Is Travel Insurance Truly Worth It?

The Stunning Caribbean, Montego Bay, Jamaica

     Have you ever been in the middle of booking a dream vacation to a breathtaking island or to that chic mountain ski resort, and seen that offer for travel insurance?  Most people instantly click no thanks and move on, but should you actually consider it?  It is only a small amount of money, between 30 and 80 dollars per person, but if you are like me, you want to get the most for every dollar you spend.  So how do you decide if this extra expense is worth it?  There are several key factors that you have to consider before you can truly know if this is the right decision for you.

     The first of all, where are you going and what time of year is it?  If you are heading to the Caribbean, Mexico, or the gulf coast to soak up that incredible sun and to swim in those turquoise waters, then you need to remember that hurricane season runs from August through October.  So if you are planning on taking advantage of the cheap deals here, be prepared to be flexible.  Hurricanes are relatively easy to track and it is easy to know when to cancel your trip.  This way you can move your trip to a safer and drier locale.  So if you are planning on traveling to this part of the world in the late summer and fall, I would highly recommend getting the insurance.  This way you are not out those precious vacation dollars and you can rebook some where else, or be forced to pay those ridiculous cancellation fees.  This same strategy can be used when you travel to places with bad winters.  If you are traveling in and out of Denver, Montreal, New York City, or any other city with a reputation for deep snow, I would strongly recommend that you get the insurance in the winter time, November through February. This way you can avoid being snowed in or have your flight canceled due to sever weather. 

     Besides bad weather you should seriously consider spending the extra money if there is a decent chance that something may interfere with your travel plans.  You know, real world issues like the potential birth of your first grand child, those cute little babies can come early, or if you have a history of health issues that might keep you from traveling.  Who would like to lose out on their vacation money because they could end up in the hospital.  So if there are any reasonable complications on horizon, then I would definitely spend the extra cash.  However, if these sort of complications are nowhere in sight, then I would emphatically say no and use that money on better things, like another mai tai or a decadent desert.

     So for me, I personally feel that travel insurance can be a small investment for a large piece of mind, but it can be just one more unnecessary cost to that dream vacation.  Thus, only you can judge what is the right thing for you.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, then contact us at thriftyadventurer1@gmail.com

Or friend us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chris.morrison.507679