If there’s one thing I always talk to my clients about when planning a trip, it’s travel insurance. It may not be the exciting part of booking a vacation, but as a travel advisor, I can honestly say it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

In my job, I help people not only plan their dream trips, but also navigate the unexpected. And lately, there has been a lot of unexpected.

In just the last six months alone, I’ve helped clients deal with trip changes, delays, and cancellations because of hurricanes in Jamaica, severe winter storms, sudden flight stoppages to Cuba from Canada, and, most recently, the situation in Puerto Vallarta. These things are completely out of our control. No one books a vacation expecting something to go wrong, but sometimes it does.

One thing I always remind my clients, and offer as a licensed insurance advisor, is travel protection insurance.

Travel insurance is optional, and I understand why people hesitate. Most travellers usually say something like, “I’ve travelled so many times, and nothing has ever happened.” And honestly, that’s probably true. The reality is that most trips go smoothly. You could say that maybe 90 to 95 per cent of trips happen without any major issues.

But that means there’s still 5 to 10 per cent where something does go wrong, and when it does, it can be expensive and stressful.

I’ve seen situations where insurance turned a disaster into a manageable inconvenience, and I’ve also seen situations where people declined coverage and ended up losing thousands of dollars. This happened to clients who cancelled their Mexico getaway just this week. That’s the part people don’t think about when everything is going well.

Travel insurance is not about expecting problems. It’s about protecting your investment and giving yourself peace of mind.

What Travel Insurance Can Help You With

Many people assume travel insurance only covers medical emergencies, but it often includes much more:

  • Emergency medical coverage outside your province or country

  • Trip cancellation before departure

  • Trip interruption after departure

  • Flight delays and missed connections

  • Lost or delayed baggage

  • Emergency transportation home

Even a simple flight delay can turn into unexpected hotel nights, meals, and transportation costs. Insurance can help with that.

My Rule of Thumb

Here’s the simple rule I share with clients:

If you can afford to lose the money, you can skip the insurance.
If losing the money would hurt, you should insure the trip.

Most family vacations and long-planned trips fall into the second category. But this rule helps you put things into perspective.

Tips When Buying Travel Insurance

1. Buy it early
The best time to purchase travel insurance is when you book your trip. Some benefits only apply if you buy coverage right away. If you book your travel with me, I can send you a quote. 

2. Read the coverage details
Not all policies are the same. Make sure you understand what is covered and what isn’t.

3. Make sure medical coverage is high enough
Medical costs outside Canada can be extremely expensive. Adequate coverage is essential.

4. Don’t assume your credit card covers everything
Credit cards sometimes include insurance, but coverage is often limited. Always double-check.

5. Ask questions
This is one of the biggest advantages of working with a travel advisor who is licensed to sell travel insurance. We help you understand what you’re buying.

Peace of Mind Is Worth It

Travel should be exciting, relaxing, and fun. The last thing you want is to be worrying about what could go wrong.

Travel insurance isn’t the glamorous part of planning a vacation, but it’s the one thing that can make a huge difference if life throws you a curveball.

After helping so many clients through unexpected situations, I can say with confidence:

One thing you should always do when booking a trip anywhere is seriously consider travel insurance.

Because the best trips are the ones where you can relax, knowing you’re protected. 

If you would like assistance booking your next holiday adventure, reach out. I would love to help.