Travel Insurance can save the day!
Have you ever experienced a vacation disaster? One of the most frustrating parts of being a travel professional is convincing people the importance of travel insurance. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than an unplanned “event.” I’ve seen it first-hand and heard horror stories of travelers needing help who didn’t purchase trip protection. Later, they regretted their decision which often cost them not only the price of the trip but also the remedy to fix the problem. Here are some situations that come to mind:
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
After custom designing a trip to Ireland for two of my clients, they couldn’t wait to embark on their journey. We had been working on this for months and the big day was approaching. They boarded their plane in Detroit and flew to New York, where they would transfer to their cross Atlantic flight. Even though their trip took place in the middle of the summer, an unusual summer storm closed JFK airport after they had arrived. Their flight to Dublin was cancelled and they would not be going until the following evening. Thank goodness they had travel insurance which reimbursed them for the airport transfers in Dublin, their hotel stay and the new transfers they required as a result of the cancellation.
On a trip to Jamaica, a fellow cruise passenger injured herself on a bicycle excursion. Her multiple-fractured leg required surgery and the local hospital was unable to perform the complex procedure. Without travel insurance, the cruise line agreed to medivac her to the nearest U.S. city. From there she had to obtain her own transportation to her home city, which cost her thousands.
After planning a cruise for over a year, my client’s business suddenly had to relocate due to no circumstances of her own. It would take her weeks to find a new location, move all her inventory, set up new displays and ready her business. This came during her scheduled cruise. Solution: her travel insurance reimbursed her for her cruise and other covered travel expenses.
I received a call one afternoon, my client’s brother had cancer and he had taken a turn for the worse. They needed to cancel their river cruise. Fortunately, they had taken out insurance many months prior to their departure and while they were scheduled to leave in just two short weeks, they worried whether their brother would still be alive when they returned. Their insurance reimbursed them for their entire trip costs and they were able to visit with his brother before he passed away.
These are just a few examples that I have encountered. Believe me, I’ve heard many more. I know you’re thinking that you are healthy or can afford to lose your travel dollars, but what if
- You’re in Paris when you get the call that your mother is gravely ill and you need to get home immediately.
- Your boss gave you permission to go on vacation and you’re all packed for Italy. But your best client wants to see you next week, during your planned time off and won’t take no for an answer.
- You fall off your bicycle while riding in Vienna creating a hairline fracture of your hip and you need medical attention.
- Your luggage never arrives in London and you need to purchase new clothes and toiletries.
- Your flight home is cancelled due to weather and it looks like it the weather won’t clear for several days. You’ll need to extend your stay in Stockholm before flights resume.
Of course the list goes on and on. Isn’t your piece of mind and travel investment worth the nominal cost of travel insurance? We help clients determine the best insurance fit for each trip.