Travel insurance is an option worth your consideration

When booking any part of travel, we’ve all seen the check box for travel insurance. At first glance, it seems like nothing more than a ploy to play on insecurities and get a few extra bucks out of customers. But when is the right time to buy travel insurance, and when is the time to ignore it altogether? There are viable answers to both.

The most important answer to this question is to know that there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach. As with many things, it depends on your needs and comfort levels as a traveler. When and where you’re traveling both play a part in figuring out whether you need insurance or not.

For example, if you’ve recently booked a vacation in Southern Italy, insurance may help you avoid losing all the money invested in your trip as that part of the country deals with Mount Etna’s latest eruption. This is also true for those who travel during hurricane season, which is another time of the year when arrangements can quickly become disrupted.

Another consideration one may take into account is the age of the traveler. Insurance can help deal with medical emergencies while you are away from home. This also comes into account for those who enjoy outside or risky activities while traveling. Want to ride that jet ski while partying in Miami Beach? Then you may want to lock down some insurance for that trip as well.

This all brings up the question of what type of insurance to pick up. There are options that include credit card travel insurance, medical insurance through your standard provider, standalone travel insurance, or insurance that covers your bookings, tickets, etc. Each one plays a valuable role in the process, and each one has different levels of importance for each customer.

Travel insurance gives an air of “peace” for travelers who do not want to worry about issues that may pop up. Having that peace of mind can make the experience more enjoyable as well, alleviating some stress of being unprepared for the unknown. Use insurance to cover expenses like hotel rooms, tickets, and activities. If you’re traveling overseas, additional medical insurance can also be a good rule of thumb. Overall, if there are parts of your trip that you can’t afford to lose the investment, do the best you can to have those covered with insurance.

On the flip side of that, you don’t need insurance if you’re not traveling too far and keeping costs low. Be sure to check out the rewards that come with your credit card or even your benefits at work to see if travel insurance is included. Knowing those benefits can help you save money along the way.

As with many things, there isn’t a hard rule when it comes to figuring out your needs for travel insurance. There are times when you should have it locked in, and others when you can forego the additional cost. Figuring out your situation is the best bet to make sure you aren’t doing all you can to protect your expenses while relieving stress for your trip.