Is Travel Insurance Worth It? Here's My Honest Answer.

 By Vicki Kramer, Travel by Vicki

Unexpected travel disruptions are one of the reasons travel insurance can be valuable.

Every client I've worked with so far has purchased travel insurance. That's not an accident — it's an intentional conversation I have early in the planning process. I require every client to sign a document acknowledging whether they are accepting or declining coverage. And I always recommend Travel Insured International specifically, with full transparency that I may receive a commission if they purchase it.

I say that upfront because what follows isn't a sales pitch. It's an honest answer to a question I get regularly — and the answer is yes. Travel insurance is worth it. Every time.

Here's why I believe that.

The Story That Says It Better Than I Can

During a Travel Insured International webinar, a representative shared a story from the early days of COVID that has stayed with me.

A small group of travelers were in South America when the country they were visiting made a sudden announcement. The borders were closing. Incoming and outgoing transportation would stop in twenty-four hours.

As you can imagine, every available seat on every available flight filled almost instantly. People who waited — assuming they'd figure it out, found themselves stranded with no options and a closing window.

Travel Insured International chartered a plane to get their insured clients out.

A chartered plane. Because that's what the situation required and that's what their coverage made possible.

I don't tell that story to frighten anyone. I tell it because it illustrates something that's easy to forget when you're planning a trip from the comfort of home — the world can change very quickly, and when it does, the difference between being insured and uninsured is not a minor inconvenience. It's everything.

What Travel Insurance Actually Covers — And What It Doesn't

This is where I'll ask you to do the same thing I ask every client: read the fine print.

Travel insurance coverage varies enormously from one provider to another, and assumptions are expensive. What one policy covers generously another may exclude entirely. Pre-existing conditions, adventure activities, Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, medical evacuation limits — these details matter enormously and they are not always obvious from a summary page.

This is one of the reasons I recommend Travel Insured International exclusively. Not because I'm required to, but because their pricing is competitive, their coverage is strong, and — critically — they provide a clear comparison sheet outlining exactly what each of their three plans covers. No hunting through dense policy language trying to decipher what you're actually buying. The information is laid out plainly so you can make an informed decision.

And if something isn't clear? Call them. They have an 800 number available any time — before your trip, during your trip, in the middle of the night from a hotel room in a foreign country. That accessibility matters more than people realize until they actually need it. I can also call on behalf of my clients when questions arise during the planning process.

"I've Traveled for Years and Never Needed It"

Famous last words, as the saying goes. And I understand the logic — if you've taken ten trips without incident, it can feel like you're paying for something that never pays off.

Here's my honest response: it only takes once.

A medical emergency on a cruise ship can result in a helicopter evacuation. I've heard this story from other agents — clients who declined coverage, had a serious medical incident on board, and were airlifted to the nearest hospital. The bill ran into the tens of thousands of dollars. Nothing was covered. Nothing.

Lost luggage is less dramatic but more common — and getting more common, not less. Lost luggage means lost clothing, lost medications, lost personal items that may be difficult to replace. Airlines have not improved much in this area. Being covered means getting the assistance you need to recover as much as possible.

Missed flights, trip cancellations, travel delays — the same story applies across the board. These things happen to careful, experienced travelers. Not because they did anything wrong, but because travel involves variables that no amount of planning can fully control.

The peace of mind alone — knowing that if something goes wrong there is a number to call and a plan in place — is worth something. The financial protection is worth considerably more.

My Recommendation

Purchase travel insurance — and purchase it early. Some coverages, particularly those related to pre-existing conditions, require that insurance be purchased within a certain window of your initial trip deposit. Waiting until the last minute can cost you coverage you assumed you had.

I recommend Travel Insured International for every trip I plan. If you'd like a quote or want to compare their plan options before booking, I'm happy to help you with that — or you can get a quote directly here: Travel Insured International.

Reach out at explore@travelbyvicki.com or visit travelbyvicki.com.