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Americans are looking forward to beaches, sunny skies and European culture for their upcoming vacation trips, based on travel insurance data.
With flight cancellations, delays, winter weather and even potential Covid issues looming, consider purchasing travel insurance in case the unexpected casts a dark cloud over your holiday trip.
Sun, Sand and Europe Are in Demand
Domestic travel is popular this year for the holidays. It makes sense that many travelers visit their families on vacation.
But for some people, a trip south of the border is better than a visit with the in-laws. See the article : When to buy travel insurance, and when to skip it. Four of the 10 most popular holiday travel destinations this year are known for their stunning beaches.
European countries are also popular holiday travel destinations, according to data from Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site.
Mexico, the Bahamas, Israel, France and Germany are the most popular destinations among people buying travel insurance for vacation trips, surpassed only by the United States.
Most popular 2022 holiday travel destinations
International Jetsetters Outspending Domestic Travelers
Holiday travelers heading out of the country this year are certainly not doing too little; the average cost of the trip is over $6,000. International travelers spend an average of $470 more on travel abroad than those staying in the US.
Average 2022 holiday trip cost and travel insurance cost
Covid Still No. 1 Concern for Travel Insurance Buyers
Although travel restrictions have been eased or eliminated in many destinations, travelers are still fearful about Covid. To see also : Incorporating Business or Holidays.
Finding travel insurance for Covid was by far the top concern of American travelers who purchased travel insurance for their vacation. Almost a quarter (22%) specifically searched for travel insurance plans with Covid cover and purchased a plan that covers Covid-related issues.
Top concerns among holiday travelers
Must-Have Travel Insurance Coverage for Holiday Trips
“The holiday season is a fun and festive time of year, but it’s also a very busy time for travel,” says Daniel Durazo, spokesman for Allianz Partners USA, which oversees Allianz Travel. On the same subject : Traveling on July 4th: departure time and other driving tips.
“Between annual family gatherings and bucket-list vacations, it’s important to protect your travel investment and have peace of mind with travel insurance that fits your vacation. It’s likely the best gift you can give yourself for this year’s holidays.”
You’ll want to find travel insurance that covers:
It is essential that you read your travel insurance documents carefully to understand the scope of your travel protection benefits. Here’s how the benefits can apply to common holiday travel scenarios.
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance For 2022
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Holiday Trip Cancellation Travel Insurance
Trip cancellation insurance as part of a travel insurance policy provides a safety net against financial losses if you are unable to go on holiday due to unforeseen events.
For example, say you’ve planned a sunny getaway for your family with a Turks and Caicos vacation, booked several hotel rooms at a boutique beach hotel, and even chartered a snorkeling boat for a private day of adventure. Many of these travel expenses must be paid in advance, especially during high season.
If you fall on an icy path and break your ankle, that could put a stop to your tropical getaway. Trip cancellation insurance generally covers injuries to you, your travel companion and family members, so you can make a claim to get 100% of your pre-paid travel deposits back.
Trip cancellation benefits typically also apply due to severe weather, a sudden family emergency, the death of a travel companion or close family member, unscheduled jury duty, a national transportation strike, or military orders.
It is important to note that not all reasons for cancellation will be covered by travel insurance. For example, let’s say your weather app shows rain five days in a row in your tropical destination and you don’t want to spend your vacation playing board games and watching movies. You would not be able to submit a trip cancellation claim.
“Cancel for any reason” travel insurance
For maximum flexibility to change your travel plans (such as a rainy forecast, travel scare, change of heart or family disagreement) consider upgrading your standard travel insurance to include ‘cancelled for any reason’ (CFAR) travel insurance. .
This cover gives you the flexibility to cancel your trip for reasons that would not be covered by standard trip cancellation insurance and still receive a refund.
CFAR coverage comes with its own rules:
CFAR covers an average of 50% of the cost of the basic travel insurance price. But it’s a cover worth considering if you want the ultimate flexibility to redeem your travel deposit and get a refund.
Travel Delay Insurance for Holiday Getaway Holdups
“This year, travel delay coverage will be on everyone’s wish list along with expected holiday travel delays and cancellations,” Durazo predicted.
Travel delay insurance reimburses you for any extra expenses you may incur while you are delayed for a reason listed on your policy. These expenses may include meals, transportation and lodging.
Trip delay insurance also compensates prepaid travel expenses for the portion of the trip missed due to late arrival.
