Flash back to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: Did the virus ruin your travel plans?
For millions of people, the answer is “yes.” And having been burned once, more of us are turning to travel insurance to make us whole in case a trip falls through unexpectedly.
Nearly one-third of travelers — 31% — say the pandemic has made them more likely to purchase travel insurance for trips planned between now and the end of 2022, according to a recent AAA Travel survey.
With 55% of American adults saying they are planning a vacation of at least one overnight stay before the end of next year, travel insurance could become a hot item.
In a press release, said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, says the continued spread of COVID-19 has highlighted the need to protect a vacation investment:
“Travel insurance is relatively inexpensive for the large amount of peace of mind it affords, and that’s more valuable than ever in light of the pandemic.”
The survey found that 69% of travelers said the most important aspect of travel insurance is the ability to cancel a trip and get a refund. AAA urges travelers to look into travel insurance policies that include a “cancel at any time” feature.
AAA adds that travelers also want policies that cover:
- Change fees
- Travel delays
- Lost or damaged luggage
AAA also notes that some travel insurance providers now offer plans that cover at least a portion of losses due to COVID-19 or other epidemic diseases. In the past, policies had not covered epidemics or pandemics.
As folks get vaccinated and restrictions are eased, travel bookings are up 11% over 2019 levels, and AAA says travel insurance sales have increased by double digits year over year.
Looking for tips to cut the cost of your next getaway? Check out “11 Smart Ways to Save on Travel.”
Another way to save on the cost of travel is to look for travel bargains from Money Talks News partner ShermansTravel. You can search by criteria such as deals, destinations or interests.
Add a Comment
Our Policy: We welcome relevant and respectful comments in order to foster healthy and informative discussions. All other comments may be removed. Comments with links are automatically held for moderation.