Hurricane season officially begins June 1, 2018. That means, if you are traveling in a hurricane-prone area, it's a good idea to have travel insurance.
Travelers to Florida, the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean have reason to be wary of planning vacations after last year's devastating series of storms shuttered resorts and left a path of wreckage through the region.
According to Allianz Global Assistance, its customers filed more than 26,000 claims with the most filed for Irma at 18,733 claims. There were 3,678 for Harvey, 3,496 for Maria and 156 for Jose.
However, while canceled vacations are no fun, these travelers benefited from having their vacations protected.
"Timing is important," said Dan Durazo, director of communications, Allianz Global Assistance U.S.A. "Once a storm or hurricane is named, it's too late to buy travel insurance to cover it."
Planning ahead has other benefits, too. For example: Allianz is there around the clock for those who buy one of their policies.
"For those who had the foresight to purchase travel insurance, our travel assistance department is available 24/7 to assist customers, and our TravelSmart App allows you to do everything from access local emergency phone numbers to file a claim from your phone," said Durazo.
It's also important to make sure that you have the right coverage. If a property is destroyed by a hurricane before you arrive, you need to have a policy that includes trip cancellation or interruption.
There are other important distinctions as well that travelers should be aware of in order to fully take advantage of coverage that is provided.
For those questions, Allianz's travel experts are also available on the phone and through its app. If a problem comes up before, during or after a trip, it's a good idea to contact the insurance provider before doing anything to see what can be done to either salvage or refund the vacation.
The one thing travelers should keep in mind is that, if they are properly protected, there is no reason a hurricane should prevent someone from booking their vacation.
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