“Minimum delay times and coverage limits will apply, so read your policy to learn more,” adds Durazo. For example, you may have a waiting period of six to 12 hours before your travel delay benefits take effect.
Travel delay insurance for wintry woes
“Most travel insurance policies include coverage for delays and cancellations related to inclement weather. Travel insurance, like any other type, is only designed to cover the unexpected. Like hurricanes, winter storms receive a name when they meet certain criteria. Once these storms are named, coverage cannot be provided. applied,” explained Megan Moncrief, spokeswoman for Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider.
The Weather Channel designates winter storms when they meet at least one of the following criteria:
“Vacation travelers exposed to winter weather should consider purchasing travel insurance early in the booking process to ensure coverage is in place prior to a storm impacting their trip,” added Moncrief.
“This benefit can provide a full refund if a flight is canceled or delayed due to weather for a specified amount of time, as well as if a particularly severe winter storm renders the passenger’s accommodation or home uninhabitable.”
Related: Benefits of buying travel insurance after you book your trip
Travel delays due to airline staff shortages
To avoid unpleasant surprises, check your policy for very specific language about what your travel delay insurance covers.
“Most travel insurance policies have very specific language that states what airline-related issues can be covered under their benefits. Common reasons are mechanical failure, financial default, strike or weather. However, employee issues are rarely specifically included,” says Moncrief. by
If your travel insurance doesn’t cover delays, you may be able to get help from the airlines, says Durazo. “Canceling regular flights in the United States usually earns you a seat on your airline’s next flight or a refund for the unused portion of your ticket,” he says.
“When a flight is canceled or delayed for a reason within the airline’s control, such as a flight crew shortage, some airlines may provide their passengers with a meal voucher and/or hotel accommodation,” says Durazo. “However, these policies vary by airline and state and do not offer the same level of coverage as travel delay insurance.”
Forbes Advisor scores airlines on the services they will provide after flights are canceled or delayed due to circumstances within their control. American, Delta, JetBlue and United scored the highest.
Missed Connection Insurance for Holiday Trip Hiccups
With flight cancellations at record levels, you may want to consider missing connection insurance for your vacation trip if you have a multi-leg trip planned.
Lost connection insurance can cover prepaid travel expenses if you lose your connection and arrive late at your destination. You can also recover any additional transportation costs you pay to get to your trip.
Lost connection coverage can help you in certain situations, but not all, so it makes sense to know the basics:
Meghan Walch, a spokeswoman for InsureMyTrip, said coverage for missed connections varies by policy and company. Some may offer missed connection coverage for “any officially documented delay by your common carrier,” which may include staffing shortages, while others may be limited to covering delays due to weather.
The most important thing you can do to be best prepared is to get additional documentation from your airline to support future claims, he says.
Like trip delay insurance, missed connection coverage only applies in the circumstances listed on your policy, and coverage limits and required waiting times apply.
“If you happen to miss your flight while watching the big game in the airport lounge, you’ll have to work with the airline to make other travel arrangements at your own expense,” Durazo warns.
Blues Traveler: Holiday Trip Interruption Travel Insurance
If an emergency cuts your vacation short and you need to return home earlier than planned, your trip interruption insurance can help pay for your trip home. Benefits can cover a one-way economy ticket home, as well as any deposits you’ll lose for your first departure. This is helpful because last-minute flights—especially during the holidays—are in high demand and can be expensive.
“Interruption for any reason” travel insurance
Some travel insurance companies offer “interruption for any reason” (IFAR) travel insurance, an upgrade that allows you to return home early regardless of the reason. In general, it provides a 75% refund of prepaid travel costs and non-refundable travel costs. Note that IFAR benefits usually do not apply until at least 48 hours or 72 hours have passed into travel; check your policy according to the required time period.
Travel Medical Insurance and Emergency Evacuation Coverage
If you are traveling outside of the US for your vacation, it is very important to have travel medical insurance. Your home health insurance will probably provide no or very limited medical coverage in foreign countries.
Before you travel, check with your health insurance what global benefits are available.
Also, Medicare is not accepted outside the US. This means that the best senior travel insurance will include travel medical coverage.
“You usually don’t consider these risks and while it’s important to protect your financial investment on a trip, you shouldn’t overlook the risks associated with an unexpected medical event or emergency abroad,” says Don Van Scyoc, GeoBlue spokesperson.
Travel medical insurance pays for doctor and hospital bills, medications, lab work and X-rays if you get hurt or sick during your trip, up to your policy limits.
