Top 5 Issues Covered by Holiday Travel Insurance
The holiday season is nearly upon us, and while we can’t prevent your own episode of Trains, Planes, and Automobiles, we can help you with necessary insurance coverage. Life happens regardless of your travel itinerary and having a plan in place is crucial to make it to your family’s holiday dinner in time. Below are the five most common holiday travel issues that travel insurance covers.
Lost Luggage on Holiday Trips
Especially when traveling internationally, losing your luggage is a risk you take when you check a bag. When carrying on isn’t an option, purchasing travel insurance will cover any luggage setbacks of up to $2,000 per person for lost or delayed luggage. Before taking off on any trip, make a list of each bags’ contents so you have it ready to present to the airline. This will also speed up the process with your insurance (and make sure your loved ones’ gift are covered).
Emergency Evacuation Plans
While the onset of the flu season won’t keep you from traveling, you never know what conditions will warrant an emergency evacuation. Anything ranging from unsafe political conditions, extreme weather conditions, medical emergencies to repatriation covers you for the gaps in basic travel insurance. This type of coverage is particularly important for international travel plans over the holidays.
Logistical Support and Emergency Assistance
Did you know that all the travel insurance packages we offer include support? If you’re stranded after a canceled flight or injured due to a natural disaster, your insurance provider can help you find a place to rest your head, receive care at a nearby hospital, recover vital travel documents, or even connect you with legal help. During times of high stress, this support can be a saving grace and one less thing you have to worry about.
Trip Cancellation or Delay
Particularly in the northern parts of the United States, snowfall can be unpredictable at best and volatile at worst. With the sheer number of travelers during the months of November-January, your flight can be delayed or cancelled with no sign of rescheduling or refunds. Invest in a low cost travel insurance plan to assist if your trip is canceled or delayed. The primary benefit of these plans covers your inability to make your trip at the last minute due to an emergency illness, injury or death, or that of a family member, a business partner, a travel companion, or a travel companion’s family member. Other covered reasons for cancellation may include jury duty responsibilities, terrorist activity, or even losing your passport.
Trip Interruption
Falling severely ill or needing to return home for an unexpected death in the family are unfortunately common occurrences that your airline carrier or travel provider typically do not cover. Check the specifics of your plan, but most cover both trip interruption as well as trip cancellation. The plans may even cover returning home to tend to an important business matter for you as well as your travel companion.
Busiest Holidays for US Travel
- Thanksgiving – The busiest holiday travel day of the year is the day before Thanksgiving. The summer months are actually busier but travel is concentrated every year on this one day so it gets extra significance.
- July 4th Weekend – Summer is the peak time for travel and this is the busiest travel weekend of the summer.
- Memorial Day – The weekend that kicks off summer is typically one of the busiest.
- Christmas and New Years Eve – These two are tied together and travel is often more difficult due to weather conditions.
- Labor Day – This is the last big weekend of summer and travelers are out in droves.
- Easter and Mardi Gras – Another two holidays that are related but in this case, very different. Both are popular travel occasions.
Are you covered for the worst? Don’t risk arranging your own form of transportation or lodging and get yourself travel insurance coverage. The uncertainty of Mother Nature and the chaos of an upcoming busy travel season isn’t worth feeling lousy when you should be enjoying pumpkin pie and quality time with your family. If you can’t decide which one is best for you, take a look at our travel insurance comparison chart.
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