Travel time is a precious commodity, and for the average person, the money invested in a trip is the result of a thoughtful, deliberate savings plan over many months. That’s why having the proper travel insurance is so important. When a trip has to be cancelled, it’s critical not to lose the investment of money, so things can be rescheduled. No one knows what the future holds, and anything from a death in the family to a traffic accident or a job loss to an illness can derail the most carefully made plans.
Another thing that can lead to a vacation cancellation is severe weather, whether that’s in your hometown or in your trip’s destination region. Hurricane season is a major issue to consider, as so many travelers head to the Caribbean region with dreams of a tropical, beachy getaway. But it’s important to purchase your travel protection before a potential hurricane becomes a named storm. The travel can be protected if your departure or arrival city is placed under a hurricane warning or watch—as issued by the NOAA Hurricane Center—within 24 hours of your scheduled departure date. Cancellation of your trip must occur more than 14 days following your effective date of coverage for trip cancellation, so again, purchasing early is the best way to proceed.
A monitor at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport shows multiple flight delays and cancellations. (Photo Credit: Photo by Paul J. Heney.)
Some of the questions to ask when considering trip coverage, especially around hurricane season include:
• Do you have a trip or cruise booked between June and November?
• Do you live in an area that has experienced a hurricane previously?
• Are you traveling to coastal areas of the U.S., the Caribbean, Hawaii, China, or the Philippines?
Another issue to take into consideration is whether you are connecting in an airport that is located along a coastline that could be impacted by a hurricane. You may not be traveling to a place affected by these storms, but if your flight routing could be affected, that’s something to seriously consider.
An iTravelInsured plan from IMG may include coverage such as:
• Certain prepaid and nonrefundable expenses for your trip and your early flight home may be reimbursed.
• Reimbursement for your accommodations, local transportation, and meals.
• If your residence is rendered uninhabitable due to a natural disaster or in the event of a government mandated shutdown of the airport, you may be reimbursed under the trip cancellation or trip interruption coverages.
• Missed trip connection benefits offer reimbursement if you miss your cruise or departure because your arrival is delayed due to weather conditions.
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