It is also wise to have medical evacuation travel insurance. Medical evacuation can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars and is typically not covered by US-based health insurance plans, Van Scyoc says. Even if they are, he says, the costs of care and evacuation would be considered out-of-network and you’d often have to pay up front and then file a claim for reimbursement.
“Many international health care providers require upfront payment before treating a foreign patient. For these reasons, you should make sure you have adequate medical coverage while traveling abroad. Travel medical plans offer coverage and benefits that are not typically included in a domestic health insurance plan. “, he says.
Baggage Insurance for Holiday Travelers
If you’re ringing in the New Year in Paris and your suitcases decide they want to celebrate in Berlin, luggage insurance can provide financial relief.
For example, Scott Adamski, a spokesman for AIG Travel, says AIG Travel’s policies include benefits that reimburse you up to certain limits if your luggage or personal belongings are lost, damaged or stolen.
“On our Deluxe travel insurance plan, our maximum baggage cover benefit is $2,500 which means we would pay that amount for a covered claim,” he says.
It’s important to note, however, that while the overall limit is $2,500, Adamski says there are per-item limits. “On the Deluxe plan, it’s $500 for a covered item, and after that, additional covered items are capped at $250. There may be additional special limits for specific baggage contents (such as jewelry and electronics), and it’s important to review your policy for these details “, he says.
Note that exceptions apply to baggage insurance; for example, cash is usually not returned if it is lost or stolen. Also keep in mind that you are compensated for the depreciated value, so it may not match the cost of replacing it with new items.
Baggage hold benefits are available if your bags arrive late at your destination after a certain time stated in your policy. With this coverage, you can get back the money you spend on items you need to pass the time before your luggage arrives.
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Does travel insurance cover cancellation?
Cancellation cover is included in most travel insurance policies. It will compensate you for part or all of the cost of your travel expenses (flights, cruises, hotels, excursions, etc.) if you had to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances.
What does travel insurance not cover? Travel insurance policies usually exclude epidemics and pandemics. According to Allianz Global Assistance, a travel insurance provider, “Trip cancellations and travel interruptions due to known, foreseeable or expected events, epidemics or travel scares are generally not covered.”
Are cancellation fees covered by travel insurance?
Trip cancellation coverage is a valuable part of the best travel insurance policies. Trip cancellation insurance can refund you 100% of the money you lose on non-refundable prepaid deposits. To make a trip cancellation claim, you must cancel for a reason stated in the policy.
What is considered covered trip cancellation?
Trip Cancellation is a pre-departure benefit that can refund 100% of a passenger’s cost if they have to cancel their trip for a covered reason. The most common reason covered is the accidental illness, injury or death of the passenger, a traveling companion or a non-travelling family member.
How do you get a no show letter on Ryanair?
How to get insurance for a "no show" letter? To request a letter of no insurance rights for unused flights, please contact us using our online chat service. Alternatively, you can speak to an agent at our call center.
Does Ryanair have a no show clause? It used to have a non-submission clause but it has been discarded. Easyjet, Jet2, Norwegian, Ryanair and Tui are among the airlines that do not have the clause.
Can I cancel Ryanair flight due to illness?
If someone on your booking becomes seriously ill and cannot travel, or dies before your journey, Ryanair may: give you a full refund to everyone traveling on your booking; or, if applicable, waive the flight change fee, along with any restrictions associated with changing your flights.
What happens if I check in but don’t fly Ryanair?
You will lose your ticket, no refund, if you don’t show up. If you cancel, you may be refunded certain taxes and fees.
Does travel insurance get more expensive closer to departure date?
Unlike other aspects of your travel experience, like airfare or hotel room prices, the price of travel insurance doesn’t increase as you get closer to your travel date. There’s no financial penalty for waiting to buy travel insurance (except for those bonus coverages, of course).
Can I buy travel insurance the day before I go? In many cases, you can buy travel insurance if you’re traveling soon – even if you’re leaving tomorrow! But there are downsides to buying at the last minute, such as missing out on some benefits.
How far in advance can you buy travel insurance?
Buying travel insurance before your trip is a smart move, but how far in advance of your trip can you buy it? You can usually only buy cover for 12 months in advance. This gives you protection if you need to cancel your trip for any of the covered reasons during that year.
Should you buy flight insurance 2022?
Bottom line: You’ll probably need travel insurance if you’re going anywhere in 2022. If you’re taking a lot of shorter trips, you may benefit from an annual policy. Or you can insure each trip individually, which would cost more but also offer more comprehensive coverage.
