Say Yes To Travel Insurance-You Never Know

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Traveling and taking vacations are great experiences that usually open our eyes to the world and allow for the spirit to regain strength and energy but traveling can also be dangerous and unpredictable hence the topic of today's post: Travel Insurance.

Another Expense or a Necessity?

Travel insurance is a necessity!There are hundreds of good reasons why travel insurance is important, all of them worth the extra money.

There are plenty of misconceptions on the value and importance of travel insurance but to me, the price of insurance is nothing compared to the expenses incurred when medical attention is required out of the country.

I couldn't imagine taking a vacation without travel insurance. For one, I am an adventure seeker and I love going on as many excursions as I can while traveling. However, there are so many risks attached to excursions like injuries, bites and stings, bus accidents, heat strokes and alcohol intoxication just to name a few.

Basic Insurance vs. The Whole Sha Bang

Well, it depends, for a bargain hunter as I, the basic travel insurance package that most travel agencies offer is usually plenty. The basic packages usually include medical coverage as well as luggage recovery in case of loss or damage which in reality, tends to be the two most frequent mishaps that occur when traveling.

The whole sha bang packages are a lot more elaborate and a lot more expensive but I would highly recommend a fuller insurance package if you're traveling with children. These packages usually cover last-minute cancellations and reimburse the entire value of the trip if, for some reason or another, the airline cannot fulfill it's carrying duties. Examples would include weather, war, political unrest, so on and so forth.

Where Can I Buy Travel Insurance?

Well, there are many ways and places to buy travel insurance and relatively all of them offer similar packages and rates.

Usually, travel agencies will offer insurance upon booking. This is important for them too because they want their customers to be happy with their vacation and want to avoid responsibility if anything goes wrong.

You can also purchase travel insurance via your bank who might offer you better deals and prices and or create a package that better suits your needs. Travel agencies also deal with banks for travel insurance so booking your vacation with a travel agency that operates with your bank can be a good option to get the most out of your insurance.

A great place to buy travel insurance in Canada is at Royal Bank of Canada which is a leader in travel insurance. They offer a huge range of packages and coverage at great prices. They are reliable and have great customer service which is crucial when stuck half way across the world in a dilemma!

Am I Not Already Insured Through The Airline?

No! Airlines do not provide insurance. In very few cases will they reimburse the cost of your vacation. Make sure to read your airline's disclaimers closely because most of them have a no refund policy and that means you're out of gas if you need to cancel or if the actual airline cancels their flights.

If you would like more details on why travel insurance is important you can also visit this site which offers great pros and cons on travel insurance.

Do I have to pay upfront for medical attention?

It depends. Some resorts or hotels are better suited than others. That means that some places will process your claim directly through the insurance company while others might leave that responsibility to the traveler and require full payment. That's why having a valid credit card on vacation can be useful.

So remember, for a truly stress-free, low cost vacation, purchasing travel insurance is the best way to go. Traveling on a budget doesn't mean cutting the really important costs out, it means being prepared to assure that your vacation remains a deal and not a life sentence money wise.