion of the flight, if canceled, without insurance which means you could be losing hundreds of dollars.
You can add travel insurance for up to 7 days from the time of booking.
WHAT MAKES TRAVEL PROTECTION VALUABLE
Despite the negatives above there’s definitely some amazing benefits to having the CANCEL FOR ANY REASON insurance:
- 24 Hour During Travel Assistance Line
- Medical Emergency Insurance
- And so much more.
The insurance is definitely amazing especially if you have a travel emergency.
I have a great story on how this insurance played an amazing role in one of my clients’ getaways. See her review here -👇🏽
When you call THAT 24 HOUR During Travel Assistance Line that’s located here on your final departure documents see example here:👇🏽
They will pull up your booking and resolve any issue fast.
What are some of the issues you can encounter on your dream getaway?
- Unforeseen weather
- Flight delays and cancellations
- Uncomfortable and Unforeseen Hotel Construction
- Unfair Accommodations
- And so much more.
I hope this helped you understand the small print of one of the best travel insurance I’ve seen.
They don’t argue with you about a refund or credit when it’s time to pay out.
Just make sure you know that full cancellations are best to receive the entire travel protection benefit which is your full payment minus the cost of the insurance as a refund or a credit to use later.
Peace and Love,
JaQuay
P.s. You have a little bit over a year to use your credit if you chose full credit travel protection, and you must book the trip and return before the final credit expiration date or you won’t be able to apply the credit to your new trip.
Example: Rebecca contacted me to book another trip using her flight credit from the Aruba trip she canceled. She found a new trip and when I tried to apply for her credit the system didn’t allow it.
We finally realized she was booking her trip past the expiration date on the credit.
Her trip would need to be completed by that expiration date.
Expiration date was 6/12/2023 and her trip departure date was 6/23/2023.
So make sure you pay attention to all that small fine print.
