Why Buy Travel Insurance?!

You've likely heard plenty about travel insurance before and you may or may not have opted to purchase it. If you have, you know and appreciate the benefits and security it provides for your vacation. If you haven't, why not? One great example of travel plans gone wrong are when travelers were interrupted by the volcanic eruption in Iceland, resulting in cancelled flights among other issues. Compiled by AMA Waterways, here's a few examples of common issues travelers often face that travel insurance would take care of.

1. It's 10p.m. and you and your immediate family arrive at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. Who can assist you with finding new flights to catch you up with your cruise?
2. Your bag was lost with your insulin inside. You need help to locate your bag as soon as possible and have your emergency prescription filled. Who do you call?
3. Your first river cruise in Russia, your passport and wallet are stolen. Where do you turn for emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced?
4. Your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill and you must cancel your cruise, what happens to your non-refundable deposits or pre-payments?
5. You arrive in Prague for your Danube cruise and your luggage doesn't. If it's lost, who will help you find it? If it's delayed, who will pay for your necessities? If it's stolen, who will pay to replace it?
6. You're walking down a street in Amsterdam and twist your ankle. Who can help you find an English-speaking physician?

Here's another great source of information-- on The Today Show Matt Lauer and Peter Greenburg did a piece on travel insurance explaining why one would purchase insurance and the different types available.

9 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance

1. Your flight has been cancelled
2. Your bags are lost and your medication is in it. You need to have an emergency prescription filled.
3. Your passport and wallet are stolen, and you need emergency cash and a replacement passport.
4. You need to cancel your trip due to illness.
5. Your cruise line, airline, or tour operator goes bankrupt. You need your non-refundable expenses covered and to get to your destination.
6. You have a medical emergency in a foreign country.
7. A terrorist incident occurs in the city where you're planning to visit and you want to cancel your trip.
8. A hurricane forces you to evacuate your resort, hotel, or cruise.

Basic Types of Insurance

• Flight Insurance
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
• Health Care Insurance
• Baggage Insurance
  

Read the full article & listen to the video clip here: 9 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance

Here at Sand & C Travel, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your vacation because you never know what could happen- between natural disasters and operator issues- it's better to be safe than sorry!